Daily Bible Reading
Today’s Devotion by Tom Siderius (MI)
Luke 22:14-20(ESV) And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
We celebrated communion last Sunday at Blanchard church, which is the habit there to do it on the first Sunday of the month. The thoughts that go with communion include that remembrance of this event with Jesus and the apostles, and then the thankfulness that we have for the sacrifice of body and blood that Jesus is willing to make for us.
He said “I desire to eat the Passover with you but will not”. Many believe that the meal eaten was the Passover meal but that is not correct. For Jesus to be the Passover lamb on the 15th day of Nissan month, this night is the celebration that the Jews did on the day before that on the 14th. This meal together was in anticipation of the Passover meal and day to come and help get them ready for it. The name of the meal is “seudah maphsehket” which is the meal that would be eaten before the Passover day coming the next day. It means concluding meal” or “separating meal” in Jewish tradition. They would fast on the Passover day until the evening meal which would break the fast with the “seder” Passover meal on that evening after sunset which started the new day the 15th.
Luke 22:16(ESV) For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
The other thing that Jesus says about this meal is that he will not eat the true Passover again until the fulfillment of time in the age to come. In it’s place Jesus tells us to do the remembrance of what he starts here in the time until the age to come happens. He institutes a new covenant going forward that is because of his own shed blood and broken body. He is the Passover lamb and he fulfills the requirements of the Old Testament lamb.
What do we have to be thankful for specifically?
Why is the Passover not fulfilled until the age to come?
The answer to our questions may be found in Ephesians where God gives us an understanding of the mystery that has been revealed after Christ’s resurrection.
Ephesians 1:4-10(ESV) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
God chose us in Christ because He desired to do it. God gave the agency of salvation in the broken body and shed blood of Jesus. God has redeemed us from the law of sin and death and made us part of His family in Christ. When God looks at you, He sees Christ in you and all that means. The new heaven and earth to come is the time and place when the Passover lamb payment and sacrifice will be completed . It is finished with the resurrection of those that are raised again to life eternal and included in the age to come. God shows Jesus this coming glory and that is the focus that keeps Jesus faithful to do the hard things to come after this point in time.
The passage points us to the idea that the communion meal that we share is the preparation for the final “seder” meal to be eaten and drank with the Savior in the age to come. The new heavens and earth are filled only with God’s righteousness and presence.
Why does it take a new heaven and earth for these things to be completed?
Our thankfulness of heart should be towards the God who has given us newness of life because He our God has desired to do it for us. Our thankfulness should also go to the Christ who was faithful even unto death on the cross so that God is able to resurrect him from dead, giving us the way to God. We celebrate the communion event in remembrance of Jesus’ great love for us as he is faithful in all the events that happen. Our hearts should overflow with love for God and His Son when we see all that God has done for us.
Prayer:
Our God Our Father, we thank you for the redemption from sin and death that You have given us. We look to You this day with hearts of gratitude for Your Son and all that is accomplished by his faithful service. We look with grateful hearts for the coming of the Kingdom of God and for Your love that includes us in it. Father help to have grateful hearts every minute and hour as we walk with You and Your Son. In Jesus name we pray.
