Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Sermon Exodus 12:1-14, Matthew 26:17-29
Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church
September 7, 2008
This morning we will be celebrating the sacrament of The Lord’s Supper as part of our Service of Worship for the Lord’s Day. We gather around this table every month on the first Sunday. Today we will look closely at the first century Passover dinner where Jesus gave us the sacrament. But before we get started will you pray with me?
Lord Jesus on the night you were betrayed your gathered your disciples around a table to share bread and wine. Be with us this morning as we gather around your table to hear your words and to experience for ourselves your saving sacrifice. We pray all of this in your strong name. Amen.
Matthew 26:17-29 17 On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" 18 He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." 22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" 23 He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so." 26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Twenty five hundred years ago the descendants of Jacob were still in Egypt and subject to mistreatment at the hands of their taskmasters. They had become slaves in Egypt and as their numbers grew they became a threat to the dominant Egyptian culture. God sent Moses as her instrument to deliver her people from slavery. The Passover feast was established as a perpetual reminder of that deliverance by God. Over the years the Israelites forgot what they were suppose to do. When this happened, God raised up kings like Hezekiah and Josiah who reinstituted the Passover feast to remind the people of how they had been blessed by God. And today we remember how God has blessed us as we gather around this table for the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper which is based on the Passover feast..
At first, the Passover feast was eaten by families in their homes. Later there was a requirement that they were to come to Jerusalem for the meal. People gathered to eat the Passover lamb in the outer courts of the temple. As attendance at the Passover feast grew the sheer numbers of people overwhelmed the temple area and people were permitted to eat the feast anywhere in Jerusalem. You needed to be part of a group of at least ten Jews who could meet somewhere in the city to be part of the Passover feast.
According to Matthew, Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Passover. Coming to Jerusalem for festivals was the duty of every Jewish man three times each year. Many Jews obeyed these rules, at least in part.
Jesus and his disciples most likely arrived for Passover a week early to purify themselves from the journey. They stayed in Bethany probably in the home of Mary and Martha. The Passover meal itself had to be eaten in Jerusalem so on the 14th day of Nisan Jesus sent two of his disciples into the city where they would find a man carrying water who would take them to an upper room where the feast would be eaten. This room had to have been ritually cleaned of all leavening, which was probably done before the disciples arrived. The disciples then went out to the marketplace and purchased a lamb for the dinner. They took it to the temple for slaughter, sometime that afternoon. When Jesus and the other ten disciples arrived that evening the lamb was already roasting.
When the meal was ready Jesus and his disciples reclined on couches at the tables and their wine cups were filled. Servants went around with towels to wash the right hand of each person. Jesus and the disciples then sang a song, praising God with Psalms 113 and 114.
NRS Psalm 113:1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore. 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised. 4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. 9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD
It probably at this time that Jesus passed his cup around to the others after blessing it and saying that the next time he would eat the Passover feast it would be with them in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Then the first course of the meal featuring lettuce that would be dipped in a bowl of salad dressing was served. It is likely that during this first course Jesus shocked the disciples by announcing that someone would betray him.
After this each person ritually washed their hands again and was given a second cup of wine to drink with the main course. At this time Jesus said a blessing over the bread, and broke it. Jesus interpreted the breaking of the bread in terms of his own body. He then distributed the bread telling the disciples to remember him whenever they celebrated this feast in the future. At this point there was probably a joyous, festive atmosphere at dinner.
When the main course was over, the disciples were given a third cup of wine. Jesus blessed his cup and gave thanks for the meal, but then added, quite unexpectedly , that this represented his own blood poured out on the ground, and interpreted it symbolically as the new covenant established by his death.
As the dinner came to an end, Jesus and his disciples sang Psalms 115 to 118.
Psalm 115:1-18 NRS Psalm 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. 2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. 8 Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them. 9 O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. 12 The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; 13 he will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great. 14 May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children. 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings. 17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the LORD from this time on and forevermore. Praise the LORD!
After midnight Jesus and his disciples left the upper room and went to the Mount of Olives where they spent the night.
Today we will be gathered around the table of the Lord. This table reminds us of the Passover feast that Jesus and his disciples ate on the night when Jesus was arrested. It also reminds of that first Passover in Egypt when the Children of Israel were redeemed by their God through the great sacrifice of the death of all the first born of Egypt. Likewise it reminds us of the great sacrifice of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross redeeming us from slavery to sin.
But as we gather around this table we are doing far more than just remembering past events. Remember that Jesus said the he would be participating in our feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. And in the very next chapter of Matthew Jesus promises us that he will be with us until the end of the age. Therefore as we gather around this table we can be confident that Jesus is here with us and that this banquet is in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I urge you today to prepare yourselves to meet Jesus as you come forward in communion today. Jesus is here, blessing this bread and wine and sharing it with us. We are his disciples who have been richly blessed. So let’s celebrate the Passover feast together with Christ our Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, your disciples in Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church have gathered for your supper. Welcome us as your people as we approach you this day. Bless us with the new covenant you promised with your blood. Forgive our sins and restore us to new life in you. Amen.
Adapted from: Barry D. Smith, Jesus' Passover Meal,Lewiston: Mellen Biblical Press 1993.
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