Judges 3:1-31; Luke 22:14-23; Psalms 93:1-5; Proverbs 21:14-16
NT: “When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:14-20 CSB)
Jesus fervently desired to share this particular Passover with His disciples, for this would be the last Passover He would partake in. The next feast that He would participate in would be the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, the great celebratory feast at the end of the age when He is fully reunited with His bride the church. This would also be His last meal before going to the cross. During the final phases of the Passover, Jesus did something different. Passover was instituted by God on the night He delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. The Jewish nation was to celebrate Passover every year to remind them of God’s great deliverance. When Jesus broke the bread and passed it around, He said, “From now on when you eat this meal, remember Me and the great deliverance I won for you by offering My body as the sacrifice.” Then, He took the cup of wine, and before drinking it, said, “From now on, this cup of wine will serve as a reminder of a new covenant that I am establishing with you, not through the blood of a lamb, but through My blood which is going to be completely poured out for your sakes.” Communion is not a time to mourn. It is a time to give thanks, remember, and celebrate what Jesus has done for us… until we celebrate with Him at the end of the age.
Psalms: “The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, enveloped in strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken. Your throne has been established from the beginning; you are from eternity. The floods have lifted up, Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their pounding waves. Greater than the roar of a huge torrent — the mighty breakers of the sea — the Lord on high is majestic. Lord, your testimonies are completely reliable; holiness adorns your house for all the days to come.” (Psalms 93:1-5 CSB)
This psalm was probably written to remind God’s people, in the midst of challenge, that the Lord is great and His word endures forever. Raging seas and pounding waves are often used as symbols of the rise and fall of nations, leaders, and political systems. Torrential storms are symbolic of the circumstances and voices that rage around us that can be deafening to the word of truth and reason. God is above all of that. He is greater than the things that surround us and scream and shout at us. He is Lord over the flood and raging seas. His throne is firmly established and nothing can shake Him or knock Him off His throne. His word is completely reliable and it endures through the harshest circumstances and never fails. What a great truth to remember: If we have surrendered our lives to God’s word, will, and ways; not only do we serve an unshakable God who is sovereign over all, we also have a savior who gave His entire life for us to save us, lead us and keep us through all things.
Jamie Hicks 