November 3, 2024
Sermon
CHRIST AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Matthew 26:26 - 29
Jesus thus transformed the last Passover into the first observance of the Lord's Supper. He is the central person in both ceremonies, being represented symbolically by both the paschal lamb of the Passover and the elements in the communion service.
The Lord’s Supper was given as a permanent ordinance:
1. It was while “they were eating” the Passover meal that Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper. He was replacing the Passover with the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is the new ordinance of God to celebrate His deliverance of man from bondage and slavery.
2. In God’s eternal plan the sacrificial lamb used in the Passover had always been a picture of Christ, the real Lamb of God who was to be sacrificed for man. By instituting the Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal, Christ was not only tying His Supper to the Passover, He was proclaiming Himself to be the Lamb of God who was to be slain for the sins of men.
3. Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper before He died, not after His resurrection. This is very significant. It means that His death was voluntary. He had not yet died; He did not have to die. He could have slipped out of town and escaped, but He chose to willingly lay down His life for the sins of men. Therefore, the Lord’s Supper is the great celebration of the voluntary sacrifice of God’s Son for man. The broken bread and poured wine or (grape juice) picture the willingness of God’s Son to lay down His life for man’s sin.
4. Historically, the Passover refers back to the time when God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage.
5. Symbolically, the Passover pictured the coming of Jesus Christ as the Savior. The “lamb without blemish” pictured His sinless life (John 1:29), and the “blood sprinkled on the door posts” pictured His blood shed for the believer. It was a sign that the life and blood of the innocent lamb had been substituted for the firstborn. The “eating of the lamb” pictured the need for spiritual nourishment gained by feeding on Christ, the Bread of Life. The unleavened bread (bread without yeast) pictured the need for putting evil out of one’s life and household.
LET US LOOK AT SOME LESSONS FROM JESUS FOR EVERY LORD’S SUPPER
SERVICE.
I. REMEMBER THE LORD’S SUPPER AND CHRIST'S BODY v. 26.
A. "Take, eat: this is my body."
B. The disciples must have wondered about that statement.
1. Christ was in His body.
2. The disciples could see His body
C. Luke clears up the mystery (Luke 22:19)
1. "In remembrance of me."
2. The bread is to be a symbol to remind us of Christ's body.
D. What should we remember about His body at Communion?
1. That he lived a sinless life.
2. That He was qualified to be the bearer of our sins.
II. REMEMBER THE LORD’S SUPPER AND CHRIST'S BLOOD v. 27-28.
A. "He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them."
B. "Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood." (Christ instituted a new
Covenant: forgiveness
C. How could this be Christ's blood?
1. The disciples knew His blood was in Him.
2. Like the bread, this was a memorial, a symbol of His blood.
3. This was clear to the disciples and should be to us.
D. Christ's blood was shed to pay for our sins (Rom. 5:9).
1. Christ's blood has redeemed us.
2. Christ's blood cleanses us from sin.
3. Christ's blood prove His love for us.
E. Remembering His blood at Communion should increase our love for Him.
III. REMEMBERING THE LORD’S SUPPER AND CHRIST'S COMING KINGDOM v. 29.
A. "In my Father's kingdom".
B. Communion looks in two directions.
1. It looks back to the cross.
2. It looks forward to the kingdom.
C. Communion is a time to search our hearts and confess our sins.
D. It is a time to celebrate our wonderful future with Christ in His Millennial
Kingdom.
WILL YOU BE WITH CHRSIT IN HIS WONDERFUL KINGDOM?
WILL YOU LEAVE THE COMMUNION TABLE MORE LIKE JESUS?
Responsive Reading Matthew 26:17-30
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