PASSOVER TO COMMUNION AND BEYOND
INTRODUCTION: BEFORE WE GET BACK INTO OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND, SINCE IT IS COMMUNION SUNDAY, LOOK A BIT AT COMMUNION. OFTEN, IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET CAUGHT UP IN A SPIRITUAL RUT, SO TO SPEAK; WHERE WE ARE DOING THINGS MORE OUT OF HABIT AND LESS OUT OF CONVICTION AND UNDERSTANDING. COMMUNION IS ONE OF THOSE EVENTS THAT CAN EASILY DRIFT INTO A SPIRITUAL HABIT.
TRANSITION: SO FOR A FEW BRIEF MOMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE COMMUNION MEAL, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ITS BEGINNING, ITS CURRENT REALITY AND FINALLY ITS FUTURE IMPLICATIONS.
PROPOSITION: IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHAT IT IS WE ARE REMEMBERING!
THREE REASONS COMMUNION SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO US:
1. LUKE 22:15 (NASB) AND HE SAID TO THEM, "I HAVE EARNESTLY DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER;
JESUS DESIRED TO EAT THE PASSOVER MEAL WITH HIS DISCIPLES
2. 1 CORINTHIANS 5:7 (NASB) CLEAN OUT THE OLD LEAVEN SO THAT YOU MAY BE A NEW LUMP, JUST AS YOU ARE IN FACT UNLEAVENED. FOR CHRIST OUR PASSOVER ALSO HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.
PAUL WOULD LINK CHRIST TO THE PASSOVER
3. THE JEWISH PASSOVER WAS THE INTRODUCTION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
1. THE PRELUDE TO COMMUNION
a. THE YEAR IS 1490 BC
i. GOD HAS THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS SENT MOSES TO EGYPT TO SEEK THE RELEASE OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL
ii. HE HAS HEARD THEIR CRIES, AND NOW ANSWERS
b. MOSES, THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD DECLARES AND ERADICATES A SERIES OF PLAGUES AGAINST THE NATION OF EGYPT. EACH PLAGUE, IN ADDITION TO THE DAMAGE DONE ALSO SHOWS THAT THE GOD’S OF EGYPT ARE FALSE – EVEN UP TO PHARAOH HIMSELF
i. WATER TURNED INTO BLOOD
ii. FROGS
iii. LICE
iv. FLIES
v. CATTLE
vi. BOILS
vii. HAIL
viii. LOCUST
ix. DARKNESS
x. DEATH OF THE FIRSTBORN
c. THE INSTITUTION OF PASSOVER WAS TO AVOID THE DEATH
i. PROTECTION FROM DEATH WOULD COME FROM SOMETHING UNBLEMISHED
d. FROM THE TIME OF EVE AND THE SERPENT, SOMETHING HAS ALWAYS HAD TO DIE FOR SIN
e. THE PASSOVER LAMB POINTED TO CHRIST
i. A LAMB MUST BE CHOSEN
1. “TELL THE WHOLE COMMUNITY OF ISRAEL THAT ON THE TENTH DAY OF THIS MONTH EACH MAN IS TO TAKE A LAMB FOR HIS FAMILY, ONE FOR EACH HOUSEHOLD.” (EXODUS 12:3)
2. IT COULDN’T BE A BULL OR A DOVE, WHICH WERE SOMETIMES USED IN OTHER OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES.
3. GOD WAS VERY PARTICULAR–IT WAS TO BE A LAMB AND ONLY A LAMB. NOTHING ELSE WOULD DO.
4. WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST SAW JESUS COMING TOWARD HIM, HE CRIED OUT, “LOOK, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD!” (JOHN 1:29).
5. THE APOSTLE PAUL REFERS TO CHRIST AS OUR “PASSOVER LAMB, WHO HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.” (1 CORINTHIANS 5:7)
ii. THE LAMB MUST BE A MALE
1. VERSE 5 STATES THAT “THE ANIMALS YOU CHOOSE MUST BE YEAR-OLD MALES.” (EXODUS 12:5).
2. JESUS FULFILLED THIS IN THAT HE WAS THE SON BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY (LUKE 1:31-32).
iii. THE LAMB MUST BE UNBLEMISHED
1. VERSE 5 ADDS, “THE ANIMALS YOU CHOOSE MUST BE YEAR-OLD MALES WITHOUT DEFECT.” (EXODUS 12:5).
2. THIS MEANS THAT FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THEIR LAMB TO MAKE SURE THERE WERE NO OPEN SORES, NO INFECTIONS, NO DISEASES, NO BLEMISHES, NO SICKNESS OF ANY KIND.
