Good Friday 2012 Series

About 2000 years ago, God Jesus Christ became a man and died for the sins of human beings. We call that day Good Friday and we remember it today. Please open your Bibles to Luke 23; read along with me v44-56….

But the night before Jesus was crucified, He celebrated the Passover with His disciples in a special way. And just like the Passover meal is to be celebrated regularly by Jews, the celebration known as Communion is to be celebrated regularly by Christians; which we will do tonight. Let’s take a look at that first Communion with Jesus in Luke 22:7-20…

Why did Jesus celebrate Passover? We read in Exodus 12:12-14… "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn--both men and animals--and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance.

In order to be saved from death on that night God judged the land of Egypt, the Jews placed blood from a sacrificed Lamb on their front doors (show picture). When God’s Angel of Death saw the blood, death passed over the house; thus the event was to be remembered as Passover.

Now, nothing happens by chance!

Jesus chose the time of Passover, for Him to be crucified on the cross to shed His blood to save people from spiritual death once and for all!

What were Jesus’ last words before He died on that cross?

We read in John 19:30, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus suffered and gave up his physical body to pay for the sins of people. The bread and the cup which Jesus talked about in that first communion symbolized the reality of His death. Jesus told His first disciples to always remember His death for them by celebrating Communion.

And look again at Luke 22:15……

Jesus was eager to have Communion with His disciples!

What about us today who proclaim to be followers of Jesus Christ?

We are like the Apostle Paul who wasn’t one of the original Disciples of Christ. Let us read what God said through Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:23-29….

All Believers of Jesus Christ are to celebrate Communion till Jesus returns to earth. Jesus was eager to celebrate Communion with the first disciples. Do you think Jesus is eager for us to remember Him and celebrate Communion?

Jesus Christ sacrificially gave Himself for us!

Jesus knew we needed His death for us to be forgiven of our sins! We can only be spiritually cleansed through Jesus’ death! Jesus’ death on the cross is a gift God eagerly desires to give! Jesus is eager for us to confess our sins and remember what He did on that cross for us!

God reminds us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

On the side Table, you will find red pieces of paper, pens, and pins. Before celebrating Communion with Jesus Christ, will you quietly pray to Him and confess your sins by writing them down on one of those red pieces of paper and pin them on the cross? Think of what Jesus Christ did for you personally; then I will call you to celebrate with the bread and the cup.