Communion:
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Introduction
Read Mark 14:12-25
Context: 2 Stories
Jesus at this point is headed toward conflict with the religious leaders that will lead to his crucifixion.
At this point it tells us that they are outside of Jerusalem but looking to head in as Passover could only be celebrated inside the walls of Jerusalem
Much prep needed - which started by cleaning the house and removing all leaven
Passover - is the remembrance and celebration of the passing over of the angel of death, the 10th plague in Moses confrontation with Pharoah in Egypt
Israelites were able to be passed over by spreading the blood of a blemish free lamb on the doorposts of their homes.
In celebration of this they would then prepare special food and drink and go through a passover liturgy to remember
This is what the disciples are asking Jesus about in our passage
It seems Jesus was ahead of them and Mark tells us that he had prearranged a place with a resident in Jerusalem who were obligated to open their homes for pilgrims to use space within to celebrate
Jesus had arranged a way for the disciples to know who to talk to so that they could lead them to the place and then they prepared the actual meal.
The purpose though was as well as remember and celebrate it was to go through the meal and liturgy in order to remember as though they were leaving Egypt.
As we come to the communion table then we are retelling the story of Jesus and his death and our redemption through it.
And so it first takes us back to our past before Christ.
I. Points to the Past
I. Points to the Past
There is reason that Jesus in his last passover meal with his disciples turned it into what we know as communion.
The Exodus story not only speaks of God’s great salvation of Israel but was always meant to point to the great salvation to come.
For Israel it was physical enslavement that God saved them from but there was a spiritual reality that continued to plague them.
And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger.
For Israel It didn’t matter what God had done for Israel their hearts still turned from Him
This is the indictment on all of us as humans as through Adam we are born into a disobedient heart through which we offer our selves to sin
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Later in chapter 6 he reminds us of our enslavement to sin.
And so we remember where we came from, what our life was before Christ and our need for Him
II. Reminds in the Present
II. Reminds in the Present
A. Body - Incarnation
His faithfulness through all joy/sorrow; suffering/brokeness even unto death so that he was the perfect lamb of God
B. Blood - New covenant
Just as blood had to be shed to save the Israelites so Jesus’ blood was shed to pay the penalty for our sins and through it buy our forgiveness and redemption, our freedom.
Our past was destitute
Paul quotes from Psalm 14 in Romans 3 where it says
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
But in Christ,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Here’s the picture:
Collectivist - Honor/Shame culture - Roman/Greek also Jewish(OT)
Patronage - 4 classes - Patron/Broker/Client/Expendables
Patron - High class - wealthy, superior party with resources and power
Client - low status - low income and resources, unable to make ends meet
These would look to attach themselves to a patron in order to secure protection and resources ie. food, clothes, jobs etc
These gifts would procure loyalty to the Patron in the form of public support and praise and acts of service.
The gift was called - charis - grace
The loyalty was called - pisitis - faith
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
And here is what Daniel King states in his article for The Gospel Coalition
“Given the inequality of patrons and clients, the word client was considered degrading. Because of stigma, Patrons often sugar-coated their terminology referring to a client as “friend”
So here is what Jesus says,
his gift is the sacrifice of his life and we have become his client
“if you obey my commands” - this is not just doing what is right but loyalty/fidelty
But he also says “I chose you, you didn’t choose me”
And whatever you ask the Father
III. Foreshadows the Future
III. Foreshadows the Future
A. And so a Jesus’ client we are to bring him honor by proclaiming how great he is
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
And so we bring honor to Christ through our participation in communion
Speaker at conference: Every day we should by standing before the Lord, thanking him and pledging our loyalty to follow Him because of his great gift
That’s why in I Cor 11:27 Paul says
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
It wasn’t just wrong behaviour it was dishonoring Christ
B. Live secure in his security and provision
His ultimate provision is eternity
Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus is pointing to the Marriage supper of the Lamb
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Conclusion