October 06, 2018
Jacobs children had been slaves for a long time. They had all but given up hope, but now strange and miraculous things were happening:
The Nile had turned to blood
Frogs, lice and flies had covered the land
All the livestock were dead
Every Egyptian had been covered with painful itchy boils
Hail mixed with fire had killed people and destroyed crops
What the hailed had not destroyed the locust did.
And just a few days ago the entire land of Egypt had been covered in complete darkness – all the land, except were the Children of Israel lived.
That was the strange part. The Children of Israel had not experienced most of the terrible things the Egyptians had experienced and yet they still weren’t sure they could trust the God of Moses.
Now Moses was giving them instructions before the great final battle for deliverance:
Kill a spotless lamb.
Wipe some of its blood on the door posts of your home
Roast the lamb whole with some bitter herbs
Make bread with no yeast
Once you go in your house – don’t go outside again – or you will die
Do all these things while wearing your traveling clothes – be prepared to leave.
In other words – for this great battle between the gods of Egypt and the God of Israel, the people were to remain indoors and out of the way – trusting in the might of God to deliver them.
What God promised to do He did that night and the next day the sun rose on a free people – free because of what God had done.
That event was to be celebrated every year as the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover.
• Exodus 13:8-10 - On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' 9 This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. 10 You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
And so, for 1400 years Israel kept these Festivals. They celebrated every year not fully realizing that not only did the feasts point back to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, but also pointed forward to all humanities deliverance.
It was that time of year again. Jesus disciples were preparing for the Festivals as they had done their entire lives. A celebration to remember the past mighty works of God.
They all gathered in the upper room.
• Luke 22:14-15, 19-20 - When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer…. 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." 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.
As a general rule a servant washed the feet of the dinner guests prior to the meal. On this occasion that did not happen and it did not occur to the disciples to take on a task so below their station.
But after the meal was over Jesus got up, took off His coat and began to wash the feet of the disciples…
• John 13:6-15 - He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ 7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." 8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." 9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" 10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."… 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
In these last few moments with His friends, Jesus tried to teach them one final lesson – that for a Christ follower there is no task below their station. Humility reigns supreme in the kingdom of God.
Less than 24 hours later Jesus would be dead, but what He promised to do He did and on that Sunday morning the sun rose on free people – no longer slaves to sin and death.
Today when we celebrate communion we do it for 2 reasons:
To remember the past – Trusting in what Jesus did.
• Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
• John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
To look forward into the future – Trusting in His promise of Eternal Life.
• Matthew 22:16-18 – “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."
• Revelation 21:1-3 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
Let’s pray.
