Exodus 12 tells how, in the Old Covenant, God punished the Egyptians who rebelled against Him, yet provided a way out for anyone who showed faith in God’s promises of deliverance from slavery. God “passed over” the houses which had the lambs blood sprinkled on the door frame. The lamb had become the sacrifice that saved people from God’s judgement. This was Passover.
In the New Covenant, Jesus, the lamb of God, is the sacrifice made for all who believe Christ is God’s only Son, who has come to earth to be our once and for all sacrifice. He is the last lamb. When we believe Christ died for us, we take in Christ’s life and eat of the truth of His Word, live by His Spirit and love God and others in action and in prayer. This is to eat of the bread of life. The blood of the lamb is another symbol of how Christs’ life has been poured out for us, to substitute for our sin and bring us into fellowship with God. To drink of the wine, symbolic of the blood shed on the cross, is to be right with God from all the sin of your life, past, present and future. Jesus drank the cup, the wrath of God, so we could be in right relationship with God the Father forever. To eat the bread and drink the wine is an act of faith thanking Jesus for His sacrifice and God the Father for forgiveness and love in which to live our lives. This is communion, and Christ says, “do this in remembrance of me”.
They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
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 22:13-20
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and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
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.”
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
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Whether you are looking back at the cross and miracle of what Christ did…as the spotless lamb,
or if you are looking for strength for today’s troubles…..
or if you are looking forward to Christ’s return…when there will be no more shed blood, Christ says, “do this in remembrance of me”.
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Prayer of Thanks
Firstly, thanks for opening my eyes.
Thank you Lord that you’ve felt pain like us and know human sorrow.
Thank you Lord that you trusted the Father and showed us how to accept suffering and give our will over to the Father.
Thank you Lord that you walked into the fullness of your purpose, thinking of your little ones and saving us.
To God be the glory and power forever.
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If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:1