WHAT SHOULD THE LORD S SUPPER MEAN TO YOU?

Transcription

1 WHATSHOULDTHELORD SSUPPERMEANTOYOU? On the first day of [the Feast of] Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover[lamb],[Jesus ] disciples asked him, Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover [meal]? 13 So he sent two of his disciples, instructing them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a pitcher of water shall meet you; follow him. 14 Whatever house that man enters, say to the owner, The Teacher says,whereismyguestroom,whereishalleatthepassoverwithmydisciples? 15 He willpersonallyshowyoualargeupperroom,furnishedandready.makepreparations forusthere. 16 Thedisciplesleft,andcameintothecity,andfoundthingsjustas[Jesus] hadtoldthem.sotheymadepreparationsforthepassover[meal]. 17 Wheneveningcame,[Jesus]arrivedwiththeTwelve. 18 Astheywererecliningat thetableeating,jesussaid,itellyouthetruth,oneofyoushallbetrayme onewhois eatingwithme. 19 Theybecamedistressed,andonebyonetheyaskedhim,IsitI? 20 He replied,itisoneofthetwelve,onewhodips[bread]intothebowlwithme. 21 TheSon ofmanwillgojustasitiswrittenabouthim.butwoeuntothatmanthroughwhom thesonofmanisbetrayed!itwouldhavebeengoodforthatmanifhehadnotbeen born. 22 Astheywereeating,hetook[some]bread.Afterhehadgiventhanks,hebrokeit, andgaveittothem,saying,take[this];thisismybody. 23 Thenhetookacup,andafter hehadgiventhanks,hegavetoitthem;andtheyalldrankfromit. 24 Hesaidtothem, Thisismybloodofthecovenant,whichispouredoutformany. 25 Itellyouthetruth,I shallnolongerdrinkofthefruitofthevine,untilthatdaywhenidrinkitfreshinthe kingdomofgod. 26 Aftertheyhadsungahymn,theywentouttothemountofOlives. (Mk.14:12 26) Introduction Have you ever said to yourself, If only I had lived in the days of Jesus if only I couldhaveseenhimandheardhimandtouchedhim itwouldhavebeensomuch easier.itwouldhavebeensomucheasiertoappreciatewhathedidforme,somuch easiertoshowmyfaithinhim,andsomucheasiertobeassuredofmyrelationship withhim.icouldhaveactuallyfollowedhim,icouldhaveactuallyembracedhim! It all would have been so much more personal; so much more physical and tangible. Ourfaithandourspirituallifeisfeeble.Weliveina materialworld; consequently, we stand in need of some kind of physical support and encouragement; some tangible means of assurance. We need something tangible that can illustrate the greatthingschristhasdoneforus;weneedsomethingtangiblethatcanassureusof our relationship to Christ. To meet this need, to condescend to our human limitations,thelordhasgraciouslyprovideduswiththesacraments,oneofwhichis thelord ssupper. Asacramentcanbedefinedasasignandasealofaspiritualreality.Asasign,the Lord uses the sacrament to visibly show us by physical symbols His redemptive

