Title: Holy Communion and the Kingdom of God
salvation in egypt
Last Supper
Today's text records the scene where Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples. This Passover meal was to commemorate the deliverance from Egypt mentioned earlier. This Passover meal is called the Last Supper. It is because Jesus shared this Passover supper with his disciples and died on the cross.
But the more important reason this meal is called the Last Supper is that it will be the last of the Passover supper. Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper at this supper. Therefore, the Passover Supper ended here, and from then on, it moved on to the Holy Supper. The Lord has given importance to the Lord's Supper at the institution of the Lord's Supper, and now commands those who believe in Him to commemorate the Lord's death through this Supper until His Second Coming.
The Lord who died a ransom for us
At this communion table, the Lord spoke of His atoning death for us. And he made it clear that this sacrament represents the Lord Himself who died to save us. As we well know, the bread of the Lord's Supper represents the Lord's flesh that was torn for us, and the wine represents the Lord's blood shed for us.
“And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, will” (verses 19-20).
At the Lord's Supper, the Lord broke a piece of bread and gave it to several people. This one bread means the Lord Himself. The Lord wanted to give His body to the cross to save us. For those who received this bread, eating it meant becoming one with Jesus. Just as when we eat food, it is digested within us and becomes a part of our body, so those who ate this bread, which symbolized the flesh of the Lord, meant becoming one with the Lord.
to be one with the Lord
Being one with the Lord means that we are saved. We are sinners who are bound to die forever because of our sins. However, by becoming one with the Lord, the fact that the Lord paid the price for sin and died on the cross is considered my death. In this way, our sins were settled. Also, the Lord was resurrected three days after He died on the cross, and because we become one with Him, we too are considered to be alive again as new people. Therefore, to become one with the Lord by eating the bread, which means the flesh of the Lord, is to show that we have been saved from our sins and become a new person.
By partaking of the Lord's Supper, we must remember again that we are one with the Lord. In this way we were saved. Not only that, but we must now live as the Lord lived. I hope that you will imitate the Lord and become a saint who lives a life that the Lord controls me.
Holy Communion and the Kingdom of God
The Lord said these words when he instituted the Lord's Supper at the Last Supper. “I tell you, I will eat no more of this Passover until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (verse 16). )
The Passover was a festival to commemorate God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. This salvation has come to us today. Jesus Christ became the Passover lamb and was sacrificed for us on the cross, and we are saved. But this salvation will be finally consummated in the kingdom of God. When the Lord said at the Last Supper, “I tell you, I will not eat this Passover any more until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” means that the salvation that this Passover signifies is now looking forward to its fulfillment in the kingdom of God. . Therefore, now we partake of this sacrament in anticipation of the day when the kingdom of God will be completed.
Verse 18 says that when we drink wine at the Lord's Supper, we proclaim the kingdom of God. Therefore, unless the kingdom of God is established, this sacrament has no meaning. Where this wine is shared, the kingdom of God must be realized. We, gathered here at this time today, will share wine together. It shouldn't end with a format. We must proclaim the kingdom of God by sharing this wine and build the kingdom of God.
What is the Kingdom of God? It's not just a paradise. The kingdom of God is the reign of God. Therefore, the kingdom of God will be established where there is complete submission to God's rule. The kingdom of God is where the reign of God is fully realized. Also, the kingdom of God must be realized among us by freeing our oppressed and suffering brothers from their oppression and suffering. This reminds us of our responsibility to our suffering brother today. Furthermore, the kingdom of God is achieved when we overcome sin and live a life in harmony with the Lord through the blood and Holy Spirit of the Lord. The saints who participate in this sacrament meeting must become people who build the kingdom of God on this earth until they enter the eternal heaven. Without it, our participation in this holy and blessed sacrament today would be meaningless.
The Lord is here with us today. We must pray to the Lord who is here at the Lord's Supper to give us the strength and wisdom to build the kingdom of God while we live on this earth until we enter the kingdom of heaven. Give us full submission to God's rule, care for our afflicted brother, and lead us to live in harmony with you! By participating in the Lord's Supper, I hope that you will become the saints who work hard in this work.