Communion to the Cross
Notes
Transcript
Communion to the Cross
Communion to the Cross
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Tonight, we are going to be looking at the wonderful picture the Lord has given to us concerning His love and sacrifice for his people...
Communion to the Cross
Communion to the Cross
I read about a Methodist church that was having communion, and as the pastor took the cup, it looked a little dark, but went ahead and had the elements passed out - after they partook, there were many confused looks on peoples faces, and somehow the individual who had prepared the Lord’s supper - got pure prune juice instead of pure grape juice… One of the parishioners commentary on the mishap was…
"Perhaps this is a Divine commentary on our spirituality...we need a little loosening up!"
Tonight, we are just going to look at “Communion” - the Lord’s Supper… and I believe it will help all of us to have a better and clearer understanding of it’s meaning
Communion to the Cross
Communion to the Cross
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
As we look into this passage of scripture, we have insight into the passover feast...
It was this feast that celebrated the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian enslavement. This deliverance was worthy of celebration and there was much to be thankful to the Lord for...
At then end of this feast of the passover… meal, the Lord reveals that there was a traitor among them… One who would be the worst traitor of humanity - the traitor we know as Judas Iscariot...
“Judas” was a common name in first-century Judaism. Seven additional people beside Iscariot are mentioned in the Gospels and Acts are named (who’das) Ἰούδας —translated as Judah, Judas, or Jude:
it was at this same table - the feast of the passover, that we find one ordinance being fulfilled and replaced by the next...
Passover - annual feast - celebrating deliverance from Egypt -
Ex. 12:1-14
Passover also pictured the coming lamb - the Passover Lamb - that would take away the sin of the World
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
Now we find on the end of this annual passover, the institution of the new testament - a new order, a new ordinance - solidified and enacted by the death of the testator.
The Lord’s Supper - (name coming from)
20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.
Communion -
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
the partaking of the elements together - the communion - fellowship / connection of the body of believers together because of the shed blood of the Savior -
we have been put into the same family - the family of God...
Admonitions concerning the Lord’s Supper
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
It was given to believers -
Judas was part of the Passover feast - dinner
Judas was not part of the Lord’s Supper -
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Right after the Passover meal, Judas left to betray the Savior
If you are unsaved, I would not partake in the Lord’s Supper
If your child is unsaved, I would not allow them to take part in the Lord’s Supper...
Why? It is for believers in what it stands for...
It was given to believers -
It is for Reflection
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
The broken body
The shed blood
The participation in the elements - is a reminder of what the Lord has done for us...
Introspection
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
This introspection is not to keep us from taking the Lord’s supper, but to cause us to recognize where we are - so we can get it right...
Reflect
Repent
Respond
Don’t allow the evil one to cause you to stay away because of guilt and feelings of unworthiness...
If - during time of reflection, you know that something is not right - deal with it - repent - respond to the Lord’s promptings and get it right...
Someone you have bitterness against
Area of unfaithfulness to the Lord
Prayer / devotions
worldliness
immorality
anger
jealousy
It is for Expectation
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The Lord’s coming back -
when we keep our focus on His return, it will help us on track
Communion to the Cross -
they are tied together...