2 workandourrelationshiptohim.asaseal,thelordusesthesacramenttoassure us as Christians of our relationship to Him and the benefits we receive from that relationship;namely,forgivenessofsinsandspirituallife. AswestudythisnextpassageoftheGospelofMark,letusconsiderthemeaningof thelord ssupperanditssignificanceforusasbelieversinthelordjesuschrist. I.WhatistheBackgroundoftheLord ssupper? TheLordJesusinstitutedthesacramentoftheLord ssupperashewassharing thepassovermealwithhisdisciples.inadditiontothepassageofmark14:12,we shouldalsoconsiderluke22:14 20, Whenthehourcame,Jesusandhisapostlesreclinedatthetable. 15 Andhesaid to them, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 foritellyou,iwillnoteatitagainuntilitfindsfulfillmentinthekingdomof God. 17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, Take this and divide it amongyou, 18 foritellyouiwillnotdrinkagainofthefruitofthevineuntilthe kingdomofgodcomes. 19 Andhetookbread,gavethanksandbrokeit,andgave ittothem,saying,thisismybodygivenforyou;dothisinremembranceofme. 20 Inthesameway,afterthesupperhetookthecup,saying,Thiscupisthenew covenantinmyblood,whichispouredoutforyou.(lk.22:14 20) With the annual Passover meal as the setting, the gospel writers only highlight thenewanduniquefeaturesofthatlastsupper;thefeaturesjesusintroducedat thattime,thefeaturesthatwouldbecomethesacramentofthelord ssupper. On the evening of the Passover, Jesus and His disciples returned to Jerusalem, because the Passover meal had to be eaten after sunset and in the royal city of Jerusalem.Wheneachmemberofthe family hadtakenhisplace,theheadofthe household began the celebration by taking the first (of four) cups of wine and offeringtheprayerofthanksgiving.includedinthethanksgivingwastheprayer for the fulfillment of this sacramental feast in the kingdom of heaven, and the prayertobepreservedsoastoparticipateinityetanotheryear.followingthis prayer, the head of the household arose from the table and washed his hands; apparently, it was at this point in the evening that Jesus arose and washed His disciples feet,asrecordedinjohn13. Afterthisceremonialwashingofthehands,thedisheswereimmediatelybrought to the table. The first dish consisted of bitter herbs, reminding the Jews of the bitternessofslaveryexperiencedbytheirforefathersinegypt.thenextdishwas stewedfruit;thecolorandpaste liketexturewouldremindthemoftheclayused bytheirforefatherstomakebricksinegyptduringthetimeoftheirslavery.the thirddishwasunleavenedbread itwasknownas thebreadofhaste, forthere wasnotimetowaitfortheleaven,oryeast,torisethatnightofthefirstpassover, which was the night of the Exodus from Egypt. The fourth and final part for of

3 sacramental meal was the roasted Passover lamb. It represented the lamb that wasslainonthenightoftheexodussothattheangelofdeathwould passover andsparethehomesofthosewhohadsprinkledthebloodofthelambupontheir doorposts. Theheadofthehousewouldnowdipsomeofthebitterherbsintosaltwateror vinegar,pronounceablessing,andpartakeofit,thenitwouldbedistributedtoall those present at the table. Next he would break one of the three unleavened loaves (or wafers) lying on the table: half of it was put aside to be eaten after supper,(this portion was called the after dish ); the other half was placed in a dish and lifted up as the head of the house proclaimed, This is the bread of miserythatourfathersateinegypt partakeofthepassover. Thesecondcupof winewasnowprepared. At this point the youngest person present was instructed to ask about the meaningofthisobservance: Whyisthisnight differentfromallothernights? The head of the house would then lead the family in a liturgy recounting the events of the LORD s deliverance of His people from Egypt. Following this, the second cup of wine was lifted up, prayers were offered, Psalms were recited,andthenallthosegatheredaroundthetablewoulddrinkofthewine. Noweveryoneatthetablewouldwashtheirhandsandtheactualmealbegan.A piece of the roasted Passover lamb, together with a piece of unleavened bread andbitterherbs,wasdistributedtoeachonepresent.apparently,itwasatthis time that Jesus took a piece of bread, broke it, and spoke the words: Take this, thisismybody (Mk.14:22.) Whenthemealwasconcluded,theheadofthehouseholdblessedthethirdcupof winewithaprayerofthanksgiving.atthispoint,afterthediscipleshaddrunkof thewine,jesusspokethewords, thisismybloodofthecovenant,whichispoured outformany (Mk.14:24.)AfulleraccountofJesus wordsisgiveninmatthew s gospel: Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink fromit,allofyou. 28 Thisismybloodofthecovenant,whichispouredoutformany fortheforgivenessofsins (Matt.26:27 28.) After the meal was finished, there was the singing of Psalms , and then thepassoverwasconcludedwiththedrinkingofthefourthcupofwine. II.WhatistheLord ssupperintendedtoteachus? When Jesus distributed the bread (at the time when the Passover lamb was being eaten), He spoke the words, Take this, this is my body. Our Lord was declaring that His body, about to be offered unto God as a sacrifice upon the cross,wastheultimatesacrificeforsin.thepassover,andalltheoldtestament sacrifices, served as a provisional sacrifice, anticipating the perfect sacrifice of the Son of God Himself. The Book of Hebrews declares: Day after day every

