We come this morning to the time in the life of Christ when gave us what has been called "Communion" or "The Lord's Super." What he did was quite remarkable actually; he took a major Jewish celebration, called the Passover, one that the Jews had observed each year for over 1500 years since the time of Moses, and converted it and elevated it into what we know now as "communion."

J Last year I was talking to a Christian women who was raised under Jewish influence. Each year she travels to Manzenita and celebrates the Passover with some friends. She asked if that was wrong for a Christian to do. I explained to her as the Apostle Paul says that "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Co 5:7), but also, he changed the Passover into communion. The Lord's Supper is the FULLER VIEW, THE COMPLETE VIEW, of redemption. It contains the Passover and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

Now, to understand the full meaning of communion we need to understand its foundation that was laid in the Jewish Passover.

Read Mark 14:12-17, 22-26

THE PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD v.12

Exodus 12

Every male adult Jew who lived within 15 miles of Jerusalem was bound to attend. Far more attended; from every country in the world pilgrims came flocking to the city for the Passover feast. During Passover all lodging was free. Josephus says that 256,000 lambs were slain during the Passover which means there must have been close 3,000,000 pilgrims in Jerusalem.

For a month before, the meaning of the Passover was taught in the synagogue.

Most remarkable Divine providence

THE UPPER ROOM v.13-16

Judas was not to know : disclose the place to the chief priests and rulers.

Man carrying a pitcher: He stood out because it was uncommon for a man to carry a pitcher of water-women usually performed that chore.

Prearranged or supernatural knowledge.

Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the last supper, which shows Jesus and his disciples ceded about a table, depicts a renaissance Italian setting rather than the setting that would have been found in Jesus to stay. There was actually a low table around which they would recline.

Luke tells us that Jesus sent Peter & John.

The preparations would be extensive: the Passover lamb would take some time to kill and roast; wine, bitter herbs (to remind them of their bitter experience as slaves), unleavened bread (to remind them of the hasty departure from Egypt), a bowl of salt water (to remind them of the Red Sea) and a sauce consisting of dried fruit spices and wine. In order to prepare all of this, many ritual customs had to be followed.

THE LAST SUPPER v.22-26

Judas had left

"As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him," Jn 13:27

His body v.22

His body was given as a physical sacrifice in the same way that a lamb was physically presented to the priest at the tabernacle.

Jesus, the bread of life

"Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." Jn 6:32-35

"I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Jn 6:48-51

"This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Lk 22:19

"This is my body given for you"

Substitution

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." Is 53:4-7

"Do this in remembrance of me."

"Take it; this is my body." v.22.

Means to take and receive Christ into one's life.

The purpose of eating and drinking is to be strengthened and refreshed.

His blood v.23-24

Means the sacrifice of his life.

The Bible teaches that "life is in the blood" and that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Mt 26:28

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace" Eph 1:7

Hymns center on the blood!!

Communion is both individual and communal

Jesus’ disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" Mk 14:12

"Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’" Mk 14:14

"And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." Lk 22:15

"When you come together as a church" 1 Co 11:17-20

"The whole community of Israel must celebrate it." Ex 12:46-47

The new covenant v.24

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Lk 22:20

The covenant was sealed by his blood. Just as the covenants of old were sealed with the shedding of animal blood, so now Jesus said this new covenant had been sealed with his own blood.

A covenant is an agreement which is formal, solemn, and binding.

"He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Co 3:6

"Drink anew in the kingdom" v.25

"I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”" Mt 26:29

"Then the angel said to me, "Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" Rev 19:9

"sung a hymn" v.26

We should go forth to work trials and our struggles with a song of triumph on our lips. Jesus goes forth to Gethsemane, the agony, to the cross; but he goes out as Victor, to conquer fear and pain and death, to rise and terrain, and to make them "more than conquerors" who put their trust in him.