Posted on 10/24/2016 5:21:43 AM PDT by Gamecock
“The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” (v. 13). - Exodus 12
The Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—each record the institution of the Lord’s Supper, the sacrament Christ ordained to remember His death on behalf of His people (Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20). Since that event two thousand years ago, Christians have regularly celebrated the Lord’s Supper, which is known in some traditions as the Eucharist or Holy Communion. Indeed, the Lord’s Supper is a central component of Christian worship, so all believers can benefit from a greater understanding of the sacrament. We are now pausing our study of Mark’s gospel to consider the Lord’s Supper in greater depth. Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series Kingdom Feast will guide our study.
Even though the Lord’s Supper was instituted on the night before our Savior went to the cross, the roots of the sacrament go back further. As we have seen in our study of Mark 14, the Lord’s Supper was given in the context of the Passover celebration, so the old covenant Passover festival points to the sacrament’s significance.
The first Passover took place on the night of the final plague the Lord sent against Egypt. Recall that our Creator sent Moses to Egypt because He heard the cries of His people Israel in Egyptian slavery; remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and moved to liberate the Israelites from bondage. There was a contest between Pharaoh and God, who was represented by Moses. The Lord sent a series of plagues to convince Pharaoh that he should let the Israelites go, but Pharaoh kept hardening his heart and would not release the people. Finally, Pharaoh relented and released the Israelites after God put the firstborn sons of Egypt to death (Ex. 2:23–12:51).
In light of all this, it is appropriate to say that God saved Israel from slavery; however, we cannot stop there. If the Lord’s purpose was merely to redeem the Israelites from earthly bondage, there would have been no need for placing the Passover lamb’s blood on their doors on the night God killed the firstborn of Egypt. No, that blood was a sign to the people that while they were being saved by God, they were also being saved from God. Being sinners, the firstborn sons of Israel deserved death no less than the firstborn sons of Egypt. The lamb’s blood symbolically shielded the children of the Israelites from God’s wrath because the lamb was slain in their place, foreshadowing the eternal salvation that comes to those who are covered in the blood of the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
Coram Deo
Yes, we are saved from the guilt and power of sin. More significantly, we are saved from God Himself, from His just wrath against our sin. That is what we celebrate in the Lord’s Supper, that the Judge of all creation saved us from His judgment so that we, undeserving sinners though we are, may enjoy fellowship at His table in His presence. Such grace should move us to worship and love our great Lord and Savior.
Passages for Further Study
Habakkuk 3:2 O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.2 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; cit is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Ping
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
2
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
3
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt;
Fightings within, and fears without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
4
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
5
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
6
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Miss Charlotte Elliott was visiting some friends in the West End of London, and there met the eminent minister, César Malan. While seated at supper, the minister said he hoped that she was a Christian. She took offense at this, and replied that she would rather not discuss that question. Dr. Malan said that he was sorry if had offended her, that he always liked to speak a word for his Master, and that he hoped that the young lady would some day become a worker for Christ. When they met again at the home of a mutual friend, three weeks later, Miss Elliott told the minister that ever since he had spoken to her she had been trying to find her Saviour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. “Just come to him as you are,” Dr. Malan said. This she did, and went away rejoicing. Shortly afterward she wrote this hymn.
So God sacrificed himself to himself to save us from the sins he created to begin with. There is no logic or reasoning for this platitude.
No.
No? So Jesus Christ is not God as some apologetic’s say or his he? According to John he is, so according to John, God sacrificed himself to himself. If no then I am very bewildered and confounded.
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