Moving From Passover To Communion

After many months of waiting, a Russian girl finally obtained a visa to visit her relatives in Canada for three months. She arrived in Canada and was shown around the various attractions, amusements, and entertainments. The young Russian seemed immensely impressed by the amount of things that people were wrapped up with.

As the three months drew to a close, everyone expected her to defect and seek political asylum in Canada. She surprised them all by expressing a desire to return to her family in Russia and the small group of believers to which they belonged.

She explained that in North America everyone seems wrapped up in “things” and doesn’t have time for people.

In Russia, they don’t have as many material possessions and consequently they need each other.

She wanted to return to a place where people relied on each other, where fellowship was important.

Family Matters To God

One Body with Many Members (Bible Study)

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 ESV

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Order of the family of God

Ephesians 6:1–4 ESV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

God Creates Family & Community

Genesis 2:22–25 ESV

22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Transition To Body- Communion & Fellowship is the lifeblood of Jesus Christ’s Church

Exodus Experience Of God’s People

God hears groaning

God remembers his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, & Jacob

God saw the people of Israel

God knew

Exodus 2:23–24 ESV

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Exodus 2:25 ESV

25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

The scene of passover for the family of God

Exodus 12:21–23 ESV

21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.

Exodus 12:26–27 ESV

26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’ ” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Body- Jesus & His Disciples celebrating Passover Over 1600 years later

Commemorate Your Deliverance

Matthew 26:17 ESV

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”

Jesus & His disciples are preparing to eat the Passover

They are remembering their ancestor’s deliverance out of Egypt from the bonds of slavery

Exodus 12:14 ESV

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 2355 זִכָּרוֹן

memorial, commemoration, i.e., a place or object to remind one of something

Remembering To Affect Our Present Feelings, Thoughts & Actions

Deliverance As More Than An Historical Occurrence Of Our Past

Illustration: Memorial Day Celebration

Memorial Day (previously but now seldom called Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel that had died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is now observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day having been observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who had died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer in the United States

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Memorial

Here one notices in particular its use in connection with the Passover. Exodus 12:14 says that the Passover “shall be for you a memorial day.” It is to be an observance which causes the Israelites to live in the present in the light of God’s past action in delivering them from sin and bondage in Egypt. This is much more than simply recalling the exodus as a historical occurrence.

Remembering the God of our past in order to be strengthened for our present challenges & difficulties

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible Memorial

This also means much more than simply recalling events from past history. It means to live in the present in the light of God’s past actions. By drawing consequences for the present from the acts of God in the past, Israel’s faith is to be strengthened for the challenges and difficulties encountered in the present.

The LORD God, Jesus Christ is the same

Hebrews 13:8 ESV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Psalm 46:1 ESV

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

(

So Commemorate Your Deliverance

And…)

Celebrate Your Salvation

Matthew 26:18 ESV

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”

Jesus Will Keep the Passover At Someone’s House with His Disciples

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ποιέω

Keep, celebrate (PFay 117, 12) the Passover (feast)

Exodus 12:17 ESV

17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.

The People (Israelites) Bowed Their Heads & Worshiped When They were told the meaning & significance of the LORD’s Passover

Exodus 12:26–27 ESV

Psalm 98:4 ESV

4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

Psalm 100:1–3 ESV

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 34:1 ESV

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Nehemiah 8:10–12 ESV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

That’s we come together & worship Jesus Christ In Spirit & In Truth

John 4:23–24 ESV

23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

(

So Commemorate Your Deliverance

And Celebrate Your Salvation

But also...

)

Appreciate Your Family

Jesus Celebrates With His Disciples

Matthew 26:18 ESV

18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ”

But One of you will betray me

Matthew 26:21 ESV

21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Not wanting to feed the hungry 5000

Crooked, Money Hungry, & Betraying Judas

Jockying for position in the kingdom of God

Presumptuous, Cussing, Sword Toting, & Cutting Peter

Thunderous James & John

Doubting Thomas

Falling Asleep During Prayer Time in the Garden of Gethsemane

Abandoning Jesus in His time of suffering

At times lacking faith

Passover was celebrated with family & close friends

Illustration: Times like these we ought to gain a better appreciation for our earthly families

Whether you are together...

