SO WHAT ABOUT IT? IT'S JUST SOMETHING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SERVICE THAT SEPARATES THE SINGING AND THE SERMON. WE TELL THE SERVERS TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS BRIEF, DISTRIBUTE THE EMBLEMS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND BE QUICK ABOUT IT RIGHT? WELL, THE TABLE IS MUCH MORE THAN THIS. WE EVEN LIKE TO THINK THAT JESUS THOUGHT IT UP JUST FOR US CHRISTIANS. BUT AS WE LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES, I HOPE YOU WILL GET THE DEEPER MEANING BEHIND THIS TABLE, AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS.

PASSOVER

BUT THAT’S THE OLD TESTAMENT ISN'T IT? YES AND YOU CAN NOT TALK ABOUT THE LORDS TABLE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT PASSOVER OR LOOKING IN THE O.T. AFTER ALL IT WAS THE PASSOVER TABLE JESUS AND HIS DESCIPLES WERE SITTING WHEN JESUS INSTITUTED THIS SACRAMENT.

IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN AT A CHRISTIAN SEDAR MEAL AT PASSOVER TIME. YOU HAVE HEARD ALL THE REFERENCES MADE TO THE SIMILARITY BETWEEN WHAT WAS BEING DONE AT THE PASSOVER AND OUR LORDS LIFE. I WILL TOUCH ON A FEW. HOWEVER IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY YOU SHOULD ATTEND A SEDAR MEAL.

AT THE SEDAR YOU HAVE A ROASTED LAMB WHICH WAS KILLED AND ITS BLOOD PUT ON THE DOORPOSTS AND CROSS PIECE SO THE DEATH ANGEL WOULD "PASSOVER" THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL IN EXODUS. THIS REPRESENTED JESUS'S DEATH ON THE CROSS-FOR US SO WE WOULD NOT SUFFER DEATH. THERE'S UNLEAVENED BREAD THE BREAD OF HASTE (JESUS'S BODY) THERE ARE THE CUPS (JESUS'S BLOOD) THE REMEMBERING OF GODS DELIVERENCE FROM EGYPT (OUR DELIVERENCE FROM SIN) THE EGG THAT REPRESENTS NEW BIRTH (OUR NEW BIRTH IN CHRIST) THE HALLEL'S SONGS OF PRAISE TO GOD (OUR SONG SERVICES) THE LOOKING FORWARD TO EATING THE NEXT PASSOVER IN JERUSALEM (OUR LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTAKING WITH JESUS IN THE NEW JERUSALEM) AND THE LIST GOES ON.

SOME FOLKS AVOID THE OLD TESTAMENT SAYING IT IS NOT FOR US. WELL YOU KNOW WHAT? IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE OLD, I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE NEW. PAUL SAYS THE OLD SCRIPTURES WERE A TUTOR FOR US SO WE COULD UNDERSTAND THE NEW. WE WILL BE JUMPING BACK AND FORTH IN THIS STUDY SO YOU CAN BETTER APPRECIATE THE LORDS TABLE.

SOME CHRISTIANS MISTAKENLY AVOID COMMUNION BUT FOR ONCE A MONTH OR TWICE A YEAR OR EVEN ONCE A YEAR. THEIR THOUGHTS ARE THAT IT WILL BECOME COMMON. WELL THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD CUT BACK ON PRAYER ALSO. HOW ABOUT REFLECTING ON THE CROSS-AND WHAT JESUS DID FOR US, MAYBE WE SHOULD CUT BACK ON THAT TOO. WHY SHOULD WE EVEN MEET ONCE A WEEK, I MEAN LETS NOT BE COMMON. FRANKLY KNOWING WHAT THE TABLE REPRESENTS AND WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS TO SAY, IT CAN NEVER BE COMMON TO ME, IF I DID IT EVERY DAY.

WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE SAY

1 COR 10:14-21…CALLS IT A SHARING AND A COMMUNION ACTS 2:42-46…TELLS US THE APOSTLES WERE CONTINUALLY BREAKING BREAD. THE MEANS OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 1 COR 11:20…CALLS IT THE LORDS TABLE LUKE 22:14-23…A COMMUNION AND THE GIVING OF THANKS MT 26:26…. INSTITUTED BY CHRIST LK 22:19…SYMBOLIC OF JESUS'S DEATH MT 26:28…REPRESENTS THE NEW COVENANT 1 COR 11:23-26…A MEMORIAL FEAST 1 COR 11:27-34…SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR AND MANDATORY JOHN 6:26-58…DEFINES THE SPIRITUAL MEANING

COMMUNION= FELLOWSHIP OR AGREEMENT IN 2 COR 6:14 THE WORD IS TRANSLATED, PARTNERSHIP & FELLOWSHIP IN 2 COR 3:14 IT IS TRANSLATED FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPIRIT

THE 23rd PSALM TALKS ABOUT A TABLE BEING PREPARED FOR ME IN THE MIDST OF MY ENEMIES. THIS WAS SURELY THE CASE DURING THE PASSOVER. WHERE THEY ATE IN THE MIDDLE OF EGYPT AND WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE. BUT DAVID SAW MORE THAN THAT HE SAW THE CHURCH. WHERE OUR TABLE IS IN THE MIDST OF A PERVERSE AND MORALLY CORRUPT WORLD.

MALACHI 1:7 & 12, TALKS ABOUT HOW ISRAEL MISTREATED THE TABLE OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE AND MALACHI SAYS GOD IS NOT HAPPY.

1 COR 14:21…PAUL WARNS THAT YOU CAN NOT PARTAKE OF THE BREAD OF GOD AND OF DEMONS. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE. AND THE TABLE IS WHERE THE CHOICE IS MADE.

1 COR 11:23-30…PAUL WARNS OF TAKING THE EMBLEMS IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER. THAT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANOTHER AT THE TIME. IF WE DO, WE ARE GUILTY OF THE LORDS BLOOD. HE TELLS THEM THAT IS WHY SOME ARE WEAK & SICK AND HAVE DIED.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT REALLY

IN HEBREWS, THE AUTHOR TAKES MUCH TIME AND EFFORT TO SHOW JESUS AS THE BETTER OF A NUMBER OF THINGS. HIGH PRIEST, COVENANT AND SACRIFICE TO MENTION A FEW. SACRIFICE THOUGH IS THE ONE WE WILL TALK ABOUT. IN OUR STUDY OF SALVATION WE TALKED ABOUT THE SACRAFICE OF THE LAMB THAT WAS OFFERED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT SYSTEM. WE ALSO FOUND THAT IT WAS A TEMPORARY PUTTING OFF OF SIN RATHER THAN A FORGIVENESS. JESUS HOWEVER, MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS-AND AS A RESULT OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF THAT LOVING ACT. IT WAS A BETTER SACRIFICE THEN THE LAMB OF OLD. AS WE APPROACH THE TABLE EACH WEEK, WE SPIRITUALLY APPROACH CALVERY AND THE CROSS. WE HAVE THE BREAD THAT REPRESENTS THE BROKEN BODY OF JESUS AND THE CUP THAT IS HIS SHED BLOOD.

CAN YOU IMAGINE COMING TO A PLACE LIKE THIS IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER AS PAUL SUGGESTS. WELL MY FRIENDS, SOME DO. SERVING AT THE TABLE ON A REGULAR BASIS I SEE MORE THAN I WOULD LIKE. ALL TOO OFTEN I SEE PEOPLE LEAFING THROUGH THEIR BULLITEN OR READING DR. DOBSONS LATEST ARTICLE OR MAKING OUT THEIR CHECKS FOR THE OFFERING. THESE SEEM INNOCENT ENOUGH, UNTIL YOU REALIZE WHERE YOU ARE AT THIS TIME. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. THIS IS HIS MEMORIAL. THIS IS OUR FELLOWSHIP TIME WITH HIM. IT IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON OUR LIVES PAST AND PRESENT. HAVE WE WRONGED ANYONE THIS WEEK OR HAS ANYONE WRONGED US. WE NEED TO BE PREPARED, TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. THEN WE COME INTO HIS PRESENSE WITH A PURE HEART.

