Eucharist - Remember the Cross

Introduction

Every month we practice the Lord super, communion or Eucharist. What ever you want to call it. It all comes down to the same thing. We remember Jesus last meal before he was Crucified. BUt how often do we really look at what this meal is. For the next three weeks we will be looking at the Lord’s Supper.

Luke 22:7-22

Luke 22:7–22 LEB

And the day of the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which it was necessary for the Passover lamb to be sacrificed. And he sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it. So they said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare it?” And he said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters. And you will say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ And he will show you a large furnished upstairs room. Make preparations there.” So they went and found everything just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you that I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took in hand a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you. “But behold, the hand of the one who is betraying me is with me on the table! For the Son of Man is going according to what has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”

Passover

In Jesus Life the time for Passover has come. This meal was to remember and celebrate events that happened Arguably 2000 years in the past from the time of Jesus. I say Arguably because the date of the Exodus event is still highly argued. Egyptian Dating is a mess. In that event Moses lead the people out of slavery in Egypt. This marks the central redemptive act of the Old testament. It was the Most important event in the Old Testament. It was the Jesus of the OT. As God Separated and created the Hebrew people. So to say that the Exodus event found in Exodus is important, is like to say the United states is sort of in debt.

This is the important event in the Old Testament. It was an event that shows God to be Redeemer, Shows His Glory, Shows his Power, shows his Grace.

Deuteronomy 16 tells us that you had to celebrate the Passover inside the walls of Jerusalem. So if at all possible make the trip to Jerusalem. So in Luke Jerusalem at time of passover it was the Busiest time of the year. And Jesus has to go to another persons house. Which he had already made plans with. Go until you see a man carrying a water jar. Carrying water was a job for the woman so it would stand out. Men would have carried a leather skin for water.

The secretive nature of this encounter lead some to believe that this was some event that has to be secret in order to practice

But in truth it was probably to keep from being arrested before it was time And mostly just because Jesus is needing privacy. Jesus Needs to be with just him and his core group as they partake in the normal Passover.

During the passover at some point Jesus breaks from tradition and says this is my blood and this is my body. And then point to the fact that he will be betrayed.

And as they discuss who is the worst. It also turns to a conversation of who is best. And also of Peters denial of Jesus

Remembrance

This remembrance ordinance is one of the two things that celebrated by all Christian to different decrees of regularity from every week to years in between.

It is called Eucharist, Lord’s supper, or communion

Eucharist coming from the Greek work thanksgiving

Lord’s Supper from 1 Corinthians 11

And Communion from 1 Corinthians 10

So a rose by any other name would it not smell as sweet. It’s not important

It is celebrated in many different ways

Some church’s use leaven bread some unleavened. The unleavened comes from the Passover tradition and nowhere in the NT does it specify unleavened bread.

Some churches use wine, juice or water. Jesus probably used fermented grape – Wine

Though there is an argument against that based on the Greek word and what it means. Wine and beer are throughout the Bible and there for it is ok to drink this things. As long as you don’t get drunk. Bible doesn’t want you to be stupid

Proverbs 20:1

Proverbs 20:1 LEB

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and any who go astray by it are not wise.

The choice by me made to move to serve juice that I will provide if you want wine have to bring yourself

Is based on the desire that all believers be able to partake

Those who drink wine and those who do not

Those who need to stay away because of past addictions or the like and those who are not even tempted

Churches distribute in different ways

Some churches will pass the cup and bread around

Some leave it up front

Some form a big line

Some it’s a cluster

Some have different small groups that join together

Some do it all in mass

Some churches have open and some are closed. That means can a person who is not a member take part. Can a person who is a Christian from a different church say visiting join you. Open if they can. Closed if only members of that church can.

Some believe that it is just symbolic and some believe that it literally becomes the blood and body. Which is one of the reasons for persecution of the early church where Romans believed the Christians were practicing cannibalism 

It is celebrated in many different ways but all means the same thing – What is it

It’s a picture of obedience, Celebration

Remembrance of the death of the redeemer as the perfect lamb sacrifice. Jesus is the new Passover.  Looking forward to the second coming of Christ

It is communion

It is a moment that invites us to take place with God in a joint sacrificial meal. It invites us to take part in the kingdom that is now and yet to Come. It is us communing with each other  as we commune with God

This is a community affair

That being said it is important to remember that at this meal

Jesus willingly partakes with people that will betray him, who will deny him, and who will abandon him. Peter gets a bad rap at least he went others just abandon him

SO when we join in this communion we must also join with people that are less than perfect in Love and be with them partaking with them in love and forgive be forgiven

Next few weeks look at getting straight with God, with others and ourselves 

Next Steps

So as we begin this process 

Examine yourself

Open yourself

Get right

Begin by praying to God to Reveal what needs to be done Convict how