Communion: A Remembrance of Christ | Essential Christianity | Justin Finley

Justin Finley - March 17, 2024

Essential Christianity

COMMUNION … A Remembrance of Christ

SOUL TATTOO: Communion creates connection.

Matthew 26:17-20 (NIV) 17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

Exodus 6:5-8 (NIV) 5“Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”

The LIFE of Jesus STILL SAVES.

Christ Has CALLED You OUT.

1.) The first cup.

Sanctification – Set Apart
I Will Bring You Out.

1 Peter 1:9-10 (ESV) 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Washing of hands.
Jesus probably used this ceremony to wash his disciples’ feet.

John 13:3 (NIV) 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had handed all things over to Him, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4 got up from supper and laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet and wiping them with the towel which He had tied around Himself.

Bitter Herbs
Green Vegetable – usually parsley dipped in saltwater
Reminds us of the pain and suffering of slavery.

Jesus SEES Your PAIN.

The Middle Matzah Bread
Broken
Wrapped
Hidden

He Has PREPARED HIMSELF for you to SEEK.

Psalm 9:10 (NIV) 10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Teach the children / remember the deliverance
Why is this night different?
Why do we eat only unleavened bread?
Why do we only eat bitter herbs?
Why do we dip the bread two times?
Why do we only eat while reclining?

2.) The second cup.

Freedom
Testimony
I will free you from being slaves.

Christ offers us FREEDOM from our OPPRESSION through SUBMISSION.

It is often through pain and stretching, that healing comes.
It is often through confession in community, that freedom reigns.

OBEY in a way that makes you UNCOMFORTABLE.

The dipping of the Matza bread
Sweetness of redemption, mixed with the bitterness of slavery and retribution.
During this time, he revealed that someone would betray him, and Peter would deny him.
Sweetness of redemption, mixed with sorrow.

Matthew 26:21-25 (NIV) 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

The Dinner Celebration:

The afikomen…

Children sent to find the hidden matzah.
Everyone should take a bite

Jesus broke the bread…do this in remembrance of me.

The Passover lamb.
Broken, wrapped, hidden.

The BREAD reminds us of the COST for our FREEDOM.

Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV) 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

3.) The third cup.

Redemption
I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.
They’d check for Elijah (Malachi 4:5)
Jesus took the cup, this is my blood.

The CUP reminds us of the RESULT of our FREEDOM.

You RESPOND with your ACTIONS and VOICE.

Matthew 26:29 (NIV) 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

4.) The fourth cup.

Acceptance or Praise.
I will make you my own.

Jesus didn’t drink this cup. “until I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus WAITS to CELEBRATE your ADOPTION.

Matthew 26:30 (NIV) 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Cautions:

1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV) 23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

SOUL TATTOO: Communion creates connection.

How do I respond?

HUMILITY in THANKFULNESS.

VULNERABILITY in CONFESSION.

SUBMISSION in SERVICE.

PASSION in COMMUNITY.

The church should be THAT place, and communion reminds us of why.