THE PRIVILEGE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
LUKE 22:14-20
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS WE WILL ONCE AGAIN BE COMING TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD. WHILE IT IS OBSERVED IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND HAS DIFFERENT THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE WITHIN THE DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER REMAINS THE SAME FOR ALL.
I WONDER AT TIMES THOUGH IF WE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE PRIVILEGE WE HAVE IN COMING TO THE LORD’S TABLE. COMMUNION IS NOT A RITUAL, NOR IS IT SOMETHING WE TACK ON THE END OF A CHURCH SERVICE. IT IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUIET OUR HEARTS AND ENTERING A VERY PERSONAL WORSHIP SERVICE REMEMBERING JESUS’ LOVE AND SACRIFICE FOR US. AS WE ACCEPT THE ELEMENTS IT HELPS US TO REALIZE THAT OUR SALVATION IS AN INDIVIDUAL GIFT, THAT HIS BODY WAS GIVEN AND HIS BLOOD SHED FOR EACH OF US.
AS WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE TODAY, I WANT TO FOCUS ON ITS CONTEXT, THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS, AND I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH WHAT WE ARE TO REMEMBER IN COMMUNION.
POINT ONE: CONTEXT
THE CONTEXT FOR THIS PASSAGE IS FOUND IN TWO PHRASES IN VV. 14-15:
1. WHEN THE HOUR CAME
2. I HAVE GREATLY DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU
IT BEGS THE QUESTION WHAT WAS SO SPECIAL ABOUT THIS PASSOVER THAT JESUS WOULD GREATLY DESIRE TO CELEBRATE IT?
JESUS KNEW THAT THE TIME, OR AS THE PASSAGE SAYS “THE HOUR HAD COME” FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS EARTHLY MISSION. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JEWS CAME TO JERUSALEM TO CELEBRATE PASSOVER. THIS PASSOVER THOUGH WOULD FOREVER CHANGE HUMANITY AS JESUS HIMSELF WOULD BECOME OUR PASCHAL LAMB, OUR PERFECT SPOTLESS LAMB, SACRIFICED FOR THE SIN OF THE WORLD.
PASSOVER IS RECORDED IN EXODUS 12:3-11. IT GIVES SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW THE LAMB WAS TO BE KILLED AND EATEN. THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB WAS TO BE PUT ON THE SIDES AND TOP OF THE DOOR FRAMES, AND WHEN THE ANGEL OF DEATH CAME, IT WOULD PASS OVER ALL HOUSES PROTECTED AND COVERED BY THE BLOOD. THE LAMB WAS TO BE EATEN AS PART OF THE PASSOVER MEAL, AND ANY LEFT OVER WAS TO BE IMMEDIATELY BURNED, AS THE NEXT DAY THE JEWS WOULD LEAVE EGYPT FREE FROM BONDAGE.
PASSOVER WAS A MAJOR HOLY DAY ON THE JEWISH CALENDAR, AND IT BROUGHT JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES TOGETHER WHAT WOULD BE FOR ONE LAST TIME.
JESUS’ ENTIRE LIFE WAS LIVED IN LIGHT OF THIS SPECIAL HOUR, OF CALVARY. THE MAIN INDUSTRY OF BETHLEHEM WHERE JESUS WAS BORN, WAS PRODUCING LAMBS TO BE SACRIFICED AT THE TEMPLE. AT THE AGE OF TWELVE HE TOLD HIS EARTHLY PARENTS AFTER BEING FOUND IN THE TEMPLE
LUKE 2:49: “WHY WERE YOU SEARCHING FOR ME?” HE ASKED. “DIDN’T YOU KNOW I HAD TO BE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE?”
THIS INDICATES THAT JESUS KNEW THAT GOD WAS HIS FATHER AND THAT HE WAS PART OF THE TRINITY. ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST MONTHS OF HIS LIFE HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES ABOUT HIS UPCOMING DEATH AND THE REASON FOR IT.
JESUS KNEW THAT AT THIS PASSOVER THE HOUR OF HIS EARTHLY DESTINY HAD COME. HE WPOULD PRAY IN JOHN 17
JOHN 17:1-3:
AFTER JESUS SAID THIS, HE LOOKED TOWARD HEAVEN AND PRAYED: “FATHER, THE HOUR HAS COME. GLORIFY YOUR SON, THAT YOUR SON MAY GLORIFY YOU. 2 FOR YOU GRANTED HIM AUTHORITY OVER ALL PEOPLE THAT HE MIGHT GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL THOSE YOU HAVE GIVEN HIM. 3 NOW THIS IS ETERNAL LIFE: THAT THEY KNOW YOU, THE ONLY TRUE GOD, AND JESUS CHRIST, WHOM YOU HAVE SENT
THIS WAS THE HOUR JESUS EAGERLY DESIRED. THE GREEK LANGUAGE IS VERY PASSIONATE, AND THE MEANING FOR “INTENSE” MEANS TO HAVE A DESIRE OR CRAVING THAT BORDERS ON OBSESSION.
