Passover Transformed

September 1, 1996 pm

Exodus 12:12-13; Luke 22:14-20

The wonder of this table of the Lord began 4,000 years ago in the homes of slave people in Egypt. Before there were Ten Commandments as such, and before one Hebrew slave had crossed the Red Sea into the freedom of the desert, and before, even, the etnic group had become an organized nation, there was the Passover meal.

It began as a table of promise.
It was also a table of protection.
It was the result of sacrifice. Life blood was involved, it was a solemn thing.

Through Moses God told all of Egypt that judgment was coming, and that the Angel of Death would visit every home.

Through Moses God also told them that if they would sacrifice a special, unblemished lamb, whose roasted body would be food to give strength for the journey out of bondage, and whose blood would be sprinkled on the doors of houses of faith, the Angel of Death would see the faith of the household and would Pass Over that house as God promised.

Now, 4,000 years later the people called Jews still celebrate this night when God made and kept a promise, and they began to become a special people, the people of God. And now, 4,000 years later in the sacrament of the church we call the Eucharist we remember that night as well.

For the night Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the night before he was crucified, was Passover, and Jesus was eating that meal with his beloved disciples. And for us Christians Jesus changed the significance of that meal forever.

The Paschal Lamb of sacrifice in Egypt in and of itself never had any power to keep the Death Angel away. The power was in God's promise, and the Paschal Lamb was always a symbol and emblem of the One Holy Lamb of God which was yet to be sacrificed. It was in and of itself just ordinary food. But in obedience to God's promise it entered into the reality of that night. The homes where the blood was sprinkled on the lintel and doorposts were spared. The homes that ignored the promise were bereft. Wailing was heard throughout Egypt.

These humble elements of bread and wine are like that Paschal Lamb. In and of themselves they are ordinary food, and certainly by their size, no meal at all. But to those who enter into the promise of God, who look to Jesus Christ as our Paschal Lamb, these emblems become a true means of God's grace.

Before one Hebrew slave had crossed the Red Sea into the freedom of the desert, and before, even, the etnic group had become an organized nation, there was the Passover meal. The invitation into God's family is something like that. It is of grace. Before you do one work of righteousness— or before you turn over a new leaf— while you are still a slave in trespasses and sins Jesus calls to you— THERE IS A SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SINS! COME, LOOK UP, BELIEVE— BE SAVED!

The Passover began as a table of promise.
It was also a table of protection.

So this table— Holy Communion— is for those who believe, a promise.

It is a table of family solidarity.
It is a table of comfort and strength

Prayer

Chorus: In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Law Read and Confession Made

The Lord Jesus Christ has said to us: "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This if the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Shall we pray:

Search us, O God, and know our most private thoughts. Try us, and show unto us the deepest motives, the real state of our hearts. Forgive us where we have been selfish, or insensitive, or sinful in any way. We cannot keep the Great Commandment, and truly love You, O God, with all our heart, soul, and mind unless You in mercy grant to us the grace of Your indwelling Spirit. We cannot love each other as we should unless Your love is shed abroad in our hearts.

Brothers and sisters, let us search our hearts. In silence let us ask God to draw us near to Himself so that we can come to his table with confidence.
We do not presume to come to this table, O God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercy and grace. Grant us to eat the Bread of heaven, and drink the blood shed for the remission of sins, that we may live in Christ, and Christ may live in us forever. Amen

Let us confess our faith:

The Nicene Creed (STL # 14)

The Informal Invitation ("This is not my table . . . ")

Holy and gracious Father; in your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin, and were worthy of death and hell, you, in your mercy sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to You, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

The Words of Institution:

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had give thanks to You he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
After supper he took the cup and when he had give thanks he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me: Amen

We praise you for the mystery of our salvation! We truly believe

Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ will come again!

Bless these emblems, O God, and make them to us the Body and Blood of your Son, spiritual food, and spiritual drink of new and unending life in Jesus Christ.
And now, together, we pray, as Jesus taught us:

Our Father which art in heaven . . .

Now, humbly we receive the Gifts of God for the People of God