Maundy Thursday 2022

Do this in remembrance of me was the bread somehow transformed into his body at that moment no Christ he was using symbols much like we're not a branch any more than Christ is a vine Jesus he is using the symbol of unleavened bread to point to his holiness to his goodness and how he satisfies and how he makes us glad first corinthians 11 verses 23-24 it says for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread when he had given thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is for you do this in remembrance of me did you know that in communion we remember his body his body that was bruised and pierced and crushed he was crushed under the weight to the wrath of the father because of our sin we were sinners in need of salvation and communion is the regular reminder of that truth that he has redeemed us by offering his body on our behalf

On the cross and tonight as we prepare to partake in the bread let us do so with the conviction that God he is good he is righteous he is holy and he has invited us to be partakers of this grace of communion through his son Jesus Christ whereby we have a seat at the table because he has invited us to come and remember and so let us remember the cost of our redemption and what Christ's body endured on the cross let's stand and let's prepare to sing together it'll be after the next section [Music] when I survey the [Music] wondrous cross on which the prince of glory died richest gain count but lost and poor contempt on all my pride Lord that I should boast save in the death of Christ my God all the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to his blood [Music]

See from his head his hands feet sorrow and love flow [Music] love and sorrow [Music] [Music] he took a cup y'all can be seated and he took a cup when he had given thanks he gave it to them saying drink of it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins this is the new covenant why did we need a new one well it was because the old one was broken in Jeremiah 31 verses 31-32 it says behold the days are coming declares the Lord when I will make a new covenant with the house of israel in the house of judah not like the covenant that made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of egypt my covenant that they broke though I was their husband declares the Lord the first covenant was broken and why was that because it was contingent upon us to uphold our end of the bargain to obey the Lord's commands and to walk in faithfulness toward him it's nothing that we could ever accomplish by our own strength or power in our own flesh with our own sinful fallen nature and since God's covenant was broken someone had to die because that's the rule of covenants so Hebrews chapter 9 verse 15 it says therefore he is the mediator of a new

Covenant so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance since the death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant and so Christ had to come he came and he fulfilled the law and all of its requirements and he fulfilled all prophecy and he shed his blood and he died to ratify a new and a better covenant a covenant between God man where now we have a mediator the man God Jesus Christ and we become beneficiaries of the blessings of God by entering through Jesus that's why Hebrews chapter 8 verses 6 through 7 it says this but as it is Christ has obtained a ministry that is much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better since it is enacted on better promises for if that first covenant had been faultless there would have been no occasion to look for a second by Christ establishing this blood of the covenant by his shedding of his blood because we broke the last covenant in the law it demanded the shedding of innocent blood we couldn't pay for it ourselves do you know why because we're not innocent we have nothing to offer by our death so someone else had to die therefore Christ he paid for our sin by shedding his own blood on the cross and so Christ he takes the cup this is the third cup of the passover it was known as the cup of blessing Paul he says in first corinthians chapter 10 verse 16 that the cup of blessing that we bless is it not participation in the blood of

Christ this cup of blessing is why the Lord Jesus he gives thanks in Christ he invites all of us as those who follow him to partake of his supper and to drink deeply because the cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood and this is a tremendous invitation that Christ he would he would beckon you and I with thankfulness even knowing that in just a few hours he's going to drink another cup the full cup of God's wrath and he would be beaten and he would be bruised and his skin would be pierced and flayed and torn he'd be crucified in just a few short hours and the regular retelling of this story is so important for the people of God and it's the reminder of the Gospel and our need for the Savior and we're commanded to do so regularly and when Christ died on the cross he really did pay for your sins and for mine and he made us his own by remembering what Christ did we can recall what Christ does here in the present that we were at one time lost in sin but now we are redeemed and we are sons and daughters of God who have a place at his table unlike the old covenant though where they just simply looked back to the work of Christ by shepherding them out of egypt we don't just look back to the cross we also look forward to the return of Jesus Christ Jesus he said I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom Paul he clarified it a bit more in first corinthians 11 26 for as often as you drink this bread eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes

In Christ he will one day return and he will establish his kingdom here on the earth in revelation 19 verses 6 through 9 it says this then I heard what seemed to be the voice of great multitude like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peels of thunder crying out hallelujah for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory for the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready it was granted to her to clothe herself with fine linen bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints and the angels said to me write this blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb and he said to me these are the true words of God Christ he is returning for his bride the church and communion is a reminder of that promise that just as he really did die for your sins one day he really will come and receive us again to himself and it is on that day that believers we will be united in Christ and we will drink the fruit of the vine and those who have hungered and thirsted for righteousness will be satisfied and they will be filled God long ago he made this promise in Isaiah chapter 25 verses 6 through 10 on this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food a feast of well-aged wine of rich food full of marrow of aged wine well refined and he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples the veil that is spread over all nations he will swallow up death forever and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth for the Lord has spoken it will be said on that day behold this

Is our God we have waited for him that he might save us this is the Lord we have waited for him let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation for the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain and on that day that is what we look forward to in communion where we will not only be satisfied by him but we will also be satisfied in him and we cling to him and we rejoice and we are glad and so now we will move into a time of examination fully knowing what communion represents it is a symbol and so if you would just in the quietness of this room bow your heads and close your eyes and take time to examine your heart is there a leaven that needs to be swept out because now is the time to deal with it are there areas that you need to ask the Lord to forgive you in now is the time now invite for you to examine your heart [Music] so [Music] at this time I'd also like to invite any deacons who are here that would like to participate in the Lord's supper with me to come forward at this time [Music] so [Music] so [Music] the Scriptures say in first corinthians chapter 11 verse 23 for I received from the Lord but I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread when he had given thanks he broke it and said this is my body which is for you

Do this in remembrance of me take the bread [Music] Lord we are so thankful for your for your body that was beer that was pierced and bruised and crushed Lord every single strike fall of the hammer was supposed to be for me Lord that you would take on that punishment God thank you for your tremendous love we thank you for that as we think about your wounds just pouring out blood Lord from being scourged and pierced and stabbed in the side with a spear God [Music] the awesome brutality of that it's too fearful [Music] and also wonderful that you would take that for us help us to remember what you did in Jesus name amen the Scripture says in the same way also he took the cup after supper saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood do this as often as you drink in remembrance of me take the cup and drink [Music] for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes the Scripture goes on to say there that they after the supper they sang a hymn while we all stand together and sing one final hymn before we go [Music] amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me once was lost but now am found was blind but now see twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved how precious did that grace appear the r I first believed [Music] through many dangers toils and snares I have already come [Music] to his grace hath brought we saved us far and grace will lead me home [Music] and so God we do thank you for inviting us to your table and help us to proclaim the Lord's death until you return and God I pray that you would just equip with your very presence as we go from here thank you for the sacrifice that you made we look forward to remembering that tomorrow night