The Privilege Of The Lord’s Supper

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.