What does it mean for us as we come regularly to Holy Communion and hear these words of Jesus again and again? For if we belong to Jesus, we belong to the people of the new covenant. We share in the story and identity of Israel of the Old Testament, through faith in the Messiah Jesus. We are, as Paul very clearly told the Galatians, the spiritual seed of Abraham (Gal 3:7-9, 26-29). So as we celebrate the Lord's Supper, or Eucharist (or whatever it is called at your church), we are celebrating the same great truths as Old Testament Israel did, only now made even more wonderful in the light of the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

The exodus was the most important moment in the history of Old Testament Israel. If it had not happened, the people would have stayed in slavery. If the Passover lamb had not been slain, they would have known devastating death and grief. If the blood of the covenant had not sealed their relationship with God, they would have been no people at all, without hope and without God just like the rest of the world.

But it did happen! And because it happened ... they were a free people. They were alive and not dead. They knew they were God's covenant people with God's presence in their midst. And that's why they kept the feast.

And so it is for us. The cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ together constitute the most important event, not just in the New Testament, but in the whole history of the universe, which will be redeemed and reconciled to God because Jesus died and rose again.

If it had not happened, we would still be in bondage to sin. If it had not happened, we would still be spiritually dead. If it had not happened, we would be separated from God forever.

But it did happen! Praise God! And because it happened … we have been brought out of slavery to sin. We who were dead in trespasses and sins have been made alive in Christ. We have become citizens of God's kingdom, members of God's people, and the place of God's dwelling (Eph 2:19-22). That is why we keep the feast.

That is why we celebrate the Lord's Supper together with grateful hearts and with changed lives.

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Extract from:

(UK) Let the Gospels Preach the Gospel: Sermons Around the Cross, by Christopher JH Wright (Langham Preaching Resources, 2017)
(US) To the Cross: Proclaiming the Gospel from the Upper Room to Calvary, by Christopher JH Wright (IVP, 2017)

PRAYER:

We praise you Heavenly Father that we have been brought out of slavery to sin and made alive in Christ. Help us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together with grateful hearts and changed lives. Amen.