August 6, 2023
Exodus 12.21-28 and Luke 22.14-20
Why We Commemorate Communion

Jesus, born into a Jewish family, remembered the Passover every year. Jesus tells His disciples this is His final Passover meal with them until Passover is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. What is the meaning of this? We must journey back several thousand years to Egypt to know.

When Joseph was alive, the Pharaoh trusted him, and the Israelites prospered in the land. When a new Pharaoh arose after Joseph’s death, he became concerned about the number of Israelites living in Egypt. To keep them in the place, he made slaves of them. They suffered as slaves for 400 years.

God raised up a deliverer, named Moses, to tell Pharaoh to let His people go. Pharaoh said no!
God sent plague after plague after plague. But Pharaoh still would not free the Israelites. So God tells Moses He would send the 10th and final plague that would make Pharaoh let His people go. He sends the angel of death that would take the life of the firstborn of every human and animal in the land.

Exo 12:13 NKJV Now 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 the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

The Israelites sacrificed lambs to the LORD. They took the blood and covered the doorposts that night. The angel of death went throughout all of Egypt. There was weeping and crying because of the lost of so many lives. The Israelites were covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Whereas Passover was God’s supernatural deliverance of physical bondage, Communion is Jesus’ supernatural deliverance of spiritual bondage.

Jesus was telling them then and us today, that He has become the Passover Lamb. His blood would be shed so that He would cover us. So when Satan tries to snatch us into his kingdom of bondage, he must pass over us (those who have accepted Jesus as LORD and Savior) because we are covered by the blood.

We remember, honor, and respect Communion because of the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and anticipated return of Jesus for His followers. Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. He is our salvation. He is our gift of eternal life.

Amen. Invitation to follow Jesus.