Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

April 07, 2019

Matthew 26:26-30 – From Passover to Communion

{vs. 26-28} As they settle down, Jesus seems to get back to the script of the Seder - - - but He didn't give the normal explanation of the meaning of each of the foods.  He began to reinterpret them around Himself - the focus was no longer on the suffering of Israel in Egypt, but on the sin-bearing suffering of Jesus.  In the original scripted celebration, which has changed a lot over the centuries, God uses four expressions of redemption in describing the Exodus from Egypt and the birth of Israel as God’s people found in Exodus 6:6-7:

Ø "I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians…"

Ø "I will free you from being slaves to them…"

Ø "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment."

Ø "I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God…"

Traditionally a cup of wine represents each one of these expressions.   The Kiddush (a blessing said over the wine sanctifying the Shabbat or Sabbath meal) is recited over the first cup, the Exodus story from the Haggadah (the script for Seder celebration) over the second cup, the Grace after Meals over the third cup, and the Hallel (Hymns taken directly from Psalms 113–118) is sung over the fourth cup. 

We believe that it is in the middle of the meal, when the head of the family (leader, oldest) would have raised the Matzo (unleavened bread) saying “this is the bread of affliction”, breaking it and reading from the Haggadah the narrative of the Exodus that Jesus began to teach the disciples as we have read.  The broken bread now becomes a symbol not of affliction in Egypt but of His affliction or suffering – the wrath of God poured out against Jesus as our substitute.  This time of teaching would be followed by the drinking of one of the four cups of wine, which Jesus used to symbolize His blood, shed for the remission of sin.

This is how we remember what Jesus did for us.  As we eat the bread, we should remember how Jesus was broken, pierced, and beaten with stripes for our redemption.  As we drink the cup, we should remember that His blood, His very life was poured out on Calvary for us.

Remarkably, Jesus announced the institution of a new covenant here, one promised long ago in the Old Testament.  This was far more than changing the Seder script - - - Jesus redefined the centuries old tradition (and you know how important tradition can be!)  What He was doing was giving them the proper perspective – showing them what this remembrance was really meant to be about, all along – even way back when they were being rescued from Egypt!  All of history is just a canvas for God’s story – played out in the individual life, the nations and even the world as a whole!  This seemed audacious, no mere man could ever institute a new covenant between God and man - God initiates all covenants!  He is the Greater party in every contract, the One with the power and authority - but Jesus as Messiah is fully God and fully man, the unique God-man.  He has the authority to establish a new covenant on God’s behalf and as our representative also – a perfect Mediator!  This covenant will not be, sealed with the blood of sacrificed animals, as the old covenant was (Exodus 24:8) but rather the more infinitely precious and eternal blood of Christ Himself!  We can say that the blood of Jesus made the new covenant possible, and it also made it sure and reliable.  It is confirmed with the life of God Himself.

This new covenant concerns an inner transformation as described by the prophet Jeremiah "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the LORD." -

Ø It cleanses us from all sin: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b), making us acceptable to a perfect and righteous God.

Ø This transformation puts God's Word and will into us: "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33a).  No longer will the Law be a list of do’s and don’ts to keep – it will be our heart’s desire to obey God’s Word and will!

Ø This covenant is all about a new, close, relationship with God: “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:33b).

This is what Jesus has done for us - we are accepted (as is), cleansed from all unrighteousness (every time we fall short of God’s perfection), sanctified (changed/ being ongoingly changing into a person who delights in doing what is right and made into a God’s own beloved people (children of God)!  The one thing not listed is the promise of our future glorification – God’s complete transformation removing all sin, sorrow and shame (final perfection) as He brings us into His presence (Heaven).

{vs. 29} Many of us don’t realize how wonderful this one statement is – it is a promise!  It is not just a statement of abstinence from wine, but it is a prophetic prediction that Jesus will one day drink wine sitting with the disciples (minus one) in Heaven! Until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom: Jesus is looking forward to a future celebration in heaven, He is waiting for all His people to be gathered to Him and then there will be a great supper - the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9).

As a side note, this is also a wonderful rejection of doctrines that teach the wine (juice) in communion is literally changed into Christ’s blood and the bread literally Christ’s body.  This is the very first communion and Jesus has said the blessing, distributed the elements and notice carefully what He (our omniscient Lord) calls what is in the cup – “this fruit of the vine”.  He started with watered down wine (so that they would not get intoxicated at the Passover) and that is just what it is after He prays and after He passes it out (and yes, as they ingest it!)

{vs. 30} It is wonderful that Jesus sang, I think that He must have led them in singing (He led them everywhere else!)  Consider what lies before Him – and He sings!

"If, beloved, you knew that at-say, ten o'clock tonight, you would be led away to be mocked, and despised, and scourged, and that tomorrow's sun would see you falsely accused, hanging, a convicted criminal, to die upon a cross, do you think that you could sing tonight, after your last meal?" (Spurgeon)

But what did He sing?  Passover meals always end with the singing of the Hallel (Psalms 116-118).  Songs of praise have a way of lifting our spirits, even when we cannot do so from our mind with reason!  Think of how the words of these Psalms would have ministered to Jesus as I read some excerpts for you.  Remember that He sang these words as He went out to the Garden of Gethsemane to be betrayed on the night before His crucifixion.

These words describe the events of Christ as He goes from the Triumphal Entry to the garden to the cross to the tomb and beyond to be our resurrected Lord!  For so many Passovers the Lambs had been slaughtered, the story (only the first part) told, and these verses sung in praise - - - but who could understand what God was doing?  After the resurrection and the birth of the church, the disciples knew and they told all who would listen.  Today, you and I know – we are the legacy of that teaching but much more, the legacy of Christ’s sacrifice that Good Friday so long ago! 

Having heard the story, we are going to prepare to take communion together here tonight.  (Ushers, please come forward)  Please remember that this is a sacred occasion, a time to remember what Christ has done – willingly, knowingly offering His body and blood for the remission of our sins!  Take a moment to prepare yourself (don’t take this cup light-heartedly or with a distracted mind).  If there is anything in you (some sin or lack of commitment to God) or even something between you and your brother or sister - - - lay it down, repent and give it to God so that you and I may celebrate this remembrance of God’s perfect Passover Lamb, given to wipe away all the sins of the world – Christ Jesus our Messiah!