4 prieststandsandperformshisreligiousduties;againandagainheoffersthesame sacrifices,whichcannevertakeawaysins. 12 Butwhenthispriest[theLordJesus Christ]hadofferedforalltimeonesacrificeforsins,hesatdownattherighthand ofgod (Heb.10:11 12.)Note:Christ ssittingattherighthandofgodindicates thathisworkofatonementisfinishedandthatitisacceptedbygodhisfather. WhenJesusdistributedthecupofwine,Hespokethewords, Drinkfromit,allof you. 28 Thisismybloodofthecovenant (Matt.26:27 28.)In1Corinthians11:25, referringtothelord swordsspokenontheoccasionofthefirstlord ssupper, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes, In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. Jesus shed blood fulfilledthedemandsandrequirementsofthecovenantestablishedatmt.sinai, acovenantthattypifiedgod sdemandforwhole hearteddevotioninthelivesof thosewhowouldbehispeople: When Moses went and told the people all Jehovah s words and laws, they responded with one voice, Everything Jehovah has said we will do. 4 Moses then wrote down everything Jehovah had said. He got up early the next morningandbuiltanaltaratthefootofthemountainandsetuptwelvestone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men,andtheyofferedburntofferingsandsacrificedyoungbullsasfellowship offeringstojehovah. 6 Mosestookhalfofthebloodandputitinbowls,andthe other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant andreadittothepeople.theyresponded, WewilldoeverythingJehovahhas said;wewillobey. 8 Mosesthentooktheblood,sprinkleditonthepeopleand said, This is the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you in accordancewithallthesewords. (Ex.24:3 8) Consider the covenant the LORD established with His people at Mt. Sinai: First, Moses reported to the people the stipulations of the covenant (vs. 3a,) and the people responded by indicating their willingness to accept the terms of the covenant: We will do everything that Jehovah has spoken (vs. 3b.) Moses then proceeded to write all the words of the LORD; that is to say, he produced a writtendocumentofthecovenant(vs.4a.)second,earlythenextmorningmoses built an altar at the base of the mountain (i.e.; in God s presence) and twelve pillars, representing the twelve tribes of Israel (vs. 4b.) He then instructed the young men, who had been previously chosen, to now offer burnt offerings and sacrificepeaceofferingstothelord(vs.5.)(note:theburntofferingsymbolized complete devotion and dedication to the LORD on the part of the worshiper.) Mosesthentookthebloodofthesesacrificedanimalsandsprinkledhalfofiton thealtar(vs.6.)third,thepeoplereaffirmedtheiracceptanceofthecovenant(vs. 7.)Fourth,Mosesthentooktherestofthebloodandsprinkledituponthepeople, declaring, [This is] the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you in accordancewithallthesewords (vs.7 8.)

