"From Memorial to Memorial:
God's Wonderful Illustration"
(The Lord's Supper)

Matthew 26:26-29

(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on December 27, 1998. All Scripture
references used in this sermon are based upon the KJV, unless otherwise stated)

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

Introduction: Not only has God given us his written Word, but throughout the ages He has wonderfully illustrated it to help us to grasp and apply it. Christ was the Master Illustrator, as we will see from our text this morning when the Lord instituted the Lord's Supper out of the Passover Meal.

Background: The feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread go together. It is 8 days of celebration that dates back 3500 years ago when it began, according to Exodus 13. It symbolizes the exodus of Jews from Egypt and God's deliverance of His people. Little has changed in this celebration and to ensure this the Jews use a book called Haggadah, which is a book of songs, prayers, and various reading that tells the participants what to do and when to do it. If there is any variation in the ceremony, it would be only the little customs of a family, but Passover has not changed from house to house.

Passover is a joyous celebration (this is why the men wear white skull caps) where the Jews look back to their deliverance from Egypt and they also look forward to coming of the Messiah. In order to prepare for Passover and Unleavened Bread they must first clean out the house of those food items that have leaven, and if they have pets, the pets cannot be fed anything but what the family eats for Passover. So many families sell their pets to gentiles during Passover and buy them back afterwards. The best Passover ever held was the one observed by King Josiah in 2 Kings 23:22.

Passover Seder (the meal) begins with the lighting of the candles by the women and the father resides over the meal (the grandfather makes sure that everything is done correctly).

    The FIRST CUP is the Cup of Sanctification which sanctifies the table and all of the preparations. After the 1st cup the father takes 3 loaves of the unleavened bread and places them in a special white linen envelope which has 3 compartments. In a special ceremony, the father removes the middle loaf and breaks it, wraps it in a separate piece of white linen and hides it away (he buries it behind the cushion on his chair). Next the youngest child gets to ask the traditional four questions and the father answers them with the whole story of the Exodus.

    This is followed by the SECOND CUP that is spilled into individual plates in front of each person, a drop at a time (10 drops to remember the 10 plagues on Egypt). This is followed by a big meal with the whole lamb (lamb is not the main dish anymore because they cannot sacrifice lambs in the Temple...they just have a lamb shank on a plate now).

    Following the meal, comes the THIRD CUP, which is the cup of Redemption, and it is taken with the middle piece of bread that was broken and put away earlier. During the Passover meal the unleavened bread plays an important part. It symbolizes the quickness in which the Jews had to leave Egypt.

    The Passover meal ends with the FOURTH CUP, the cup of praise or sometimes called Elijah's cup. This is the point in the Passover service that the Jews look for the literal fulfillment of Mal. 4:5, "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord..."  The Passover meal ends when the father says, "enough" and the family sings hymns (Psa.1:13-118). The Passover meals ends late at night, usually around midnight.

It was during the THIRD CUP where Christians get the "Lord's Supper." It is the same Lord's Supper that Christians have observed ever since. Paul even pointed out in 1 Cor. 11:23, when he says that the Lord instituted it on the night that He was betrayed.  Paul only wrote about Lord's Supper to correct a problem in the way the Corinthians observed it (not to change it or add to it).

I. A Wonderful Illustration Of Atonement (vv.26-29).
1. "Jesus took bread. . .this is my body"(v.26).

A. The middle piece of bread is broken and wrapped in a white clothe and put away (buried) until a later time.

B. It paints a picture of Christ broken body.

1) It had stripes.

- Isaiah 53:5, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed"

2) It is pierced.

- John 19:37, "And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced."

3) It is pure, containing no leaven.

A) Leaven was often used in the Bible to refer to sin.

B) 1 Corinthians 5:7-8, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

C. Christ called himself the bread of life in , John 6:35, "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."

2. "And he took the cup. . .For this is my blood" (vv.27-28)

A. This was the 3rd Cup, the cup of Redemption.

1) Redemption is paying the price for something so as to redeem it from its current position or condition.

