The Sinless Offering that Sets Us Free
We must remember that the Last Supper was also a Passover Supper. You and I most likely know very little about what a Passover meal entails. As I have learned about this meal, my understanding of the Last Supper has grown. This beautifully symbolic meal was created both as a way of remembering the Israelites rescue from slavery and as preparation for the coming Messiah. By comparing the two meals, we might understand the beautiful gift of communion just a bit more.
We read that Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it for his companions. The Passover meal began in a very similar way. The head of the household would offer up a blessing before the meal. He would say, “This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Passover meal.” In comparison, Jesus said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” It is important to understand that the bread these men were about to eat was unleavened bread. In the context of Passover, unleavened bread reminded the Israelites they did not have time to allow their bread to rise when they fled their captivity in Egypt. However, throughout scripture, leaven or yeast was used to symbolize sin. Jesus was explaining to his followers that his flesh – given to them and us – was sinless. In the context of the prayer every man at that table would have known, there is also an invitation: “Let everyone who hungers come and eat; let everyone who is needy come and eat the Savior’s flesh.” Jesus’ sacrifice was for all, and the invitation still stands.
Next, the wine was used as another clue to the sacrifice which Jesus was about to become. In the Passover meal, wine is poured four times. Most scholars believe that it was during the third pouring of the wine that Jesus declared, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for man.” The significance of this ties into the third cup of wine drank during Passover. This cup was called the “Cup of Redemption”. It is because of the blood of Jesus that we are redeemed or purchased from hell’s grip.
Every time we take communion, we remember that Jesus became our sacrifice. No longer do we need to rely on the temporary cleansing of ritualize slaughter of animals. That could never satisfy our sin lust. Perfection cannot be obtained or maintained. Each of us need a sinless and eternal offering to be the redeemed children of God. This is what we remember when we remember the Last Supper. This is what we celebrate when we take communion. Let us never take it out of habit. Rather, let us always take the time to thank God for sending Jesus and thank Jesus for willingly becoming our sinless covering that washed away our sin. Praise God! Because of the Last Supper, we are no longer bound by the Old Covenant. We are no longer lost in our sins because Jesus stepped in our place.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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