Sermon Tone Analysis

Do you consider the word “supper” to mean lunch or dinner?

Do we even eat supper anymore the way we did a generation ago?

Reason #1: Communication and Well-Being \\ Reason #2: Model Manners (and more) \\ Reason # 3: Expand Their World…One Food at a Time

*Reason #4: Nutrition * \\ *Reason #5: Become Self-Sufficient* \\ *Reason #6: Prevent Destructive Behaviors* \\ *Reason #7: Improve Grades* \\ *Reason # 8: Save Money*

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*Who Eats Supper anymore?

You should!*

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*You obviously know where I am headed with this.

There is another supper we eat – The Lord’s supper.

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*Last week we saw that high act of worship; the anointing of Jesus.*

*As Matthew tells the story he emphasizes the idea of preparation.*

*The leaders prepare to kill Jesus*

*Judas prepares to betray him*

*Mary prepares him for burial*

*Well, vs. 17 tells us that the disciples go and prepare the Passover.

This is what is normally referred to as the last supper.*

*The Supper*

*For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.*

*Communion is about the past*

*A memorial – a marker*

*In fact, it flows out of another marker the Israelites had.

Passover*

*He took some bread . .

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*Explain the Ahfee ko men ( that which comes after) – it was taken out of the matzh tosh*

We can't be certain when the entire afikomen~/matzah tosh ceremony was instituted in the Jewish Passover observance; however, we do know there was already messianic significance associated with that bread by the time Jesus made the startling claim that it pointed to Him.

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*            Matzah bread – middle one, pierced and stripped, broken*

He gave his body for us – and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all

1 Peter 2:24 (NASB95)

24and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

*He was man and he laid down his life – his body – for us*

*Of course though – it was his blood that he was shedding for our sins.*

*So, he takes the cup.

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*Again, if this was the typical Passover meal by now he would have been drinking the third cup – the cup of redemption*

*This is what it is all about – Jesus paid it all.

He laid down his life.*

*            “for the forgiveness of sins”*

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*Communion is about the present*

*Note vs. 28 – the word covenant*

*That Jesus paid the debt for our sins, once for all.

No longer nay sacrifice needed.

That is why this is symbolic.

That is why this is a memorial.*

*In the Passover they were not literally sharing in the Passover – it was symbolic, just like the bread and the cup.

We do no re-sacrifice Jesus over and over.

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*The blood opens the way for redemption.

In the Passover it was leaving Egypt and heading to God’s promised land, in the NT it is leaving the bondage of sin and heading into the new life we have in Christ.*

*Those who believe partake in the benefit of the sacrificial death of Jesus.*

John 6:35 (NASB95)

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

John 6:47–51 (NASB95)

47“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.

48“I am the bread of life.

49“Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

50“This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.

51“I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

They are focusing their attention on literal bread.

It will not sustain.

He tells them – work for the foods that will give you eternal life which I will give you.

Jesus is saying He – being the bread of life – will sustain the soul.

Look here in our text – he breaks the bread and gives it to each of them

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*Communion is about the future*

*Until He comes … *

*            We proclaim it for ourselves in remembrance*

*            We proclaim for those who need to hear*

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*Invitation – Come home, come in, dinner is ready, get cleaned up*

*Wash up – you may have fought it but it was still a reminder of the need to prepare yourself.

This was something different*

*You would enjoy being clean*

*You would stop and think about life – where does food come from*

*You would share your family life with others – you would talk, and care and laugh and encourage*

*You would pass the elements that were so necessary for sustaining you.*

*You would ultimately asked to be excused*

*            First – because we all need to be excused from our sin*

*            Secondly – because when we leave the table wer have been sustained to live life*

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