Or you are apart...

This Coronavirus pandemic

And the Shelter & Place

And Social distancing measures being taken

Ought to cause you to see the precious value of family

Illustration: Coronavirus is making some people rethink where they want to live by Catherine E. Shoichet & Athena Jones, CNN (yesterday, May 2, 2020)

“If here we are in New York City, and the reasons we’re here, the reasons we’re willing to sacrifice all the basic sort of life benefits that a lot of people have..is for the art, the culture, the diversity, the neighborhood camaraderie,” she says. “And now, without that, what do we have? We’re stacked in boxes.”

But Who is Jesus’ family?

Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven (is Jesus’ brother, sister, & mother)

Matthew 12:46–50 ESV

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Illustration: My Big Fat Greek Wedding debut April 19, 2002

Dad (Gus): “You look so old. Get married and have babies”

As a young child she sat alone isolated at lunch and had no friends

In college she sits with the other college students and engages with them

She undergoes a complete makeover

I was kind of going through a faze up until now and uh I was broke girl.

I don’t remember a broke girl but I remember you

You’ve got a weird family. Who doesn’t?

A wedding is suppose to be a joyous occasion. It is suppose to be in the church.

As Ian is being dunked into the Baptism pool over and over again, Toula turns to her brother and says “any minute now he is going to say you are so not worth this.” Toula’s brother responds, “yes you are”

At the wedding engagement party:

“Everybody this is Ian” and they give him a big hug and welcome Ian into the family

Toula “don’t let your past dictate who you are but let it be a part of who you become”

Parents and family meet:

Dad (Gus) says welcome to our home and I am Gus and he gives them a hug. I am Maria and welcome to our home.

Now you are family.

You Greek now, don’t be shy

Afterwards:

Gus: That family is so dry like a piece of toast

Maria: I gave my life so you can live

We are all different but we all fruit

Galatians 6:10 ESV

10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Internalize Jesus’ Sacrifice

Illustration: The scene of the Last Supper

But where’s the sacrificial lamb for passover?

Matthew 26:26–29 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Our Fathers ate The Manna

Moses Gave Them Bread From Heaven To Eat

John 6:29–31 ESV

29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

It Was Not Moses Who Gave You The Bread From Heaven

John 6:32–34 ESV

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

Jesus Is The Bread Of Life

John 6:35 ESV

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:37–40 ESV

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus Christ Is The Bread of Life!

Transition To Close- That’s Why The Book Of Isaiah says

Isaiah 53:1 ESV

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:4 ESV

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Close- His name is Jesus Christ

Son of The Living God!

Jesus is still saying today

I do not want you to forget

what I have already done, what I am doing, & what I am about to do for you

Every time you celebrate the LORD’s Supper on Communion Sunday

I want you to remember the day of your deliverance

When you came into the family of God

You did not have to bring your own sacrificial lamb

Because I am the Lamb of God

That takes away the sins of the world

I need for you to internalize my sacrifice on your behalf

I do not want you to forget that I died for you.

Didn’t He die!...

That’s why you eat the bread and drink the juice

The Bread is Jesus’ body

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

The juice is the blood of a new and better covenant

Signed, sealed, and delivered by the LORD God

We have a hight priest

Hebrews 8:1–2 ESV

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

And since it is a tent set up by the LORD, not man...

Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry

Christ mediates a more excellent covenant

Hebrews 8:5–6 ESV

5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.

God finds fault with man...

Hebrews 8:7–12 ESV

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. 8 For he finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We proclaim the LORD’s death!

Why me? Why you?

Worth by Anthony Brown

You thought I was worth saving

So you came and changed my life

You thought I was worth keeping

So you cleaned me up inside

You thought I was to die for

So you sacrificed your life

So I could be free

So I could be whole

So I could tell everyone I know

Hallelujah

Glory to God who changed my life

And I will praise you

I'll worship you

I'll give you glory

Because I am

And you can tell everyone I know

Hallelujah

Glory to the God who changed my life

And I will praise you

I'll worship you

I'll give you glory

All give you all it

Because you deserve it Lord

You deserve it Lord

I'll praise you, forever

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