THINK BACK TO A TIME WHEN YOU SAW SOMETHING THAT YOU FELT THAT YOU JUST HAD TO HAVE. THE WORLD WOULD END IF YOU DID NOT GET IT. YOU WANTED IT MORE THAN ANYTHING. YOU DREAMED ABOUT IT, DREW PICTURES OF IT, MADE A PLAN TO GET IT BEFORE ANYONE ELSE COULD. THIS IS THE MEANING OF THE WORD USED TO DESCRIBE JESUS’ DESIRE TO CELEBRATE THIS PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES.
CLYDE GRIMES WRITES:
“HE (JESUS) UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS FOR THIS VERY MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT HE BROKE OUT OF THE LIMITLESSNESS OF ETERNITY AS THE HOLY TIMELESS ONE AND ENTERED INTO THE LIMITATIONS OF SPACE AND TIME AS THE RANSOM FOR OUR SINFUL WORLD. THE REASON THAT JESUS COULD BE EAGER ABOUT CELEBRATING THIS PASSOVER MEAL WAS BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING DOWN THE CORRIDOR OF TIME AND SEEING WHAT THIS NIGHT WOULD BRING ABOUT.”
JESUS KNEW THE PAIN AND TORTURE THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO ENDURE. THIS I’M SURE HE DID NOT LOOK FORWARD TO. THE WRITER TO THE HEBREWS TEACHES
HEBREWS 12:2: FIXING OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE PIONEER AND PERFECTER OF FAITH. FOR THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM HE ENDURED THE CROSS, SCORNING ITS SHAME, AND SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.
JESUS KNEW WITH HIS SACRIFICE THAT LASTING PEACE WITH GOD COULD BE REALIZED AND SINS TYRANNY AND DOMINATION WOULD COME TO AN END. IT WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF ONE COVENANT AND THE BIRTH OF A NEW COVENANT WHICH WE OBSERVE TODAY.
I BELIEVE JESUS WAS EAGER TO SHARE IN THIS PASSOVER MEAL BECAUSE HE WANTED THE LAST THING HE WOULD DO WITH HIS DISCIPLES TO BE THE STORY OF HIS LOVE FOR THEM. WHEN WE COME TO THE TABLE TODAY HE WANTS IT TO BE A STORY OF HIS LOVE FOR US. HE WANTS US TO KNOW HOW SPECIAL WE ARE IN HIS EYES. THE KING OF THE AGES, THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WOULD TAKE ON HUMAN FORM AND ENDURE THE PAIN OF THE CROSS BECAUSE HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. THAT’S HOW MUCH GOD LOVES YOU. THE LORD’S TABLE IS OUR CONSTANT REMINDER OF GOD’S LOVE.
POINT TWO: THE COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
A COVENANT AGREEMENT IS A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS ENTERED INTO BY TWO PARTIES. IT IS STRONGER THAN MODERN DAY CONTRACTS, AND ARE BINDING FOR LIFE. AN EXAMPLE OF A COVENANT AGREEMENT TODAY IS MARRIAGE.
THE BIBLE TELLS OF TWO TYPES OF COVENANTS:
1. A VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT BETWEEN EQUALS.
(1 SAMUAL. 18:3 DAVID AND JONATHON)
2. TREATIES OF LOYALTY BETWEEN A GREAT KING AND A LESSER KING, OR A VASSAL. COVENANT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS THIS TYPE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COVENANTS MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE
BUT THE TWO THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN TODAY ARE:
1. THE OLD COVENANT
2. THE NEW COVENANT
THESE ARE THE COVENANTS THAT RELATE TO OUR SALVATION. BOTH COVENANTS ARE ENTERED INTO ON THE BASIS OF FAITH THROUGH OBEDIENCE. PEOPLE OF THE OLD COVENANT BELIEVED BY FAITH THAT AS THEY WERE OBEDIENT IN OFFERING THEIR SACRIFICES THAT GOD WOULD DECLARE THEM RIGHTEOUS. PEOPLE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT BELIEVE BY FAITH THAT JESUS’ DEATH AT CALVARY FREED US FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN, SHOULD WE ACCEPT HIM AS OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD.