2) Scripture tells us that there can be no atonement without the shedding of blood.

A) Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."

B) Hebrews 9:22, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."

3) Scripture also tells us that God is not pleased with the blood of bulls and goats.

- Hebrews 10:4, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

4) Scripture also tells us that it was Christ's blood that gave us redemption through faith.

A) Ephesians 1:7, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

B) When Christ was upon the Cross, He said in John 19:30, "It is finished"

- Lit., in the Greek, "paid in full"

II. A Wonderful Illustration Of Who Christ Died For (v.28).
1. ". . .for many. . ."

A. The Lord calls sinners like you and me.

B. He died for the spiritually hungry and thirsty.

- Isaiah 55:1-3, "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.  Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David."

C. He died for the weary and burdened.

- Matthew 11:28-30, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

D. He died for all sinners.

- Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

Application: But Christ, our Passover Lamb, has paid the price, Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We are reminded when we observe the Lord's Supper that we are all sinners, unworthy to partake, except by the grace of God and only through the grace of God.

III. A Wonderful Illustration Of A Better Covenant (v.29).
1. "For this is my blood of the new testament,"

A. God throughout mans history has made covenants.

- Some have been conditional, others have been unconditional.

B. This is a reference to the New Covenant in which Christ instituted on the Cross.

1) Luke 22:20, "Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you."

A) "testament," ("diatheke" {dee-ath-ay'-kay}); a compact, a covenant, a testament.

B) The disciples would equate Christ's statement with the New Covenant promised in the Old Testament

2) The New Covenant is given in Jeremiah 31:31-34, "'Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that 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 bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

A) The Major Provisions that were given.

(1) The Law of God Internalized, Placed on the Heart (Spirit Indwelling; Jer. 31:33).

(2) Sole Devotion to God (Jer. 31:33).

(3) Universal Knowledge of God Among the Jewish Nation (Jer. 31:34).

(4) Forgiveness of Sin and Iniquity (Jer. 31:34).

B) In addition the context continues through the end of the chapter where we see an additional two provisions:

(1) Israel is t be a Nation Forever (Jer. 31:35-37).

(2) Jerusalem to be Permanently Rebuilt (Jer. 31:38-40).

C) Ezekiel 36:22-38, also sheds further light on the New Covenant; "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel. Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock. As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD. "

(1) National Regathering to the Land (Ezek.36:24-28).

(2) Cleansing of Sin (Forgiveness) (Ezek.36:25, 29, 33).

(3) Spiritual Regeneration (Ezek.36:26).

(4) Spirit Indwelling (Ezek.36:27).

(5) Land is Made Fertile (Ezek.36:29-30, 34-35).

(6) National Repentance (Ezek.36:3l-32).

(7) Physical Fertility (Ezek.36:37-38).

IV. A Wonderful Illustration Of The Believer's Security (v.29).
1. "until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

A. Christ Himself gives believers the assurance of our future in His words.

B. Paul also reminds us of the future with the coming of the Lord in 1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."

Conclusion: The Lord's illustration helps us to understand and rely upon all the Lord has done for us; it's a time to look back, and it is a time to look forward to when we will once again be with the Lord celebrating His memorial. It's interesting that Passover is a joyful time for the Jews because it's a memorial of their freedom. Shouldn't the Lord's Supper also be a joyful time for believers today, since we too have found freedom from our sins, through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ?

An Alternate Outline For This Sermon

 

I. A Lamb Of Atonement (vv.26-28a).

    1. He is the bread of life (v.26).

    2. He is the cup of redemption (vv.27-28a).

 

II. The Lamb Of Sacrifice (v.28b).

    1. He died for many.

    2. He died in our place.

 

III. The Lamb Of Hope (v.29).

    1. He has given us a new covenant.

    2. He has given us a blessed hope.