4.13 The New Covenant memorial meal
Another step of the Hebrew ceremony is to eat a memorial meal (Gen 26:28-31). There is eating and drinking. When a couple gets married, they also hold a covenant meal; usually a wedding dinner. It is a time of celebration and rejoicing.
What is the memorial meal of the New Covenant? We call this the Holy Communion. This meal is held to remember Jesus, who cut a covenant with the Father on our behalf through His death. When we proclaim His death for us, we also proclaim our new life in Him. This meal reminds us that we are in covenant with God. It is a time of celebration and rejoicing.
(1 Co 11:23-26, NKJV)
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
What are the elements of the New Covenant? They are the bread and the wine. What do they represent?
The bread represents Jesus’ body which was broken for us. Why was his body broken for us? His body was broken so that ours may be made whole. Isaiah 53:5 says that by His stripes we are healed. Therefore when we eat, we remember His body and we activate our faith to receive the miracle of physical healing. It is not an empty ritual but a powerful experience.
The wine represents Jesus’ blood which was shed for the remission of our sins (Matt 26:28). It was the blood that purchased our eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). Eternal redemption means that all our past, present and future sins are forgiven on the cross. We received His free gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17). Therefore when we drink, we remember His blood and we are reminded that we are righteous in Him (2 Cor 5:21). It sets us free from condemnation and gives us unshakable peace (Rom 5:1, 8:1). It puts us in a position of faith to receive the full blessings of His covenant.
Do not eat this covenant meal as a ritual, but let it be an act of faith to receive the promises of your New Covenant.
What is the memorial meal of the New Covenant? We call this the Holy Communion. This meal is held to remember Jesus, who cut a covenant with the Father on our behalf through His death. When we proclaim His death for us, we also proclaim our new life in Him. This meal reminds us that we are in covenant with God. It is a time of celebration and rejoicing.
(1 Co 11:23-26, NKJV)
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
What are the elements of the New Covenant? They are the bread and the wine. What do they represent?
The bread represents Jesus’ body which was broken for us. Why was his body broken for us? His body was broken so that ours may be made whole. Isaiah 53:5 says that by His stripes we are healed. Therefore when we eat, we remember His body and we activate our faith to receive the miracle of physical healing. It is not an empty ritual but a powerful experience.
The wine represents Jesus’ blood which was shed for the remission of our sins (Matt 26:28). It was the blood that purchased our eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). Eternal redemption means that all our past, present and future sins are forgiven on the cross. We received His free gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17). Therefore when we drink, we remember His blood and we are reminded that we are righteous in Him (2 Cor 5:21). It sets us free from condemnation and gives us unshakable peace (Rom 5:1, 8:1). It puts us in a position of faith to receive the full blessings of His covenant.
Do not eat this covenant meal as a ritual, but let it be an act of faith to receive the promises of your New Covenant.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 12:44 AM
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