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Luke 22 : 14-20 "THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER"

Day 280 – Luke 22

Text: Luke 22 : 14-20

THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

What a rich and spiritual heritage the Jews had in their Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God personally instructed the children of Israel to keep this Feast. Gentiles, we would never be able to experience what it means to partake of the Passover. You would have to embrace Judaism in full in order to be allowed to participate in all the Jewish Feasts.

Alfred Edersheim in his book, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” (Hendrickson Publishers), noted the general attitude of Jews towards Gentiles. There was actual Rabbinic legislation concerning Gentiles. At the extreme end was this statement,

“The best among the Gentiles, kill;
the best among the serpents, crush its head” (pg. 62)

Edersheim noted that generally Jews bore “bitter hatred” to Gentiles. The ill-feelings were of course not taught in the Old Testament Scriptures, but rather promoted by proponents of Judaism.

Jesus knew the importance and the power of the keeping of ordinances. Israel had been keeping the Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread for millennia! These Feasts kept the nation together. They strengthened the faith of all who participated in them. These Feasts were great avenues for teaching deep and wonderful spiritual truths and history. All who participated in these Feasts could benefit significantly.

The Passover and the Feast of the Unleavened Bread could not be given to the Gentiles. All Jews would resent this move. Neither would Gentiles find it easy to embrace Jewish traditions.

The challenge was to derive something new from an ancient ordinance. Jesus, at the celebration of the Passover, instituted what we call, “The Lord’s Supper”. (It is also called “The Holy Eucharist” by some Churches. The word “eucharist” comes from the Greek “gave thanks” in Luke 22:17. Others call it “Holy Communion” to emphasise that there is communion with God as the death of the Lord Jesus is commemorated).

THE BREAD AND THE CUP

The Jewish Passover Meal was really quite elaborate. There were four cups of wine to be drunk through the length of the meal. There was also unleavened bread on the table. Bitter herbs were eaten also, to remind all participants of the bitterness Israel suffered while under bondage in Egypt. Of course, there must be the slaying of the sacrificial lamb.

Speaking of God, sharing deep spiritual lessons from the partaking of the different items of the Passover meal were interspersed with prayer and the singing of hymns. All told, the Passover meal was a great spiritual exercise!

It was God who gave the ordinance of the Passover. He knew the potential value of keeping the Ordinance. Jesus knew that if His Disciples could also be given a very special ordinance, then they too could be also greatly blessed each time they celebrated it.

Luke recorded how Jesus gave the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper to His Disciples in these words,

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to them, saying,
‘This is My Body which is given for you;
Do this in remembrance of Me.”

Likewise He also took the cup after supper,
Saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant in My blood,
Which is shed for you…”
Luke 22:19-20

The formal Passover Meal was complete! But instead of clearing the dishes, Jesus extended the Passover Meal. The key word is “after” (Luke 22:20).

The Lord’s Supper was different from the Passover Meal. The latter could only be celebrated by Jews, or proselyte Jews (those who convert to Judaism). The Lord’s Supper could be celebrated by ALL believers.

The new ordinance was simple, in contrast to the Passover. There were only two elements, the Bread and the Cup. Yet, these two simple elements contained deep and profound meaning!

“THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU…” Luke 22:19

A lamb had to be slain at Passover. The blood of the lamb was of course NOT able to save anybody. The blood of the lamb was to be understood and appreciated symbolically.

Faith in God was a critical element. Israel had to believe in God and His Word. He said that He would come down into the land of Egypt. He would slay the firstborn of all in the mighty land of Egypt. He instructed the Children of Israel to slay a lamb and to put the lamb’s blood on the lintel and the door posts. When God saw the blood, He would pass over that household. The question was whether the Children of Israel would believe in Him and the Word He gave. Those who believed God acted upon the Word given. They must believe that the lamb’s blood was given on their behalf.

Something even more significant was now uttered. Jesus took the Passover Bread, and then He broke it. This symbolized the fact that He would soon die. He had taught the multitudes and His Disciples about how He was that Bread of life. How profound those words must have sounded from the lips of Jesus,

“I am the Bread of Life”

“I am the Bread which came from Heaven…”
John 6:35, 41

That Bread was His Body given for the redemption of mankind. Whoever believed in Him was likened to one who partook of bread. He who partook of the Bread from Heaven would find Life eternal!

Each time Communion Bread is taken, we celebrate the Life that Jesus came to give to us. Each time we partake of The Lord’s Supper, we remember with thanksgiving how His body was broken for us.

“THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD…” Luke 22:20

The second element Jesus introduced in The Lord’s Supper was the Cup. This represented His blood. Rich and deep thoughts are to be found in the words of the Lord Jesus.

The shedding of His blood was essential. It represented so much. Among other things, the following may be highlighted!

1. It represented the power to cleanse the guilt and penalty of sin.

2. It spoke of the extent to which Jesus was prepared to go to purchase our redemption.

3. It spoke volumes of the sacrifice that Jesus had to make in order to give us salvation. It would cost Him His life.

4. Jesus added further meaning to the shedding of His blood, when He mentioned the phrase, “New Covenant”.

In order to appreciate this phrase at a deeper level, we need to look at a prophetic promise found in the writings of Jeremiah,

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah-
NOT according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of
The land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke…”
Jeremiah 31:31-32

The Old Covenant was remembered by Israel when the Passover was celebrated. The New Covenant that Jesus spoke of would be remembered whenever The Lord’s Supper is celebrated.

The Book of Hebrews expounds the significance of the New Covenant. Let us take a look at some of the significant thoughts propounded.

“By so much more Jesus has become a surety
of a better covenant. ” Hebrews 7:22

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry,
Inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant,
Which was established on better promises.”
Hebrews 8:6

“In that He says, ‘A New Covenant,’
He has made the first obsolete.”
Hebrews 8:13