THE LORD'S SUPPER

Newsletter 282 February 12, 2012
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Matthew 26:26-30
King James Version (KJV)

THE PASSOVER OF THE OLD

When Jesus and his Apostles reclined at the Passover Table to observe that feast, they had no idea that this was not to be only the memorial they had observed all of their lives. It was to be the last of their old covenant with God, and the first of the new one. This was a feast, ripe with symbolism to draw their memories back to their deliverance from Egypt. The unleavened bread; the Passover lamb, indeed every portion of the Passover observance was, and is still today, observed by orthodox Jews every year. The prophetic meaning of the blood sacrifices of the Old Covenant were climaxing in the final blood sacrifice of the Son of God. The Old Covenant was being fulfilled before their very eyes.

At the close of this feast, Jesus used the same emblems, the unleavened bread and the wine to introduce God’s New Covenant with His people. Building upon the Old, Jesus makes the link with the New.

THE LORD’S SUPPER OF THE NEW

The Bread

This was not just any bread. In preparation for the Passover, every trace of yeast is searched out and removed from the house and from those items to be used. Yeast is an impurity in bread inserted in the recipe to cause the bread to rise and be filled with tiny bubbles. It is killed by the baking process, making the finished loaf lighter because of those bubbles. Symbolically it represents sin. So, one uses unleavened bread for the communion service. Christ is without sin. The bread which represents his body is without leaven.

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

(Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, 1 Corinthians 10:16, Matthew 14:19)

The Cup

27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Since I am not familiar with wine making, I can’t say with certainty if the wine of Jesus’ day did or did not use yeast. Certainly the good wine of the wedding feast was fresh. And just as certain the Communion Wine of today is very alcoholic. The same word is used for either, but because of the search for every trace of yeast before the Passover feast suggests to me that it was probably also without.

I know from experience that the water of Jerusalem is undrinkable and there was a warning of the bath room tap, “Do not drink.” Bottled water was sold everywhere for those who did not wish to drink wine. Timothy must have had a problem.

The cup of the communion, representing Jesus’ blood, would have been pure.
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

(Exodus 24:8, Hebrews 9:20, Matthew 20:28)

Christ shed his blood and died for our sins. This memorial has been observed in memory of that fact when his followers gather to worship, “on the first day of the week” throughout the world. This is his command. “This do in remembrance of me.”

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

We look forward to drinking it with him in Heaven. While I eat grapes, I personally reserve their juice for this memorial alone and look forward to drinking it with him at his wedding feast in Heaven.

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
(Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31, Luke 22:31-34, Matthew 21:1)
There is no comment of the hymn, but the Talmud and tradition, suggest Psalm 118 to close the Passover meal.

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012

FEBRUARY


12th. Sunday – Exodus 6, 7, 8, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 20
13th. Monday – Exodus 9, 10, Matthew 28, Proverbs 4:20-27
14th. Tuesday - Exodus 11, 12, Mark 1-27, Psalm 21:1-7
15th. Wednesday - Exodus 13, 14, Mark 1:28-45, Psalm 21:8-13
16th. Thursday - Exodus 15, 16, Mark 2, Psalm 22:1-8
17th. Friday – Exodus 17, 18, Mark 3, Proverbs 5:1-14
18th. Saturday - Exodus 19, 20, Mark 4:1-25, Psalm 22:9-18

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WEDNESDAY WAS MY 84TH BIRTHDAY, THANKS TO THE LORD



THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41
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Notable Quotations
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"The world asks, 'What does a man own?' Christ asks, 'How does he use it?' " - Andrew Murray (1828-1917), South African evangelist and writer

"The gratification of wealth is not found in mere possession or in lavish expenditure, but in its wise application." - Miguel de Cervantes

"Wealth shines in giving rather than in hoarding: for the miser is hateful, whereas the generous man is applauded." - [Anicius Manlius Severinus] Boethius

"I was once young and now I am old, but not once have I been witness to God's failure to supply my need when first I had given for the furtherance of His work. He has never failed in His promise, so I cannot fail in my service to Him." - William Carey

"Things themselves do not remain, but their effects do. Therefore we should not be mean and calculating with what we have but give with a generous hand. Look at how much people give to players and dancers-why not give just as much to Christ?" - John Chrysostom