3. THE APOSTLE PETER REFERS TO JESUS AS BEING “A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH OR DEFECT.” (1 PETER 1:19)
4. HEBREWS 4:14-16 EMPHASIZES THAT THOUGH CHRIST WAS TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY THAT WE ARE, HE WAS WITHOUT SIN.
5. WHEN PONTIUS PILATE FINISHED EXAMINING JESUS, HE DECLARED “I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM.” (JOHN 19:6).
iv. THE LAMB MUST BE SLAUGHTERED AT TWILIGHT
1. “TAKE CARE OF THEM UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHEN ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF ISRAEL MUST SLAUGHTER THEM AT TWILIGHT.” (EXODUS 12:6)
2. THE NIV SAYS THAT THE OFFERINGS WERE TO BE MADE AT TWILIGHT, ALTHOUGH THE WORDS LITERALLY MEAN “BETWEEN THE EVENINGS,” WHICH IN JEWISH THOUGHT MEANT BETWEEN 3-5 P.M.
3. THE NEW TESTAMENT TELLS US THAT JESUS WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS AT THE “THIRD HOUR,” MEANING 9:00 A.M AS THE DAY BEGAN AT SUNRISE AROUND 6:00AM.
4. MATTHEW 27:45 TELLS US THAT THERE WAS DARKNESS FROM THE SIXTH HOUR UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR, OR FROM 12 NOON TO 3:00 P.M.
5. SHORTLY AFTER, JESUS UTTERED HIS FINAL WORDS AND DIED. HIS BODY WAS THEN TAKEN DOWN FROM THE CROSS BEFORE SUNDOWN.
6. THUS, JESUS DIED “BETWEEN THE EVENINGS” (3-5 P.M.) AT THE EXACT HOUR THE PASSOVER LAMBS WERE BEING SACRIFICED THROUGHOUT ISRAEL. THE TIMING WAS PERFECT.
v. THE BONES OF THE LAMB MUST NOT BE BROKEN
1. AN ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION INSISTS “DO NOT BREAK ANY OF THE BONES.” (EXODUS 12:46).
2. IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF THE ROMANS TO BREAK THE LEGS OF THOSE BEING CRUCIFIED IN ORDER TO HASTEN THEIR DEATH.
3. JOHN 19:32-36 TELLS US THAT THE ROMAN SOLDIERS DID NOT BREAK JESUS’ LEGS BECAUSE HE HAD ALREADY DIED. THE APOSTLE JOHN POINTS OUT THAT THIS HAPPENED TO FULFIL THE SCRIPTURE, “NOT ONE OF HIS BONES WILL BE BROKEN.” (JOHN 19:36) ALTHOUGH HE IS QUOTING PSALM 34:20, THE ULTIMATE REFERENCE GOES BACK TO EXODUS 12.
vi. THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB MUST BE SPRINKLED ON THE DOORPOSTS
1. “THEN THEY ARE TO TAKE SOME OF THE BLOOD AND PUT IT ON THE SIDES AND TOPS OF THE DOORFRAMES OF THE HOUSES WHERE THEY EAT THE LAMBS.” (EXODUS 12:7)
2. AFTER THE LAMB HAD BEEN SLAUGHTERED AND THE BLOOD DRAINED, THE FATHER WAS TO TAKE SOME OF THE BLOOD AND SPRINKLE IT ON TOP AND THE SIDES OF THE DOORFRAME. THE BLOOD WOULD BE THE SIGN TO THE LORD THAT THE FAMILY HAD SACRIFICED A LAMB AS HE HAD COMMANDED.
