SACRED STEPS: Communion - Luke 22: 14-20

Apr 20, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Blood on the Doorposts

The Israelites huddled in their homes as death passed over Egypt. God commanded them to kill a spotless lamb and smear its blood on their doorframes. They roasted the meat with bitter herbs and ate in haste, sandals on their feet. The lamb’s blood marked them as God’s people, sparing their firstborn. [33:46]

This meal became an annual reminder of God’s deliverance. The blood symbolized protection, the bitter herbs recalled slavery’s pain, and unleavened bread represented urgency to obey. But these symbols pointed forward to a greater rescue—Jesus, the final Lamb.

When you face fear or doubt, remember God’s faithfulness. Just as the Israelites trusted the blood’s power, trust Christ’s sacrifice covers you. What situation today requires you to rely on Jesus’ protection rather than your own strength?

“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old... They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses... It is the Lord’s Passover.”
(Exodus 12:5, 7, 11, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for being your protector. Confess one fear you need to surrender to His care.
Challenge: Read Exodus 12:1-13 aloud. Write down three details that stand out.

Day 2: Bread Broken in Remembrance

Jesus lifted unleavened bread at the Passover meal and broke it. “This is my body,” He told the disciples. For three years, they’d seen Him heal and teach—now He linked the bread to His coming sacrifice. The familiar Passover symbols became declarations of a new covenant. [31:27]

The broken bread meant Jesus would give His sinless body to rescue us. No more animal sacrifices—His death would fulfill the law. Every time we eat the bread, we declare His victory over sin and death.

Take communion seriously. Let the bread remind you Christ’s body was broken so yours could be whole. Before receiving it again, ask: Is there unconfessed sin or bitterness I need to lay before Jesus?

“He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
(Luke 22:19, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal any hidden sin. Thank Him for bearing your brokenness.
Challenge: Write down one attitude or action you need to confess before taking communion.

Day 3: The Lamb’s Future Feast

Jesus refused the wine cup, promising not to drink again until God’s kingdom comes. John’s vision in Revelation shows this future feast: multitudes shouting “Hallelujah!” as Christ unites with His church, the Bride. The Lamb’s Supper celebrates eternal victory. [43:34]

Communion isn’t just about the past—it’s a rehearsal for eternity. Every crumb and sip whispers, “He’s coming back.” Our mourning will turn to joy when we feast face-to-face with Him.

Live today with eternity in mind. How would your choices change if you knew Jesus might return before sunset? What relationship or habit needs adjusting to prepare for His coming?

“Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
(Revelation 19:9, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to deepen your longing for Christ’s return.
Challenge: Share Revelation 19:6-9 with one person today.

Day 4: Examining the Heart Before Eating

Paul warned the Corinthians not to take communion lightly. Some got drunk or ignored the poor during the meal. “Examine yourselves,” he insisted. Communion requires clean hands and a humble heart—not perfection, but repentance. [48:00]

Taking the bread and cup unworthily means ignoring Christ’s sacrifice. Self-examination isn’t guilt; it’s honesty before God. Like washing hands before dinner, we confess sin to approach the table clean.

Before your next communion, pause. Ask: Have I forgiven others? Have I thanked Jesus for His mercy? Is there a grudge I’m clutching instead of grace?

“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
(1 Corinthians 11:28, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one specific sin. Ask God to renew your gratitude for the cross.
Challenge: Call or text someone you’ve struggled with. Say, “I value our relationship.”

Day 5: Leaving Gifts at the Altar

Jesus taught that reconciling with others precedes worship. If you remember a conflict while bringing your offering, He said, leave it and make peace first. Communion demands we check not just our vertical relationship with God but our horizontal ties to people. [49:11]

Holding grudges stains the bread’s meaning. Forgiveness isn’t optional—it’s how we mirror Christ’s mercy. The table unites us as forgiven sinners, not faultless saints.

Who needs your apology or forgiveness? Don’t let pride poison your worship. What step will you take today to mend a broken relationship?

“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there... First be reconciled.”
(Matthew 5:23-24, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God for courage to seek or grant forgiveness.
Challenge: Before sundown, pray aloud for someone you’ve struggled to forgive.

Sermon Summary

The account traces the Lord’s Supper from its Old Testament origins through Jesus’ radical reframing and the apostolic instruction that follows. It begins by recalling the Passover’s origin in Exodus—an unblemished lamb, blood on doorposts, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs—and explains how those signs once marked God’s deliverance from Egypt and the separation from death. Jesus then reinterprets those familiar elements at the Last Supper: the bread becomes his body given for others, the cup becomes the new covenant in his blood, and the Passover remembrance becomes a proclamation of both past deliverance and future consummation. The bread now bears the memory of his sinless sacrifice and suffering; the cup points forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb and the coming kingdom.