5 At this point we must pause in order to rightly appreciate the meaning of the bloodsprinkleduponthealtarandthenuponthepeople.whenwehavegrasped the meaning of the sprinkled blood we can then appreciate the fact that the covenantofmt.sinaiwasenactedupontheprincipleofgrace.theoldtestament commentatorskeil&delitzschprovidethebestexplanationofthemeaningofthe sprinkledblood.wequotethemasfollows: Theonlyreasonfordividingthesacrificialbloodintotwopartswasthefact that the blood sprinkled upon the altar could not be taken off again and sprinkleduponthepeople.thetwohalvesofthebloodaretoberegardedas oneblood:firstsprinkleduponthealtar,thensprinkleduponthepeople.in thebloodsprinkleduponthealtar,thenaturallifeofthepeopleisportrayed asbeinggivenup[inwhole hearteddevotion]togod.then,bymeansofthe bloodbeingsprinkleduponthepeople,whatisbeingportrayedisthatsame lifebeingrestoredtothepeopleasaliferenewedbythegraceofgod[tobe livedinwhole hearteddevotionuntogod](keil&delitzsch,thepentateuch, Vol.2,p.158.) Nowweareinapositiontounderstandthesignificanceoftheorderofeventsas they occurred at the foot of Mt. Sinai. First, the people consent to accept the LORD stermsofthecovenant.butnoticethattheyarenotrequiredtofulfillthose terms in reliance upon their own strength. On the contrary, what immediately happens next is the sprinkling of the blood upon the altar. In light of Keil & Delitzsch s interpretation, this actually represents an act of faith whereby the peopleentrustedthemselvestothelordtheirgod.innewtestamentterms,itis the equivalent of being joined together by faith to Christ in His death, as describedinromans6:3, Ordoyounotknowthatallofuswhowerebaptizedinto Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? When the people reaffirm their intention of accepting the covenant as presented by the LORD, the remainder of thebloodisthensprinkleduponthem.aspreviouslynoted,thesprinklingofthe blood upon the people is symbolizing (and provisionally procuring) the life renewed by the grace of God being bestowed upon the people. Again, in New Testamentterms,itisthebeliever sparticipationwithchristinhisresurrection life,( Wewerethereforeburiedwithhimthroughbaptismintodeathinorderthat, justaschristwasraisedfromthedeadthroughthegloryofthefather,wetoomay liveanewlife Rom.6:4,)alifeliveduntoGod,( Thedeathhedied,hediedtosin onceforall;butthelifehelives,helivestogod. 11 Inthesameway,countyourselves deadtosin,butalivetogodinchristjesus, Rom.6:10 11.) AlthoughthecovenantratifiedatMt.Sinaiwasinfactacovenantfoundedupon theprincipleofgrace,thepeopleaccepteditasacovenantofworks.bytheirreaffirmation, WewilldoallthatJehovahhasspoken;wewillbeobedient, (vs.7,) they were expressing their intention to comply with the requirements of the covenantbytakinguponthemselvesthecovenantobligations.thus,contraryto thelord sintention,theyreceivedthecovenantasacovenantofworks.(butby thesprinklingoftheremainderoftheblooduponthepeople[vs.7 8,]bearingin

6 mind what that act represented, Moses once again re iterates the gracious characterofthemt.sinaicovenant.) Exodus 32 will record Israel s breaking of the covenant by the making of the golden calf and worshiping it as a substitute for the LORD Himself. On that occasionthepeopleweresparedonlybecauseoftheintercessionmadebymoses ontheirbehalf: The next day Moses said to the people, You have committed a great sin. But nowiwillgouptojehovah;perhapsicanmakeatonementforyoursin. 31 So MoseswentbacktoJehovahandsaid, Oh,whatagreatsinthesepeoplehave committed!theyhavemadethemselvesgodsofgold. 32 Butnow,pleaseforgive theirsin butifnot,thenblotmeoutofthebookyouhavewritten. (Ex.32:30 32) TheLORDsparedthepeople bymoses actofintercession andinthecourseof timepromisedtoestablishanewcovenantwiththem: Thetimeiscoming, declaresjehovah, wheniwillmakeanewcovenantwith thehouseofisraelandwiththehouseofjudah. 32 Itwillnotbelikethecovenant ImadewiththeirforefatherswhenItookthembythehandtoleadthemoutof Egypt; because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares Jehovah. 33 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel afterthattime, declaresjehovah. Iwillputmylawintheirmindsandwriteit ontheirhearts.iwillbetheirgod,andtheywillbemypeople. 34 Nolongerwilla manteachhisneighbor,oramanhisbrother,saying, KnowJehovah, because theywillallknowme,fromtheleastofthemtothegreatest, declaresjehovah, foriwillforgivetheirwickednessandwillremembertheirsinsnomore. (Jer. 31:31 34) TheNewCovenant(Jer.33)doesnotreplacetheMt.Sinaicovenantassomething ofanaltogetherdifferentnature;rather,thenewcovenantreplacedthemt.sinai Covenant in the sense that the Sinai Covenant was provisional and the New Covenant contains the promised substance and fulfillment of the original covenant. Thus it is that at the time He instituted the Lord s Supper, Jesus distributed the cupofwineandspokethesewords, Thisis[i.e.;thiswinerepresents]mybloodof the covenant, that is poured out for many (Mk. 14:24.) Jesus shed blood was fulfilling the demands of the old covenant. He offered His blood (His life) unto GodtheFatherasasacrificeofcompleteobedience,(whichwastherequirement of the covenant,) and at the same time, He offered His blood unto God as a sacrificeofatonement,bearingthepunishmentthedisobedientpeopledeserved, hewaspiercedforourtransgressions,hewascrushedforouriniquities;the punishmentwaslaiduponhimforourpeace,andbyhiswoundswearehealed.

