Revision as of 19:48, 6 April 2022

Passage

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^[1]

Introduction

Have you ever had an event fail to meet your expectations? This is exactly what I think must have happened to the disciples. After the triumphal entry, I think they expected that Jesus would institute the kingdom. But as we know this is not what happened. Jesus did not march to the capital, throw out the Romans and take a seat on the throne. No instead Jesus submitted himself to Roman execution and died the most horrific death imaginable.

So, how can we make sense of such a failure to meet expectations? We must understand that the problem that Jesus was solving was so much bigger than freedom from Roman opressors.

Main Body

Christ's body was broken for us

Need some on atonement.

Christ's blood initiated a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-37)

The prophet Jeremiah had prophesied that the days were coming in which God would institute a New Covenant, a covenant that would serve all people, not just Israel. Hebrews 8:13 tells us this made the old covenant obsolete. The New Covenant included the writing of God's law on our heart. The cup is a memorial of this New Covenant. No longer is there a disctinction between Jew and Gentile. No longer does the blessing of God flow from obedience to the Torah. No longer is the redemptive community of God an exclusive club. No, redemption under the New Covenant is bought with the blood of Christ on the cross.

Conclusion

References

1. ↑ Matthew 26:26-28, NIV