Participating in God's Redemptive Love Through Christ

 

Summary

In the heart of our faith lies the transformative power of God's love and grace, a truth that resonates deeply within the story of the Passover and the Last Supper. As we reflect upon the sacred tradition of the Passover meal, we are reminded that God's redemptive work is not confined to the pages of history but is an ongoing narrative in which we are invited to participate.The Passover meal, a tradition that has been celebrated for thousands of years, is a profound retelling of the Exodus story. It is a narrative feast that encapsulates the deliverance of God's people from the bondage of Egypt. However, the bondage of Egypt is symbolic of a greater enslavement – the enslavement to sin. God, in His infinite love and mercy, grew weary of witnessing His creation suffer under the weight of sin and brokenness. He chose to intervene, not from a distance, but by entering into our world as the ultimate Passover Lamb.Jesus Christ, the sinless one, came to Earth fully aware of His destiny. He was the bread without leaven, the Lamb prepared for sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, He established a new covenant, fulfilling the ancient prophecies and transforming the Passover meal into a remembrance of His sacrifice. This meal, which we partake in regularly, is not merely a tradition but an invitation to join Jesus in His death and resurrection, to be cleansed and made new by His sacrifice.As we gather to celebrate the Passover, we are called to remember not just the historical deliverance of God's people but the personal deliverance each of us experiences through Christ. The bread and the cup are more than elements; they are symbols of the new life we have in Jesus. Every time we partake in this meal, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes, and we are reminded of the freedom we have from the bondage of sin.The Passover story is our story. It is a story of redemption, of a God who desires to write His law on our hearts and minds, to be our God, and for us to be His people. It is a story that compels us to live in the light of His grace, to extend that grace to others, and to trust in His promises.Key Takeaways:- The Passover meal is a vivid narrative that invites us to experience the story of redemption, not as distant observers but as active participants. Through the symbols of the meal, we are drawn into the reality of God's saving work, both in history and in our personal lives. This meal is a call to remember and to live out the implications of our deliverance through Christ. [01:02:42]- Jesus Christ, the Passover Lamb, came to fulfill the ancient tradition and to establish a new covenant. His sacrifice was not an afterthought but a divine appointment set from the foundation of the world. In Him, the fragmented stories of our lives find their coherence and purpose. His body broken and His blood shed are the ultimate expressions of God's love for us. [01:03:17]- The new covenant that Jesus inaugurated is written not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of our hearts. This internal transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, who enables us to know God intimately and to live in a way that reflects His character. The law becomes not a set of external rules but the natural outflow of a heart changed by grace. [01:01:33]- Tradition, when infused with the presence and purpose of Christ, transcends mere ritual and becomes a powerful means of grace. As we partake in the Lord's Supper, we do more than remember; we proclaim, we participate, and we anticipate. Each element, each prayer, each gathering is an opportunity to encounter the living God and to be transformed by His presence. [01:04:21]- Generosity is a natural response to the generosity of God. As we have been given much in Christ, we are called to give freely to others. Our resources, time, and talents are not our own but are entrusted to us by God to be used for His glory and the good of others. In giving, we express our trust in God's provision and our commitment to His kingdom purposes. [23:38]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 12:17 - "Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come."
2. Luke 22:19-20 - "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'"
3. Jeremiah 31:31-34 - "The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the Lord. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three essential elements of the Passover meal mentioned in the sermon? ([38:19])
2. How did Jesus redefine the Passover meal during the Last Supper according to Luke 22:19-20?
3. What was the significance of the bitter herbs in the Passover meal? ([44:14])
4. How does Jeremiah 31:31-34 describe the new covenant that God will establish with His people?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the Passover meal considered a "narrative feast" that encapsulates the deliverance of God's people from Egypt? ([33:18])
2. How does Jesus' statement, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me," change the traditional understanding of the Passover meal? ([51:29])
3. In what ways does the new covenant described in Jeremiah 31:31-34 differ from the old covenant established during the Exodus?
4. How does the story of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 12:17 relate to Jesus being referred to as the ultimate Passover Lamb in the sermon? ([01:03:17])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the significance of the Passover meal in your own life. How can you actively participate in the story of redemption rather than just being a distant observer? ([33:18])
2. Jesus' sacrifice was described as a divine appointment set from the foundation of the world. How does this understanding impact your view of God's plan for your life? ([01:03:17])
3. The new covenant is written on the tablets of our hearts. What steps can you take to ensure that your actions reflect this internal transformation? ([01:01:33])
4. Tradition, when infused with the presence and purpose of Christ, becomes a powerful means of grace. How can you make your participation in the Lord's Supper more meaningful and transformative? ([01:04:21])
5. Generosity is a natural response to the generosity of God. Identify one specific way you can be more generous with your resources, time, or talents this week. ([23:38])
6. The sermon mentioned that Jesus knew His destiny as the Passover Lamb. How does knowing that Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself for you affect your daily life and decisions? ([01:03:17])
7. The Passover story is a story of redemption and grace. How can you extend the grace you have received from God to others in your community? ([01:02:42])

