SACRED STEPS: Communion - Luke 22: 14-20

In less than twenty four hours, Jesus would become that unblemished perfect sacrifice. He would become the lamb whose death would take away the sins of the world forever. No more would we sit in the darkness, terrified of the thought of the finality of death. Jesus, the lamb of God, would willingly die so that we who put our faith in him will not perish but have everlasting life. No more would the unleavened bread serve as a reminder of our sin. Now we're reminded that he who had no sin took on our sin so that we would be found blameless. [00:39:18] (48 seconds)  #LambOfGod

Before you take a single step, I beg you to take a moment to examine your heart. Ask God to forgive you of any sin in your heart that would make you unworthy to approach his table. And if you're holding a grudge against someone, if there are hard feelings, whether it's with someone in this room, someone somewhere else on this campus, or someone a million miles away that you need step outside and make a phone call, don't come to the table until you make it right. I beg you, but come. I'm gonna pray. Hopefully, you'll be doing the same. When I say amen, it'll be your turn to respond. [00:53:59] (53 seconds)  #ExamineYourHeart

This doesn't mean we're not gonna have hardships and trials. Oh, nay nay. We can all probably tell a story. Right? But what it does mean is that now what he has done, we get to appreciate. And we do and endure the things that we do, not because life is hard, but because what he did for us is harder. So if you're taking notes, write this one down. We take communion to remember Christ's death. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. [00:41:11] (61 seconds)  #RememberTheCross

Jesus says in Matthew that if you're offering your gift at the altar and you remember that your brother has something against you, you are to leave your gift there. You are to abandon it and go and seek your brother out and be reconciled with him. And then you can come back and offer your gift. You see, God doesn't want our offerings. God doesn't want us coming to his table with a filthy heart, dirty hands. You wouldn't let your kids come to the table after they've been playing and making mud pies. Just wash your hands, and then you can come sit down. Right? The same applies to us. [00:48:56] (55 seconds)  #ReconcileBeforeCommunion

After three years of living with Jesus and sitting under his teaching, you would think that the apostles would be used to Jesus saying something they weren't prepared for. But this was Passover. Come on, man. There's a script. We're supposed to do this. Was done the same way for thousands of years. God ordained this meal. What are you doing? We can't mess with this. But yet, that's exactly what Jesus did. Jesus tells them that there's no leaven in in the bread because there's no sin in him, and he is going to give up his body for them, for us, for me, and you. [00:37:47] (51 seconds)  #UpsideDownKingdom

The stripes on the matzah left from being in the oven represent to us the stripes of the scourging that Jesus underwent at the hands of the Romans. If you hold this up to the light, you can actually see piercings, holes to remind us of the crown of thorns that he wore, the holes in his hands and his feet, where the spear stabs him in the side. The bread is a reminder now of Jesus and what he has done for us. The bitter herbs of the Passover are no longer to remind them of the bitterness of life. Now with Jesus, we have a new life. When we abide in him, we walk with him, he tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. [00:40:06] (66 seconds)  #WoundsAndNewLife

So we take communion, and we use it as a time for self examination. It's the reason we do it every week here at Impact. But it's not just as we examine ourselves and our sin and our attitude and relationship with God the father and son Jesus Christ. It is also about our relationship with each other as well. Jesus says in Matthew that if you're offering your gift at the altar and you remember that your brother has something against you, you are to leave your gift there. You are to abandon it and go and seek your brother out and be reconciled with him. And then you can come back and offer your gift. [00:48:20] (59 seconds)  #ReflectAndReconcile

So what else does Paul have to teach us in these verses? First, he reminds us that the ordinance of communion is reserved for people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Right? He says, for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. How can you proclaim his death until he comes? How can you believe that he's coming again if you can't believe in him and what he said and who he said he was from the get go. So Paul reminds us that this is something that is reserved for believers. [00:46:21] (45 seconds)  #CommunionForBelievers