Last Supper Bread & Cup First Communion Bread

Many Misconceptions Is there any differences among religions in observing it today? Does it matter what we do as long as we do something to remember Christ? Does it change our relationship with God? Is it a problem with God, if we observe it incorrectly? When do we partake? Age? Time?

Understanding The Observance (start at beginning) Ex 11:4-7 Then Moses said, "Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go out into the midst of Egypt; 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the female servant who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the animals. 6 Then there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as was not like it before, nor shall be like it again. 7 But against none of the children of Israel shall a dog move its tongue, against man or beast, that you may know that the LORD does make a difference between the Egyptians and Israel

Passover Meal Lamb secured on 10th day and killed on 14th day 14th day all leaven removed from their houses until evening of 21st day Not a bone of the Lamb was to be broken and it was to be roasted whole and eaten with bitter herbs Eat it with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You shall eat it in haste It is the Lord’s Passover Ex 12 (detailed account and why it was to be done) If your family was to small to eat a lamb they could share it with another If any remained, it was to be burned

Why such a big deal? It was a perpetual reminder! Ex 12:25-28 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the LORD will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' 27 that you shall say,'It is the Passover sacrifice of the LORD, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.'" So the people bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Celebrating The Passover Josh 5:10 Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. They continued this observance always Devout Jews today still celebrate this “Seder meal” The head of the family in a white ritual gown kittel begins the benediction over a cup of wine (1 of 4) pure grape juice There is a ceremonial washing of hands by all The table is prepared with matzo (unleavened bread), bitter herbs and horse radish to remind them of their bitter oppression by Egypt , they dip their vegetables in salt water to remember the tears

Four Cups Of Wine Ex 6:5-7 Therefore say to the children of Israel:'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring out – Kiddush (this world) I will deliver or rescue you – Magid (Messianic age) I will redeem you – Birkat (world at revival of dead) I will take you – Hallel (world to come)

Seder Plate For Each Maror & Chazeret – two types of bitter herbs (grated horseradish) (romaine lettuce roots) Charoset – sweet brown pebbly mixture representing mortar of the bricks Karpas- vegetable usually parsley but could be celery or potato dipped in salt water, vinegar Z’roa- A roasted shank bone which was a lamb offered in the temple and eaten in meal Bietzah- a roasted egg eaten in this meal

Order For The Seder Meal Kadeish – blessings and 1st cup of wine Ur”chatz – washing of hands by all Karpas – appetizer – veg in salt water – tears Yachatz – breaking of the middle matzah – breaking of unleavened bread Magid – Telling of the Passover story Ha Lachma Anya – invitation to Seder – to all who are hungry or needy to join the Seder Mah Nishtanah – The four questions

4 Questions at Seder Meal Why is it that on all other nights we do not dip (food) even once but on this night “twice” ? Why is it that on all other nights during the year we eat leavened bread and on this night only matza or unleavened bread? Why is it that on all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables, but on this night bitter herbs? Why is it that on all other nights we dine either sitting upright or reclining, but on this night we all recline Why is it that on all other nights we eat either roasted, marinated or cooked meat but on this night only roasted ?

Order of Seder Meal cont. Kos Sheini – Second cup of wine Rachtzah – ritual washing of hand repeated Motzi Matso – blessings over the matzo (must be eaten in 2 to 18 minutes) Koreich – sandwich matzo (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs) are combined Shulchan Orech – the meal – begins with roasted egg Tzafun – eating of the afikoman (olive size portion of matzo eaten as lost morsel) no other food for night may be eaten except two more cups of wine

Order of Seder Meal cont. Bareich – Grace after meal – reciting of Birkat Hamazon Kos Shlishi – 3rd cup of wine – cup of blessing Kosshel Eliyahu ha-Navi cup of Elijah the Prophet, front door of house is opened, and Elijah visits each house on Seder night Hallel – songs of praise – then 4th cup of wine Nirtzah – a prayer that the service is acceptable before God and a hope for the Messiah to come next year in Jerusalem Final of 15 orders of Seder

Does This Sound Like It Made A Difference To God As To “What & How They Observed?

1500 Years Later The Lord’s Supper Instituted Jesus and his disciples come to Jerusalem about a week prior to the Passover In Jerusalem on Thursday evening before his betrayal on the morrow, we find Jesus ready to observe the Passover Matt 26:17-21 Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 18 And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says,"My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve. 21 Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."

During this meal the Lord’s Supper was instituted ! Matt 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." The elements of the Lord’s Supper are two of the the same as for the Passover, unleavened bread and unfermented wine

Understanding the Memorial 1 Cor 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you Christ is our Passover - 1 Cor 5:7-8 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Jesus told his disciples to do this in remembrance of him

Do This In Remembrance Of Me ! “Remembrance” in 1 Cor 11:24 is the same word found in Hebrew 10:3. Heb 10:3-4 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. Levitical sacrifices reminded men of sins – but could not take away sins – Lord’s Supper reminds us that Christ death could and does take away man’s sins Jesus said - Matt 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sin

Unleavened Bread & Fruit of the Vine We partake of the unleavened bread to remind us of Christ’s body We partake of the fruit of the vine to remind us of his blood shed for our sins At Passover Jews retell the story of the plagues Today Christians proclaim the death of the Lord as their exodus from sin which is the basis of redemption from our sins We are taught to look back at his Death, Burial and Resurrection as the event that made it possible, and The Lord’s Supper to remember that it continues to have the ability to redeem us till he comes again

Our Manner of Partaking If we were not given parameters or directions for partaking of the Lord’s Supper, we could partake once for your entire life. In Jerusalem -- Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. In Troas -- Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. No directions were given to partake in a particular service on the Lord’s day – don’t try to bind what is not bound in the scriptures

At the institution…. It was not an assembly of the church because it had not been established at this time on this Thursday The Lord preached to the Apostles, they sang a hymn, and went to Gethsemane to pray Matt 26:26-30, Lk 22:15-39 This was not a worship service of the early church It was not the first day of the week His thanks for them were not offered in Christ name because he was still on earth At Troas, it was at a meeting of the saints, the church had been established, and it was the first day of the week, Sunday Not Saturday the Sabbath

At Troas…. The Breaking of Bread occurred prior to the sermon because it lasted until midnight which would have made the Lord’s Supper on Monday not the first day of the week

Who should participate? Those in the Kingdom Matt 26:29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." What about the non-Christian? 1 Cor 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. This book was written to Christians at Corinth No police power to refuse the unworthy – up to each

Danger of Unworthy actions? 1 Cor 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. We will never be worthy of Christ dying for us If we have sins on our hearts, our hearts condemn us and we should repent, private sins require private repentance, public sins require public repentance Thus, the basis for us to remember the Lord’s Death by this memorial service We constantly (weekly) are reminded of the benefit of Christ’s death for our sins for without it we will be lost eternally

What about the one cup? Luke 22:15-22 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Could you divide the cup in vs 17 or the contents He explains it is its contents in vs 20

What about the one cup? Matt 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" Was the cup a container here or that Jesus was going to suffer and die and be buried and arise Mark 14:23-25 Then He took the cup , and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Is this teaching us that the physical cup that we drink out of, is what he was instituting here as part of the Lords Supper

Jesus Instituted “The Lord’s Supper” Remember what a serious day it was to God to remember the “Passover” How important is it to God today Remember the “Lord’s Supper” Which do you think is important to God today All we have to think about is what do they both remind us about One deliverance from bondage of Egypt one of bondage of sin , which deliverance is most important to you

What about the one cup? Matt 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." The scriptures are our guide in all things spiritual We should not bind on people our opinions unless they are God’s will Can anyone use scripture and prove the container is important in the Lord’s Supper- was it ever about the container- what is it’s significance We know the bread represents his body – the fruit of the vine his blood but what does the container do…