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Redemption's NarrativeThe Passover meal is not just a historical commemoration but a personal invitation to experience redemption. This sacred tradition allows individuals to step into the story of God's deliverance, recognizing that the liberation from Egypt symbolizes a much greater freedom from the bondage of sin. Through the elements of the meal, believers are reminded of their own journey from slavery to sin to the freedom found in Christ. The bread and the cup serve as tangible symbols of the new life offered through Jesus' sacrifice, urging participants to not only remember but to actively live out the implications of this deliverance in their daily lives. [01:02:42]Exodus 12:26-27 (ESV)"And when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the Lord's Passover, for he passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" Reflection: How does understanding the Passover as your personal story of redemption change the way you view your daily struggles and victories?Day 2: The Ultimate Expression of Divine LoveJesus Christ, the sinless Passover Lamb, came to fulfill ancient prophecies and establish a new covenant through His death and resurrection. His sacrifice was a deliberate act of love, predestined to bring coherence and purpose to the fragmented stories of human lives. The breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood are profound demonstrations of God's love, offering believers a path to be cleansed and renewed. This understanding deepens the significance of the Lord's Supper, transforming it from a mere tradition to a powerful encounter with Christ's sacrificial love. [01:03:17]1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV)"Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."Reflection: In what ways can you more fully embrace and reflect the sacrificial love of Christ in your interactions with others?Day 3: The Law Written on HeartsThe new covenant established by Jesus is one that is inscribed not on stone but on the hearts of believers. This internal transformation is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers individuals to intimately know God and live in a manner that mirrors His character. The law becomes a natural expression of a heart transformed by grace, guiding believers to act justly and love mercy as they walk humbly with their God. This shift from external adherence to internalized principles marks the essence of spiritual formation. [01:01:33]Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can see the law of God moving from an external rule to an internal desire?Day 4: Tradition Transformed by PresenceTradition, when filled with the presence and purpose of Christ, becomes a conduit for grace rather than a mere ritual. The Lord's Supper is an opportunity to not only remember Christ's sacrifice but also to proclaim, participate, and anticipate His work in the world. Each element, prayer, and gathering is a chance to encounter the living God and be transformed by His presence. This perspective elevates the practice of communion, making it a dynamic and spiritually enriching experience. [01:04:21]1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV)"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."Reflection: How can you approach the Lord's Supper with a renewed sense of expectancy for encountering God's transforming presence?Day 5: Generosity as a Reflection of Divine ProvisionGenerosity is the natural response to the overwhelming generosity of God. As recipients of God's grace and provision in Christ, believers are called to freely give of their resources, time, and talents. This act of giving is an expression of trust in God's continued provision and a commitment to His kingdom purposes. It is through this generosity that Christians can tangibly demonstrate the love and grace that they have received. [23:38]2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."Reflection: What is one specific way you can practice generosity this week as a reflection of God's generosity to you?

Quotes

"God was sick and tired of watching us be slaves and not just slaves to Egypt, but slaves to our own sin. He was tired of watching his creation be enslaved to their own Brokenness." [01:02:42] ( | | )

"Jesus knew he was the Passover Lamb, the bread that was going to be broken and the wine poured out for us. He was the sinless bread with no leaven in it, ready to be sacrificed." [01:03:17] ( | | )

"When we have this bread and this juice, what we're invited to do is to join Jesus in his death but more than that, we're invited to join Jesus in his new life." [01:04:21] ( | | )

"Tradition is something that if it gets changed, it is just not going to be the same. We do not like to change our Traditions." [30:26] ( | | )

"Jesus changed the tradition of Passover, showing us that the whole meal they had been celebrating for years was about Him and His sacrifice." [01:03:50] ( | | )

"Every time we come together, we're reminded that we're not enslaved to people but to sin, and Jesus came to deliver us, to set us free." [01:05:33] ( | | )

"Jesus was redefining what the Passover Lamb was, inferring that during this time he was going to change what they thought the Passover Lamb was." [48:33] ( | | )

"Jesus hijacked this tradition that they do every year, saying you've had this tradition together every year and it's always been about me." [53:10] ( | | )

"In the Passover meal, Jesus told them that just as God had told you long ago to remember through a meal, continue to do this in remembrance of me." [54:28] ( | | )

"Jesus planned this out to where this last meal together, right before his blood and body are broken, they're going to share this meal together." [55:02] ( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?