Maundy Thursday Communion
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to this special time this evening. Thank you for joining with me. I want to encourage you to make sure you have some type of elements that can be used for our communion together, some juice and some type of bread or cracker as we will share in this ordinance with a mandate in place that says we cannot gather.
This is traditionally called Maundy Thursday. It is the night which Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and instituted what we know as the Last Supper. It is also called the Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, or Communion. All of these are names by which you have heard this ordinance.
It is called the Last Supper because it was the “last supper” that Jesus had with His disciples before the crucifixion.
It is called the Lord’s Supper because our Lord instituted it and do this in remembrance of me.
It is called Eucharist because it done as a means of thankfulness, Jesus gave thanks before each element was given.
It is called Communion because it describes the common union we are able to have with our Lord because of the fellowship Jesus had with His disciples and that which the disciples have with each other, and in turn that which we have together with other Christians.
It is an ordinance in which we strive to remember. Tonight, we are taking part in it in a most usual way. It has been practiced since it was instituted in that upper room the night of the betrayal of Jesus that led to His arrest and began the process of His crucifixion.
It is a sacred time of reflection, self examination and preparation.
Paul wrote much about this practice in 1 Corinthians, chapters 10 and 11. In fact, in chapter 11, verse 28, he wrote:
1 Corinthians 11:28
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
I want to invite you just now to take a moment and examine yourself. I have been reminded today of these verses as I have done so:
Test me, O Lord, and try me,
examine my heart and my mind;
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
“I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve.”
I Thessalonians 5
Test everything. Hold on to the good.
I have had to go through this process as I reflect and remember. It is scriptural has I have just shown to ask the Lord to search and examine us. It is a process of our preparation.
If you were at our church, we would have our deacons in place to serve you, then they would serve each other and me. Tonight, if you are able, please serve each other in that same fashion. If you are alone, please serve yourself as if you are being served.
From Matthew’s account, listen to these words from chapter 26, verse 26:
Matthew 26:26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
The bread symbolizes the body of Christ, broken for you and for me. Take your bread and eat it now.
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 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.”
Matthew 26:27
The cup contains juice from the fruit of the vine and it symbolizes for us the blood that was poured out for you and for me. Drink yours now.
Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was to come. He was telling them as seen in several other passages, get ready. I can’t help but think on this Maundy Thursday in 2020 that Jesus is also telling us to get ready. God desires for you and I to return to our first love, and that ought to be our relationship with Him. Tonight, I want to encourage you to allow this communion to help you return to your first love and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just like that first Lord’s Supper and the unknown which the disciples were facing, you and I are facing quite the unknown with this pandemic. I assure you, based on the truth of God’s Word, that our Savior knows what’s coming and He is simply saying to us, trust me. I will never leave you nor forsake you.
The Bible says in
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
I am going to ask you do something tonight. I am going to ask you right where you are to sing a hymn, by yourself or with those that are present. Sing it joyfully and prayerfully. Then I want to invite you to do what Jesus did, go to your Mount of Olives where you can spend time renewing your relationship with your Heavenly Father and allow Him to renew His relationship with you.
In closing, I offer this blessing in the form of a prayer for you just now:
“ ‘ “The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
Numbers