THE OLD COVENANT BASICALLY GOVERNED EVERYDAY LIFE FOR THE JEWS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. IT HAD FORM, BUT IT HAD NO SUBSTANCE AS IT COULD NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM OF SIN. SACRIFICES HAD TO BE OFFERED ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.
ROMANS 7:7: WHAT SHALL WE SAY, THEN? IS THE LAW SINFUL? CERTAINLY NOT! NEVERTHELESS, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT SIN WAS HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE LAW. FOR I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT COVETING REALLY WAS IF THE LAW HAD NOT SAID, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”
THE LAW TELLS US WHERE WE ARE GUILTY, NOT WHERE WE ARE INNOCENT. THE LAW WAS USED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT TO IDENTIFY OUR SIN, AND THEN SACRIFICES WERE OFFERED TO COVER THAT SIN.
THE OLD COVENANT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE THE FINAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM OF SIN. BEFORE THE WORLD WAS CREATED THE PLAN FOR HUMANITY’S SALVATION WAS FORMED AND ESTABLISHED. WHAT THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS A SHADOW OF, THE NEW COVENANT WOULD FORM THE SUBSTANCE.
SIX HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST THE PROPHET JEREMIAH DECLARED:
JEREMIAH 31:31-34:
“THE DAYS ARE COMING,” DECLARES THE LORD, “WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH. 32 IT WILL NOT BE LIKE THE COVENANT I MADE WITH THEIR ANCESTORS WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF EGYPT, BECAUSE THEY BROKE MY COVENANT, THOUGH I WAS A HUSBAND TO THEM,” DECLARES THE LORD. 33 “THIS IS THE COVENANT I WILL MAKE WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AFTER THAT TIME,” DECLARES THE LORD. “I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR MINDS AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS. I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE. 34 NO LONGER WILL THEY TEACH THEIR NEIGHBOR, OR SAY TO ONE ANOTHER, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ BECAUSE THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST OF THEM TO THE GREATEST,” DECLARES THE LORD. “FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR WICKEDNESS AND WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”
THIS NEW COVENANT WOULD FULFILL THE OBLIGATION OF THE OLD COVENANT. THE PERFECT SACRIFICE, THE SPOTLESS LAMB OF GOD, JESUS CHRIST, WOULD BE CRUCIFIED, AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.
THE NEW COVENANT OFFERS FOUR DISTINCT DIFFERENCES FROM THE OLD:
A) GOD WILL CHANGE ME FROM WITHIN. HE WILL FILL ME WITH HIS VERY PRESENCE AND WRITE HIS LAW ON MY HEART. THE NEW COVENANT IS A SPIRITUAL COVENANT
1 SAMUEL 16:7: THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS PEOPLE LOOK AT. PEOPLE LOOK AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART.”
B) I HAVE FULL ACCESS TO GOD’S PRESENCE. UNDER THE OLD COVENANT ONLY THE HIGH PRIEST COULD ENTER THE HOLY OF HOLIES, AND ONLY ONCE A YEAR. NOTE WHAT JOHN SAYS ABOUT THE NEW COVENANT.
THE MOMENT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS THE CLOTH VEIL SEPARATING THE HOLY OF HOLIES FROM THE REST OF THE TEMPLE WAS TORN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. THIS MIRACLE SIGNIFIES THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO THE FATHER.
HEBREWS 4:14-16:
THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, P JESUS THE SON OF GOD, LET US HOLD FIRMLY TO THE FAITH WE PROFESS. 15 FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE TO EMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, BUT WE HAVE ONE WHO HAS BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY, JUST AS WE ARE—YET HE DID NOT SIN. 16 LET US THEN APPROACH GOD’S THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED.
C) IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN FREEDFROM THE BONDS OF SIN.
HEBREWS 9:15: FOR THIS REASON CHRIST IS THE MEDIATOR OF A NEW COVENANT, THAT THOSE WHO ARE CALLED MAY RECEIVE THE PROMISED ETERNAL INHERITANCE—NOW THAT HE HAS DIED AS A RANSOM TO SET THEM FREE FROM THE SINS COMMITTED UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT.
CHRIST DIED AS A RANSOM FOR OUR SINS. THAT RANSOM PURCHASED OUR FREEDOM, SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR ON THIS.