WHAT ELSE DOES SCRIPTURE SAY

ISRAEL WAS GIVEN BREAD (MANNAH) AND DRINK (WATER FROM THE ROCK) IN THE DESERT TO SUSTAIN THEIR LIVES. WE ARE GIVEN SPIRITUAL FOOD AND DRINK TO SUSTAIN OUR LIVES.

GENESIS HAS A VERY SHORT BUT SIGNIFICANT STORY ABOUT ABRAHAM, AFTER HE DEFEATED THE KINGS OF THE CITIES OF THE PLAINS. A HIGH PRIEST NAMED MELCHISEDEK, KING OF SALEM, COMES OUT TO MEET HIM AFTER THE BATTLE AND BRINGS HIM BREAD AND WINE. MELCHISEDEK BLESSES HIM AND IS NEVER HEARD FROM AGAIN, EXCEPT FOR REFERENCES TO THIS STORY. MANY BELIEVE THIS WAS A PRECARNATE VISIT OF JESUS TO ABRAHAM. SCRIPTURE ALSO TELLS US THAT ABRAHAM SAW THE PROMISED MESSIANIC TIMES AND HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE IT. WHEN DID HE SEE IT? PERHAPS JESUS SHOWED IT TO HIM THERE IN THE DESSERT WHILE THEY WERE TALKING. MELCHISEDEK WAS THE KING OF SALEM OR THE KING OF PEACE. JERUSALEM IS THE CITY OF PEACE JERU= CITY SALEM = PEACE. WELL WHO KNOWS?

BREAD

JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE…BREAD WAS THE STAPLE FOOD OF THAT TIME. WITH OUT IT ONE WOULD DIE…JOHN 6:35-48 TELLS US HOW HE IS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND MORE. JOHN 6:32 SAYS JESUS GIVE THE TRUE BREAD.

PASSOVER BREAD WHICH JESUS USED WAS UNLEAVENED. THAT IS WITHOUT YEAST. BECAUSE OF THE HASTE TO LEAVE EGYPT THERE WAS NO TIME FOR DOUGH TO RISE. IT WAS COOKED AS IS..FLAT..NO YEAST.

LEAVEN IS ALSO REPRESENTATIVE OF SIN…DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT A LITTLE LEAVEN, LEAVENS THE WHOLE LOAF. SO THIS WAS A PURE BREAD WITH NO FERMINTATION AT ALL. AS JESUS IS PURE WITH NO SIN AT ALL.

THE CUP

SUPPRISED I DIDN'T SAY THE WINE. I DIDN'T BECAUSE SCRIPTURE DOESN'T. AS I AM OFTEN REMINDED BY BILL SAYRE. SCRIPTURE REFERS TO THE CUP AS THE CUP OR FRUIT OF THE VINE. ALTHOUGH WINE IS MADE FROM THE FRUIT OF THE VINE SO IS JELLY AND JAMS AND SO FORTH. IF THE LOAF HAD TO BE UNLEAVENED, WITHOUT YEAST OR FERMINTATION. DOES IT NOT MAKE SENSE THAT THE CUP WOULD ALSO BE PURE AND WITHOUT LEAVEN.

LUKE 22:20…THE CUP IS A SIGN OF THE NEW COVENANT…A COVENANT WAS ALWAYS SEALED IN BLOOD.

MT 20:22-23 & MK 10:38-39…JESUS ASKS HIS DISCIPLES IF THEY CAN DRINK OF THE SAME CUP HE WILL DRINK (HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH) THEY SAY YES THEY CAN. HE TELLS THEM THEY WILL INDEED DRINK FROM THE SAME CUP. THE CUP IS OFTEN LIKENED TO SUFFERING AND DEATH.

MT 26:27…WHEN JESUS TOOK THE CUP AND GAVE THANKS DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT HE WAS THANKING GOD FOR. THE LOVING PRIVILAGE TO DIE FOR YOU AND ME.

MT 26:39…AS A MAN HE WANTED THE CUP TO PASS, BUT WAS WILLING TO DRINK FROM IT.