7 6 Weall,likesheep,havegoneastray,eachofushasturnedtohisownway;but Jehovahhaslaiduponhimtheiniquityofusall.(Isa.53:5 6) Jesus shedbloodwasatthesametimeestablishingthenewcovenant.asnoted, referringtothenightchristinstitutedthelord ssupper,theapostlepaulwrites, After supper [Jesus offered] the cup, saying, This cup [represents] the new covenant[ratified]bymyblood.wheneveryoudrinkit,dothisinmemoryofme (1Cor.11:25.)BearinmindthattheNewCovenant(Jer.33)doesnotreplacethe Mt.Sinaicovenantassomethingofanaltogetherdifferentnature;rather,theNew Covenant replaced the Mt. Sinai Covenant in the sense that the Sinai Covenant was provisional and the New Covenant contains the promised substance and fulfillmentoftheoriginalcovenant. ByvirtueofourfaithintheLordJesusChrist,ChristiansbecomeunitedtoChrist inhisdeathandresurrection,therebyfulfillingtherequirementsofthecovenant inchristandourrelationshiptohim.whatwasprovisionallyenactedinthemt. Sinai covenant the offering up of the worshiper s life in whole hearted obedience unto the LORD our God and the receiving back a new life consecrated unto Him is actually accomplished in the New Covenant by virtue of our relationshipwithjesusthemessiah:thepeopleentrustedthemselvestothelord theirgod(asrepresentedbythesprinklingoftheblooduponthealtar)isactually accomplished by our being joined together by faith to Christ in His death, as describedinromans6:3, Ordoyounotknowthatallofuswhowerebaptizedinto Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? The people receiving back a life renewed by the grace of God (as represented by the remainder of the blood is then sprinkled upon them) is actually accomplished by our participation with Christ in His resurrection life, We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through thegloryofthefather,wetoomayliveanewlife (Rom.6:4.)AstheApostlePaul indicates, this new life is a life lived unto God, The death he died, he died to sin onceforall;butthelifehelives,helivestogod. 11 Inthesameway,countyourselves deadtosin,butalivetogodinchristjesus (Rom.6:10 11.)Thesacramentofthe Lord ssupperisintendedtoportrayforusandgrantthebelieverassuranceofhis relationshipwiththelordjesuschristandtheramificationsofthatrelationship. Afterhavingdistributedthebreadandthecup,Jesusconcludedwiththewords: Itellyouthetruth,Ishallnolongerdrinkofthefruitofthevine,untilthatday whenidrinkitfreshinthekingdomofgod (Mk.14:25.)WhereastheGospelof Mark provides a condensed version of Jesus statement, the Gospel of Matthew presentsafullerversionofhisstatement, Itellyou,Iwillnotdrinkofthisfruitof thevinefromnowonuntilthatdaywhenidrinkitanewwithyouinmyfather s kingdom (Matt. 26:29.) This is the last meal the Lord would eat with His disciplesonearth,becausehewasnowgoingtothecrosstoactuallyaccomplish allthatthesacramenthehasjustinstitutedsymbolized.butnotice,too,thatin HisstatementJesuswasalsoforetellingHisresurrectionandreceptionintoHis Father s kingdom He will eat again, death is not the end for Him. He will eat

8 again, in His Father s kingdom, and we as believers will eat with Him. Jesus is assuringusthatweasbelieverswillbepreservedandatlastbereceivedintohis Father skingdom,becauseofourrelationshipwithhimandhisperfectsacrifice atcalvary. Conclusion WhatmeaningshouldthesacramentoftheLord ssupperhaveforusaschristians? TheLordusesthesacramentasasign:ameansofvisiblyshowingusandreminding usofourrelationshipwithhim.thelordusesthesacramentasaseal:ameansof tangiblyassuringusofourrelationshipwithhimandthebenefitswereceivefrom that relationship; namely, the forgiveness of our sins and the entrance into the spirituallifeofourlordhimself.