This Sunday at Church, listening to my Pastor's sermon, I began taking notes as I was absorbed in the message. I noticed others weren't that interested, and my wife later said she had trouble staying awake. Some sermons are just more interesting to certain people. Being Communion Sunday (We take it once a month, first Sunday of the month), he was speaking on communion.
He preached/taught from Mark 14:22-26. He said for 1,500 years the Jews had always done the Passover meal the same way, having four cups during the meal that represented
1. The rescue from Egypt
2. The promise of freedom
3. Redemption through God's power
4. Gods Restoration of a relationship with His people in the future.
After the second cup, Jesus broke the bread, and instead of the usual words about "affliction" He spoke about the bread in relationship to His own body in v.22. This would have been SHOCKING to the disciples, a break with 1,500 years of tradition. Jesus skipped over the "bitter herbs", skipped over the "fruit" to say that He would build His kingdom. Jesus skipped over the usual words about the Passover Lamb and the angel of death, because Jesus was the passover Lamb and he would be the one dying. They didn't even drink the usual 4th cup, because Jesus said He wouldn't drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." v.25. It was like I was hearing all this for the first time, though I had officiated at communion for 16 years! I didn't always do it the same way, but tried to make it more natural, less predictable, to keep it fresh, and here I had missed this great "shock factor" all these years. Wow! What a great story the Lord had for those disciples, and for us!!!
He preached/taught from Mark 14:22-26. He said for 1,500 years the Jews had always done the Passover meal the same way, having four cups during the meal that represented
1. The rescue from Egypt
2. The promise of freedom
3. Redemption through God's power
4. Gods Restoration of a relationship with His people in the future.
After the second cup, Jesus broke the bread, and instead of the usual words about "affliction" He spoke about the bread in relationship to His own body in v.22. This would have been SHOCKING to the disciples, a break with 1,500 years of tradition. Jesus skipped over the "bitter herbs", skipped over the "fruit" to say that He would build His kingdom. Jesus skipped over the usual words about the Passover Lamb and the angel of death, because Jesus was the passover Lamb and he would be the one dying. They didn't even drink the usual 4th cup, because Jesus said He wouldn't drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God." v.25. It was like I was hearing all this for the first time, though I had officiated at communion for 16 years! I didn't always do it the same way, but tried to make it more natural, less predictable, to keep it fresh, and here I had missed this great "shock factor" all these years. Wow! What a great story the Lord had for those disciples, and for us!!!
