Mark 14.12-26, "The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper”

“The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper”

The Passover remembered God’s deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, the house of bondage. The Lord will pass over the home where the blood was applied to the door posts (). God commanded Israel to keep the Passover for all generations.

I. Sign –

A. A sacrament is a sign and a seal of God’s promises –

B. “Take eat, this is My body”

1. Not literally Christ’s body, but a sign that looks back to Jesus’ death on the cross

2. The sign is so closely identified with the reality that we can say we are partaking of His body –

C. “This is My blood of the new covenant” –

1. The blood cleanses us from our sin – ;

2. Christ’s blood satisfies divine justice – ;

3. Christ’s blood purchases our relationship to God –

II. Sealed –

A. For the future marriage supper of the Lamb –

1. At the Lord’s Table, we experience true fellowship with one another –

2. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding –

B. Necessity for confessing Christ

1. As Peter –

2. – “If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart”

3. Christ is the rock of foundation of Christ’s Church –

The word of assurance from our brother’s mouth reassures us in a way our blessing ourselves does not.

III. Self-Examination –

A. “One of you will betray Me.”

1. The disciples questioned and examined themselves –

2. The command is to examine yourself –

B. We possibly can partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner –

1. Which results in sickness and even death –

2. Those who partake must confess Christ, know how to repent from their sin, and trust Christ –

trust Christ –

C. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament

1. It is more than a memorial or an ordinance to be observed

2. It is a means of receiving grace

3. God’s Word is also a means of grace

4. We must not ignore other means of grace and only concentrate on one means apart from others

The greatest grief to the Christian is to be removed from partaking of Communion. To be disciplined is to not be allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Let us come and joyfully receive the bountiful table set before us by our Savior!