Maundy Thursday (4)

Luke 22:7–22 (NIV84): 7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.” 13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.” The Holy Bible: New International Version (Lk 22:7–22). (1984). Zondervan.

How often don’t we associate food with certain events and/or holidays?

Red jello salad with sliced bananas on the top are for . . . church potlucks and funeral meals.

Fruitcake is for . . . Christmas

Chocolate Easter bunnies and dyed eggs are for . . . Easter

Friday night means a fish fry.

The list may be almost endless.

Nor is it limited to our time or culture. Those familiar with the Bible can cite any number of food related practices. Most are explained. Every once in a while, you come across one whose explanation has been lost to history. We referenced on recently in Bible class. The prohibition to not cook a goat in its mother’s milk.

Others are more familiar. One is referenced in our text this evening. Well, maybe more than one.

The Day of Unleavened Bread (explain).

Eerdmans Bible Dictionary UNLEAVENED BREAD, FEAST OF

UNLEAVENED BREAD, FEAST OF (Heb. ḥag hammaṣṣôṯ). A seven-day agricultural festival of the Hebrews that early on formed an element of the Passover celebration and constituted one of the three pilgrimage festivals requiring the presence of Israelite males at the sanctuary (

“the Passover Lamb had to be sacrificed”

“the Passover” (See Old Testament instructions and the Seder meal)

The Passover Seder is a traditional Jewish ritual meal celebrated on the first two nights of Passover (Pesach), commemorating the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It's a multi-sensory experience that includes storytelling, symbolic foods, and other rituals. 

The bread and “fruit of the vine” in the Lord’s Supper.

We don’t participate in a Passover meal. In contrast, our main course at an Easter meal is a meat that no devout Jew would dare to consume. Ham since it was one of the “unclean” foods.

But we can appreciate the significance of the Passover and the food and drink that was involved in it and how it connected the Jewish people to a very important event in their history. Perhaps the most important event. (Note: This is why “The Ten Commandments are shown on TV at this time of year every year.)

In 2025, The Ten Commandments was broadcast on ABC on Saturday, April 12th, at 7 PM ET. The airing will coincide with Passover and Easter, marking a tradition for the network to air the film during this season.  Missed it but I know how it ends.

The celebration of the Passover was established as a lasting ordinance for generations to come for God’s people. But many of us have seldom if every observed it. Why not? Because we believe that it was intended as a foreshadowing of the coming of the Messiah and since Jesus has fulfilled the Law, it is no longer necessary. St. Paul teaches us this in Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ The Holy Bible: New International Version (Col 2:13–17). (1984). Zondervan.

It is not wrong to be aware of the historical events or to observe holidays and foods that remind us of them, but it is not necessary should not be made a requirement to those who trust in God.

Jesus teaches his disciples that an end was coming to this when he said he would not observe it again until he was in his Father’s kingdom.

Luke 22:15–16 (NIV84): 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” The Holy Bible: New International Version (Lk 22:15–16). (1984). Zondervan.

During that meal Jesus did something that has been observed by Christians ever since. He instituted The Lord’s Supper.

Luke 22:19–20 (NIV84): 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. The Holy Bible: New International Version (Lk 22:19–20). (1984). Zondervan.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (NIV): 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. The New International Version (1 Co 11:23–26). (2011). Zondervan.

Are these words familiar to us? They should be. They are in our liturgy as the Words of Institution in connection with the Lord’s Supper. They are spoken when the bread and wine are consecrated for use in the Lord’s Supper. Although we eat bread and drink wine at other times, this bread and this wine is used for a specific purpose in the sacrament.

Over the years how the bread and wine was prepared and distributed has changed to be sure. Originally Jesus took the unleavened bread used in the Passover and would have broken it in half and then passed it around and the disciples would have broken off a piece for themselves and passed the rest on to the next person. The cup would have been the common cup and the disciples would have taken a sip or swallow and passed it on. [Aside: when I was young and we used the KJV what did I hear spoken by Rev. Winters? 1 Corinthians 11:25 (KJV): 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. The Holy Bible: King James Version. (electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version., 1 Co 11:25). (1995). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

“Supped” I thought it was the past tense of “sip” (Which is sipped). Which technically isn’t wrong.

He supped [=sipped] a glass of wine while waiting for his meal.

In the KJV bible it meant to do something after supper.

In the King James Version of the Bible, "supped" means to eat the evening meal, or supper. It's the past tense form of the verb "sup", which also means to dine, to eat a meal. In some contexts, it can also imply fellowship and communion, especially when referring to meals shared with others. For example, in Revelation 3:20, "I will sup with him, and he with me" means that Christ will share a meal with the person who opens the door to Him, signifying a spiritual fellowship. 

Modern American slang “sup”? is short for the question. “What is up?” Or “What are you doing?”

Anyway, this event takes place after the Passover meal and used the bread and wine (fruit of the vine) from that meal. But now with a new and more lasting meaning.

He says we are to eat this and drink this in remembrance of him.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV): 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. The New International Version (1 Co 11:26). (2011). Zondervan.

Jesus says that it involves a new covenant with him. It is the teaching that we are saved by faith in Jesus who gave his body and shed his blood for our salvation.

And so ever since that night God’s people have gathered and have regularly celebrated the Lord’s Supper. It is unfortunate that Christians cannot agree on the teaching of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus’ statement that “This is my body” and “This is my blood.” has been interpreted in three different and distinct ways.

Transubstantiation

Representation

Real Presence.

The Lutheran church takes Jesus literally and teaches Real Presence.

We also believe that this is a sacrament in which God does something for us instead of us just carrying out a ritual which reminds us of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Is this not why St. Paul urges Christians to be well prepared to receive the Lord’s Supper?

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 (NIV84): 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. The Holy Bible: New International Version (1 Co 11:27–29). (1984). Zondervan.

Note the explanation of the Small Catechism which tells us what we received besides a reminder.

This is why in the Lutheran Church the Lord’s Supper is celebrated as often as it is. If it were only a reminder or proclamation of Jesus’ death, you could do it less often. Passover celebrated only once a year. But as sinful human beings who need personal assurance and reception of the forgiveness of sins, we can see why we would want to celebrate it more often.