TO SEAL A COVENANT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, AN ANIMAL, USUALLY A LAMB WAS KILLED. IT BLOOD WAS SPILLED ON THE GROUND AND THE TWO MAKING THE COVENANT WOULD WALK THROUGH IT. AS THEY TOUCHED THE BLOOD THE AGREEMENT WAS SEALED. IT WAS ALSO UNDERSTOOD THAT IF THE COVENANT WAS BROKEN. THE ONE WHO BROKE IT WOULD SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS THE ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED. THIS IS AS WITH OUR COVENANT WITH CHRIST. WHEN WE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BLOOD THE COVENANT IS SEALED. IF WE BREAK IT THEN OUR DEATH IS AGAIN REQUIRED OF US.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD SYSTEM

GOD INSTITUTED THE OLD TESTAMENT SYSTEM. IT REQUIRED A BLOOD SACRIFICE BY THE SINNER EACH AND EVERY YEAR, TO PUT OFF HIS SIN FOR THE COMING YEAR. JOSEPHUS, THE JEWISH HISTORIAN RECORDS MUCH OF THAT DAY AND TIME DURING JESUS'S LIFE. HE SAYS SO MANY SACRIFICES WERE BEING MADE ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT THAT THE SUN WAS BLOTTED OUT. THE SKIES WERE BLACK WITH THE SMOKE OF THE BURNT OFFERING.

THE SINNER HAVING PURCHASED HIS SACRIFICE (USUALLY A LAMB) WOULD ENTER THE TEMPLE COURT, SHOW THE PRIEST HIS OFFERING AND LAY HIS HAND ON THE SACRIFICES HEAD AND CONFESS HIS SINS TO GOD. HE WOULD THEN, IN THE WAY PERSCRIBED BY THE LAW, SLIT THE THROAT OF THE SACRIFICE AND KILL IT. A CEREMONY FOLLOWED WITH THE BURNING OF FAT PARTS AND PUTTING THE BLOOD ON THE ALTAR ETC. THE IMPORTANT THING WAS THAT THE SINNER CAME IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE SACRAFICE. HE FELT IT'S HEARTBEAT AND BREATHING, COULD HEAR Its CRIES AND COULD SMELL Its BLOOD. HE KNEW HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF THAT SACRIFICE.

COME NEAR TO THE TABLE ON SUNDAY MORNING, COME NEAR TO THE SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS. FEEL THAT HE WAS ALIVE, BUT THEN DIED FOR YOU AND ME PERSONALLY. OUR SIN. WHAT WE DID. BUT NOW HE LIVES. HE ONLY HAD TO DO IT ONCE, FOR ALL MANKIND. WHAT LOVE.

SO NOW WHAT

WHAT INDEED. WELL, WE CAN GO ON THINKING ABOUT THE LORDS TABLE AS JUST PART OF THE SERVICE. SOME WILL PROBOBLY STILL READ DURING THE COMMUNION. SOME WILL DAYDREAM. OTHERS WILL JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS. BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNOW WHAT THE TABLE REALLY IS, WE WILL APPROACH WITH A REVERANCE AND AWE THAT IT DESERVES. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE WERE SAVED. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE JESUS DIED FOR US. THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE FORGIVEN OUR DEBTS. AND IT IS THE PLACE TO COME AFTER WE FORGIVE THE DEBTS OF OTHERS.

THIS CAN NEVER BECOME COMMON OR TAKEN FOR GRANTED. WE ARE TOLD TO PRAY CONTINUALLY. TO FORGIVE OTHERS WHO WRONG US 70 X 7 TIMES OR CONTINUALLY. AND WE ARE TOLD THAT AS OFTEN AS WE DO THIS (PARTAKE IN THE LORDS SUPPER) WE PROCLAIM HIS DEATH UNTIL HE COMES AGAIN. THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING HE WANTED US TO DO ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE DOES IT.

IF THIS STUDY HAS BEEN A BLESSING FOR YOU, PLEASE PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. ALSO REMEMBER WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR HOME STUDIES ON THIS OR ANY OTHER SUBJECT YOU MAY WANT TO STUDY. MAY THE LORD BLESS AND KEEP YOU, AND MAY HIS WORD ENRICH YOUR LIFE.