Paul’s corrective in 1 Corinthians clarifies how the church should practice this ordinance. Communion belongs to those who have trusted Christ; it should occur regularly as a communal proclamation of Jesus’ death until his return; and it demands self-examination. Approaching the table in an “unworthy manner” brings spiritual consequence, so each participant must discern personal sin and relational discord before partaking. The summary underscores reconciliation as integral—offering at God’s table without restored relationships contradicts the very symbol being observed.

Practical responses flow from these truths: prayerful worship, honest self-examination, generous giving, and intentional reconciliation before partaking. The elements of communion serve not simply as ritual but as a disciplined remembering that shapes how believers live now—recognizing what Christ accomplished, anticipating the fulfillment to come, and maintaining holiness in relationship with God and one another. The assembly receives communion as a foretaste of the promised kingdom, a memorial of substitutionary suffering, and a call to ongoing spiritual integrity.

Key Takeaways

1. Communion remembers Christ’s death Communion transforms ritual memory into personal testimony: the bread signifies a body given on behalf of others, anchoring worshipers in substitutionary love and costly grace. This remembrance requires more than nostalgia; it demands a renewed willingness to live under the cross’s implications—humility, repentance, and service. As believers eat and drink, they declare that Christ’s death defines their present identity. [41:49]
2. Communion anticipates the coming kingdom The cup not only looks backward but points forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb, framing communion as eschatological hope rather than mere memorial. Participating anticipates full restoration—where incomplete signs give way to consummated promises—and trains the heart to live in patient expectancy. This future-oriented practice reorients present affections toward God’s final reign. [43:03]
3. Communion reserved for repentant believers Paul’s instruction limits the table to those who have entrusted themselves to Christ, making communion a confession of faith as well as a remembrance. Taking the elements without that commitment undermines the communal proclamation and risks spiritual harm; the table presumes union with Christ. The ordinance thus safeguards both truth and holiness within the gathered body. [46:38]
4. Approach with self-examination and reconciliation Communion functions as corporate worship that requires personal clarity: examine sins, confess, and seek reconciliation before approaching the elements. Unresolved offenses or hypocrisy distort what the table signifies and invite discipline rather than blessing. Simple repentance and forgiveness restore alignment with the gospel and preserve the health of the community. [48:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:12] - Honor guard, ceremony, and tradition
[25:27] - Childhood memories of the communion table
[30:13] - Luke 22: The Last Supper reading
[33:03] - Exodus 12: Origins of Passover
[36:58] - Jesus reframes Passover into new covenant
[41:49] - Communion: remember death, await kingdom
[44:26] - Corinthians: practice, reservation, self-exam
[51:01] - Response: prayer and worship explained
[54:03] - Prepare your heart; closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Luke 22:14-20 (ESV)
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Observation questions

In Exodus 12:1-14, what specific elements (like bread, herbs, lamb) were part of the Passover meal, and what did each symbolize? How did Jesus reinterpret these elements in Luke 22:14-20?
According to 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, what three instructions does Paul give about how the church should practice communion? [46:38]
What future event does Jesus connect to the cup in Luke 22:18, and how is this echoed in Revelation 19:6-9?

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus chose the Passover meal—a ritual rooted in deliverance from Egypt—as the setting to institute communion? How does this connect His death to the broader story of God’s salvation?
Paul warns against taking communion in an “unworthy manner” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). What might this look like practically, and why does it carry spiritual consequences? [48:00]
How does communion being both a remembrance of Christ’s death and a proclamation of His future return shape the way believers live daily?

Application questions

Before taking communion, we’re called to examine our hearts. What specific steps could you take this week to reflect on areas where you need repentance or reconciliation with others? [54:03]
How might regularly remembering Christ’s sacrifice through communion change your attitude toward serving others or enduring hardships?
Is there someone in your life you need to seek forgiveness from or reconcile with before approaching the Lord’s table? What’s one practical way to address this? [49:11]
The cup points to the future “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Revelation 19:9). How can living with this hope influence your priorities or decisions this month?
In what ways can you intentionally “proclaim the Lord’s death” (1 Corinthians 11:26) through your words or actions outside of church gatherings?

Sermon Clips

48s

#LambOfGod

“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.”

53s

#ExamineYourHeart

“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.”

61s

#RememberTheCross

“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.”

55s

#ReconcileBeforeCommunion

“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.”

51s

#UpsideDownKingdom

“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.”

66s

#WoundsAndNewLife

“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.”

59s

#ReflectAndReconcile

“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.”

45s

#CommunionForBelievers

“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.”

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