1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In 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.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
The Lord's Supper commemorates the new covenant that started at the cross when the Lamb of God gave his life for the sins of the people. On the cross, through the blood of Christ, Good News came to the world. Our sins that separated us from the Creator were forgiven when Jesus paid the penalty. Because of Christ's sacrifice, mankind was no longer separated from God, unable to communicate intimately with him and bound for eternal death and damnation. Christ broke down the barrier that began in the Garden of Eden when the serpent betrayed the human race by saying, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1) Because Adam and Eve and the generations that followed were not God, when they tried to handle good and evil, they became corrupted by evil. Man's desire to be like God betrayed him. Rather than being like God, men and women became so corrupt that God decided to do away with his creation, except for Noah and his family. Although God later allowed humankind to exist, He knew their rebellion to his authority was continually in their hearts. This rebellion that produces violence and corruption remained indigenous to people. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though EVERY INCLINATION OF HIS HEART IS EVIL FROM CHILDHOOD. (Genesis 8:20-21) To ensure love and harmony, God gave man laws and restrictions to control people's wayward, aberrant behavior; however, man's sinful nature always looked for a way to circumvent God's will. Man sought to fulfill his own need for recognition, reciprocation, and favors. Sin separates people, even in the home. Sin's contamination has affected even nature, for the Bible says, We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:22) Because of this destructive, debilitative nature of sin, a new heaven and earth are promised in the scriptures when the corrupted and damaged will pass away. If a new heaven and Earth will be created, providing a new pristine beginning for what is seen, what about humans? What makes them new, pure, and acceptable to God? John 1 says that everything that was created was created through Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of all we see, and He is the Creator who by his death on the cross makes fallen man new creatures, acceptable to the Father. That is the new covenant we celebrate when we partake of the bread and drink of the cup to proclaim his death until He comes.
Nicodemus in his conversation with Jesus wanted to know how to change the human condition of sin, how one could be born again, acceptable completely to God. Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8) Jesus clearly states, to be acceptable to God, You must be born again. And how will that happen? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (John 3:13-15) In this passage, Jesus establishes his authority of knowing what God desires, for He alone has come from the Father's domain. If He came from God, He must be acceptable to God: No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven — the Son of Man. Since He has come from the Father's house, He must have the answers for mankind concerning how to be acceptable to God. Jesus then goes on to tell about the serpent being lifted up in the desert. All who simply looked on the serpent were healed from their fatal snake bites and spared from death. Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered! (Numbers 21:8-9) The rebellious Israelites were complaining about God's authority in their lives, finding fault with Moses and his leadership. Because of their complaints, God allowed venomous snakes in the camp. Many of them were bitten and they were destined to die, just as mankind, bitten by sin, without Christ, remains destined to die, eternally separated from God. All that the Israelites had to do was to look upon the bronze snake and they would live. John 3 states that if we look upon Jesus at the cross and believe in him, we will have eternal life. Whoever believes in him will not perish but will live forever. This is the New Covenant. This is why we celebrate the Lord's Supper.
We must remind ourselves daily of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We should sing and dance for joy! Psalm 92 expresses some of the joy we feel in our salvation: It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High: To declare your lovingkindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night. (1-2 NKJV) He has set us free from the bondage of sin and a destination away from our Father God. We are free, completely free because of HIS WORK, NOT OUR WORK. The Bible says, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. Jesus became that curse for us. As with the snake on the pole, he became that snake, which was hanging around each of our necks, biting us, delivering certain death to our souls. Jesus became that curse, that filthy snake. He carried every person's sins to the cross. He died as an image of that serpent, killing every snake that has ever bitten us in our disobedience to God. His death brought light to us because that snake in our lives doomed us to eternal darkness. We are no longer snake-bitten old creatures under the consequences of the law. No! We are new creatures, made in the perfect image of God, without fault. When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways. (Acts 3:26) Can you believe this breakfast companions? Can you believe that God has paved a way for your redemption, that God has provided a Savior for you? Do you really believe it? If you do, you can participate in the Lord's Supper with a pure and thankful understanding of what He has done for you. If you really know that dear friend, tears will fill your eyes; for what a great Savior we have. Praise God forever! Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment