Sunday, March 27, 2011

Luke 22:20

I was asking myself the following question.  “Do I really know what the covenant is that Jesus wants me to remember?”  The King James Version of the Bible I remember translates this phrase in verse 20 as, “This cup is the new testament in my blood.”  Well since a little boy in Sunday School I could tell you that the Bible is divided into to sections.  The Old Testament and the New Testament.  “Testament” and “Covenant” are two words that mean the same thing.  A Testament or Covenant was an agreement.  We could also call it a contract or a pledge.  In the old days two people made an agreement (covenant) with each other and sealed it with a handshake.  Now it takes a Notary and signatures on 50 legal documents to make a “deal”. 

Hebrews 10:1-18 describes the wonders of this new covenant compared to the old.   It is summed up in verse 17 & 18. I like the way the Message Paraphrase says it, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.  Now when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.”

So then with the Old Covenant people lived day-by-day “sitting in their own filth (sin)” until the next animal sacrifice.  With the New Covenant people live day by day forgiven (clean) by a single sacrifice (Christ's death) in the past.  No waiting!  What does this make possible?  A very close walk with God, continually, no intermediary, no priests needed, no acts of contrition to get you in the door, no resumes, no special permission to approach.  I think that is what Jesus wanted us to remember with the cup.  The cup was to represent this New Covenant made possible by his self sacrifice. 

Many of us want to live under the old system.  We feel the need to do something to atone for our foolish acts and thoughts.  We spend years trying to undo things we are ashamed of.  Offering a sacrifice of good “Christian” deeds to earn some kind of forgiveness.  What a waste of time. 

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Luke 22:20

"This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood”  NASV
“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you.”  KJV


I have officiated and participated in more Lord Supper services than I can remember.  Hundreds.  I am embarrassed to say that I have always made the assumption that the cup referred to in verse 20 represented Jesus’ blood.  Seems a logical progression, the bread represented his body and the wine his blood… but.  This week I have once again looked at many translations of this verse.  They all really say the same thing.  The cup represents the  covenant.  “in my blood” is a phrase that modifies the word "covenant".  It tells us information about this covenant.  The covenant is also a “new” covenant as well as a covenant “in my blood”.  I do not believe that this verse is saying,  “This cup is my blood poured out for you as a new covenant.    I remember diagramming sentences in my English class and Seminary.  The basic sentence is as follows.  

Cup          is           covenant

(All the other words and phrases are used to describe words of the basic sentence.)


Cup          is           covenant 
 
“new” describes the covenant not the cup.
“in my blood” describes the covenant not the cup.
‘which is poured out(shed) for you may describe either the cup or blood.

So I guess I have to ask myself what it is that I am supposed to remember when I observe the Lord’s Supper.  Is it Jesus “blood shed for me” or the new covenant that his shed blood made possible?   When he described us participating in the Lord’s Supper, Paul later wrote that we “show forth the Lord’s death till he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).  Maybe that verse is why we tend to dwell on flesh and blood instead of the New Covenant that his death made possible.    Assuming Paul was speaking of Christ's death instead of what that death accomplished.  Like observing the Passover and remembering the lambs that were slaughtered and forgetting the deliverance  from Egypt.   


Sunday, March 6, 2011

Luke 22:10


Every Christian church has some moment of celebration based on this verse and verse 11 that follows.  The Lord’s Supper, Communion, and Eucharist, are words I have heard used to name this event.   Some of our beliefs about this observance separate us into denominations instead of bringing us together.   Even within denominations beliefs separate us into other groups.  For instance some Baptists believe in “Closed” Communion and others believe in “Open”.   (Closed can mean members of a local church only, or only Baptists.)  

It is hard to objectively look at any verse of the Bible without being influenced by what our past church experience has been.  But Jesus definitely wanted us to routinely observe a time to remember Him just as he was taking the time to observe the Passover.    He passed out bread during the Passover meal and told his disciples, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."   

What am I to remember with this bread?  In what sense was Jesus’ body given for me?   Only given when he died?  I don’t think Jesus’ sacrificial death is entirely what this means.  I really think it involves all of Jesus’ humanity because it does not end with his death.  It began with his birth. His body was given then, it was given  with his sacrificial death and it continues even still to be given for me forever.  He still has his human body, glorified as it is. He did not inhabit a human body for a few years and then leave it to go back to heaven.  God made a permanent commitment to us when Jesus was born.  I really don’t understand the cost for Him to make that connection to humankind.  But to me it means that something about me was important enough for God to do so.  I must be of great value to him. Others must be also.  I need to see myself and others through God's eyes.