3. “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.” (EXODUS 12:13)
4. THE LAMB ALONE COULD NOT SAVE GOD’S PEOPLE. ONLY THE BLOOD SPRINKLED ON THE DOORPOST COULD SPARE THE PEOPLE FROM THE TERRIBLE JUDGMENT OF GOD THAT STRUCK DOWN THE FIRST BORN OF EVERY EGYPTIAN FAMILY.
5. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION. HIS BLOOD WAS POURED OUT FOR US (MATTHEW 26:28). HE IS GOD’S LAMB OFFERED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD. HOWEVER, JESUS’ BLOOD SAVES ONLY WHEN IT IS APPLIED. FOR THOSE WHO REJECT THE BLOOD, EVEN THE LAMB OF GOD CANNOT SAVE THEM.
vii. THE LAMB SACRIFICED MUST BE EATEN
1. “THAT SAME NIGHT THEY ARE TO EAT THE MEAT ROASTED OVER THE FIRE, ALONG WITH BITTER HERBS, AND BREAD MADE WITHOUT YEAST… THIS IS HOW YOU ARE TO EAT IT: WITH YOUR CLOAK TUCKED INTO YOUR BELT, YOUR SANDALS ON YOUR FEET AND YOUR STAFF IN YOUR HAND. EAT IT IN HASTE; IT IS THE LORD’S PASSOVER.” (EXODUS 12:8-11)
2. IN JOHN 6, JESUS MADE ONE OF HIS MOST PROVOCATIVE STATEMENTS.
3. “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU. WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE THEM UP AT THE LAST DAY. FOR MY FLESH IS REAL FOOD AND MY BLOOD IS REAL DRINK. WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD REMAINS IN ME, AND I IN THEM.” (JOHN 6:53-56)
4. ALTHOUGH JESUS IS PRIMARILY MAKING AN ASSOCIATION WITH GOD’S PROVISION OF MANNA IN THE WILDERNESS, THE IMAGERY IS FURTHER DEVELOPED IN HIS TEACHING AT THE LAST SUPPER, THE PASSOVER MEAL JESUS SHARED WITH THE DISCIPLES ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED.
5. “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.” 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.” (LUKE 22:19-20)
6. THE APOSTLE PAUL ADDS THESE WORDS OF JESUS,
7. “FOR WHENEVER YOU EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES.” (1 CORINTHIANS 11:26)
8. THE PASSOVER, WHEN GOD LITERALLY PASSED OVER THE HOMES OF GOD’S PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD SPRINKLED, WAS A TYPE AND SHADOW OF THE LAST SUPPER. AND THE COMMUNION OR LORD’S SUPPER, WE CELEBRATE HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE PASSOVER. SEVEN INSTRUCTIONS GOD GAVE HIS PEOPLE – AND IN EACH AND EVERY DETAIL A WONDERFUL PARALLEL WITH ALL THAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCOMPLISHED FOR US ON THE CROSS.
viii.
2. THE PURPOSE FOR COMMUNION – TO PROCLAIM THE LORDS DEATH TILL HE COMES
a. A MEMORIAL OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS
i. ON THE EVENING CHRIST WAS TO BE BETRAYED HE INSTITUTED COMMUNION DURING THE PASSOVER MEAL
LUKE 22:19-20 AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN SOME BREAD AND GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, "THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME." 20 AND IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP AFTER THEY HAD EATEN, SAYING, "THIS CUP WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.
ii. THE MEANING OF THE BREAD
1. THE BREAD REPRESENTS THE BODY OF JESUS
JOHN 6:51 "I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN; IF ANYONE EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE WILL LIVE FOREVER; AND THE BREAD ALSO WHICH I WILL GIVE FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD IS MY FLESH."
JOHN 6:53-54 SO JESUS SAID TO THEM, "TRULY, TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOURSELVES. 54 "HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP ON THE LAST DAY.
