Exploring God’s Word with Brad Thurston

A New Covenant

Episode Summary

The Lord’s Supper, the Last Supper is full of imagery and meaning within each culture, denomination, and church. Often it is seen as a ritual, with certain guidelines that have developed over the centuries - many that have deep meanings for each individual person. This makes it difficult for us to approach an understanding of our text as it is conveyed to us since we do not have an exact and clear understanding of how the Passover was celebrated in first century Judaea. The closest written form of the Seder comes from the 9th century to us today. I contend this is a good thing, because there is supposed to be more than just fond memories of past events that we celebrate in the communion, it is to be a living and dynamic experience with a risen Lord who brings freedom and meaning and purpose into our lives with constant renewal and invigoration. Each of the Gospels brings us a different perspective of this event, so that the focus of what Luke brings, is vital to the big picture he presents to both Christians and non Christians alike.

Episode Notes

My experiences with communion:

Foot washing at seminary; people who got saved while taking communion, those who have been healed, those who take it daily, those who take it weekly, all revel actions of God in the process of communion: conviction of sin, worship, thanksgiving, understanding of truth, and many other events. It has been a rich and varied experience throughout my life with both deep and worshipful insights.

Look at the text:  why two cups? Same cup twice? Are they 4 cups for a ritual that Jesus performed? I also heard of a special spot reserved for the Messiah? Did Jesus take that cup?  Ask him when we get to Heaven. But there is meaning in Luke’s presentation: 

1. See this as an act of a servant, who is serving his closest friends, and drawing them into his greatest confidence and trust. In this act he is preparing them for not just the days ahead but also for their eternal future and gave the historical event of the Exodus new meaning.  Review the meal sequence
2. He states he will suffer
3. He ate a meal with them 
4. He takes a cup and tell them to share it among themselves
5. He breaks bread and gives it to them
6. He takes the cup and inaugurates the new covenant
7. He reveals the betrayal.

Meaning to each event, but the focus is on the covenant in his blood, once and for all.

Paul’s admonition to do this often

The churches early practice was that it was a regular event and one of the pillars of the church

Admonition was to not abuse the meal, but to consider others as more important than yourself. We serve each other in the meal.  Welcome to our meal where we will break bread together!