HEBREWS 9:22: IN FACT, THE LAW REQUIRES THAT NEARLY EVERYTHING BE CLEANSED WITH BLOOD, AND WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS.
UNDER THE OLD COVENANT SIN WAS SYMBOLICALLY TRANSFERRED TO THE LAMB, WHICH WAS THEN KILLED AND OFFERED IN SACRIFICE. UNDER THE NEW COVENANT, OUR SIN, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE WAS TRANSFERRED TO JESUS, WHO BECAME OUR SACRIFICE ON CALVARY.
LUKE 22:20: IN THE SAME WAY, AFTER THE SUPPER HE TOOK THE CUP, SAYING, “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU.
D) IT MEANS I NEVER HAVE TO DOUBT MY SALVATION. WHEN CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS HE PAID ALL MY SIN DEBT.
ROMANS 8:1-3:
THEREFORE, THERE IS NOW NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS, 2 BECAUSE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE HAS SET YOU FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. 3 FOR WHAT THE LAW WAS POWERLESS TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS WEAKENED BY THE FLESH, N GOD DID BY SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH TO BE A SIN OFFERING. P AND SO HE CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH,
I SHOULD ALWAYS ATTEMPT TO WALK WITH THE LORD, BUT SHOULD I FALL DUE TO TEMPTATION, I HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, A LAWYER.
HEBREWS 7:25: THEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE COMPLETELY THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH HIM, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM
THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CAN TAKE OUR SALVATION LIGHTLY. WE CANNOT LOVE GOD AND THEN DO AS WE PLEASE.
WE ARE NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST. THE OLD IS GONE THE NEW HAS COME. WE SHOULD WANT TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF CHRIST. OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE TO PLEASE HIM AND JOYFULLY DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENHANCE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
CONCLUSION:
ON MANY COMMUNION TABLES WE FIND THE WORDS “DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”
THESE ARE WORDS THAT JESUS USED ON THE LAST NIGHT OF HIS LIFE, AND THEY ARE WORDS WE ARE REMINDED OF TODAY. THEY SPEAK TO OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD.
A) WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE PAST: AS WE COME TO THE TABLE, WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE HIGH COST OF OUR SALVATION. JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT NIGHT “THE NEW COVENANT, IN MY BLOOD”. WE ARE REMINDED THAT JESUS GAVE HIMSELF FOR OUR SALVATION.
B) WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE PRESENT: COMMUNION IS AN ACTION WORD MEANING “FELLOWSHIP, SHARING TOGETHER”. WE ENTER INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE ONE WHO LIVED, DIED AND WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD AND IS ALIVE FOREVERMORE. HE IS PRESENT WITH US AT THIS VERY MOMENT AS WE COME TO HIS TABLE.
C) WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE FUTURE: 1 COR. 11:26 INCLUDES THREE SMALL WORDS BUT WORDS THAT SPEAK VOLUMES. “TILL HE COMES”.
ON THAT PASSOVER NIGHT, JESUS WAS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. HE WAS PREPARING THE DISCIPLES FOR THE WORK AHEAD. AT THE LORD’S TABLE WE REMEMBER THE PROMISE OF HIS RETURN. WE REMEMBER THE PROMISE HE MADE TO US OF HIS GLORIOUS RETURN AND THAT WE WOULD SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.
THERE IS COMING A TIME WHEN WE WILL SIT DOWN AND EAT WITH JESUS, AND CHRISTIANS FROM ALL TIME. WE WILL FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER IN THE ETERNAL VICTORY OF CHRIST.
REVELATION 19:6-9:
THEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GREAT MULTITUDE, LIKE THE ROAR OF RUSHING WATERS AND LIKE LOUD PEALS OF THUNDER, SHOUTING: “HALLELUJAH! FOR OUR LORD GOD ALMIGHTY REIGNS. 7 LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD AND GIVE HIM GLORY! FOR THE WEDDING OF THE LAMB HAS COME, AND HIS BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY. 8 FINE LINEN, BRIGHT AND CLEAN, WAS GIVEN HER TO WEAR.” (FINE LINEN STANDS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE.) 9 THEN THE ANGEL SAID TO ME, “WRITE THIS: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB!” AND HE ADDED, “THESE ARE THE TRUE WORDS OF GOD.
SO TODAY WE REMEMBER AND TODAY WE THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVE AND MERCY. WE THANK HIM FOR OUR FUTURE HOME IN GLORY. WE THANK HIM FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF COMING TO HIS TABLE.