2. WE ARE FREE FROM SIN BECAUSE JESUS DIED FOR US
3. ROMANS TELLS US THAT WHEN JESUS DIED, WE DIED WITH HIM; BREAKING THE HOLD SIN HAD ON US
4. THE BREAD WAS WITHOUT YEAST – A SYMBOL FOR SIN
iii. THE MEANING OF THE CUP
1. THE BELIEVER IS FORGIVEN FOR HIS SIN BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST
2. WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS/REMISSION OF SIN
3. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS OUR CLEANSING FROM SIN AND THE JESUS PAID IT ALL.
b. A REMINDER OF OUR PRESENT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
i. IT IS A REMEMBRANCE OF CHRIST - I COR.11:24.
ii. IT IS A PROCLAMATION OF HIS DEATH - I COR.11:26.
iii. IT IS AN ASSURANCE OF CHRIST’S SECOND COMING - I COR.11:26; MATT.26:29.
iv. IT IS A TIME OF FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE - I COR.10:21.
3. THE PROMISE IN COMMUNION
a. CHRIST HAS PROMISED NOT TO DRINK THE CUP TILL HE DOES SO AGAIN WITH US.
MATTHEW 26:26-29 WHILE THEY WERE EATING, JESUS TOOK SOME BREAD, AND AFTER A BLESSING, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, "TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY." 27 AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN A CUP AND GIVEN THANKS, HE GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, "DRINK FROM IT, ALL OF YOU; 28 FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR MANY FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS. 29 "BUT I SAY TO YOU, I WILL NOT DRINK OF THIS FRUIT OF THE VINE FROM NOW ON UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN I DRINK IT NEW WITH YOU IN MY FATHER'S KINGDOM."
b. IT IS A PROMISE OF A KINGDOM
c. IT IS A PROMISE OF A KINGDOM WITH THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
d. SEVERAL PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE DESCRIBE SUCH A KINGDOM MEAL
PSALM 22:25-29 FROM YOU COMES MY PRAISE IN THE GREAT ASSEMBLY; I SHALL PAY MY VOWS BEFORE THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 26 THE AFFLICTED WILL EAT AND BE SATISFIED; THOSE WHO SEEK HIM WILL PRAISE THE LORD. LET YOUR HEART LIVE FOREVER! 27 ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH WILL REMEMBER AND TURN TO THE LORD, AND ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE NATIONS WILL WORSHIP BEFORE YOU. 28 FOR THE KINGDOM IS THE LORD'S AND HE RULES OVER THE NATIONS. 29 ALL THE PROSPEROUS OF THE EARTH WILL EAT AND WORSHIP, ALL THOSE WHO GO DOWN TO THE DUST WILL BOW BEFORE HIM, EVEN HE WHO CANNOT KEEP HIS SOUL ALIVE.
PSALM 116:13-14 I SHALL LIFT UP THE CUP OF SALVATION AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD. 14 I SHALL PAY MY VOWS TO THE LORD, OH MAY IT BE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL HIS PEOPLE.
ISAIAH 25:6 THE LORD OF HOSTS WILL PREPARE A LAVISH BANQUET FOR ALL PEOPLES ON THIS MOUNTAIN; A BANQUET OF AGED WINE, CHOICE PIECES WITH MARROW, AND REFINED, AGED WINE.
LUKE 12:36-37 "BE LIKE MEN WHO ARE WAITING FOR THEIR MASTER WHEN HE RETURNS FROM THE WEDDING FEAST, SO THAT THEY MAY IMMEDIATELY OPEN THE DOOR TO HIM WHEN HE COMES AND KNOCKS. 37 "BLESSED ARE THOSE SLAVES WHOM THE MASTER WILL FIND ON THE ALERT WHEN HE COMES; TRULY I SAY TO YOU, THAT HE WILL GIRD HIMSELF TO SERVE, AND HAVE THEM RECLINE AT THE TABLE, AND WILL COME UP AND WAIT ON THEM.
REVELATION 19:9 THEN HE *SAID TO ME, "WRITE, 'BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.'" AND HE *SAID TO ME, "THESE ARE TRUE WORDS OF GOD."
e. EVENTS THAT GET US TO THE MEAL OF REV 19
i. THE RAPTURE
ii. THE TRIBULATION
iii. THE REVEALING OF THE ANTICHRIST
iv. THE DEATH OF BELIEVERS AFTER THE RAPTURE
f. EVENTS AFTER THE MEAL
i. THE FINAL BATTLE
ii. THE FINAL JUDGMENT
