WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.719 My name is Ashley, and I get to serve as one of the pastors here. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:28.719 I hope that your morning began like my morning with some leftover pie. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:42.000 In this culture, many of us gather with family and friends to enjoy a meal, to celebrate Thanksgiving together, and to answer the question that Ryan just posed to all of you. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:46.799 At my house, we have dubbed this holiday Spam's Giving. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.280 Because about five years ago, I decided I was done making the turkey that nobody wanted. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:55.359 And instead, we fry up our family favorite Spam. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:59.679 You can see my little guy checking out what flavor he wants. 00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:11.599 We serve traditional American Thanksgiving sides like marshmallow, sweet potatoes, and stuffing, alongside our traditional Filipino staples of rice and lympia. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:19.280 We have family and friends over in our backyard for an afternoon of spending time together and sharing a meal. 00:01:19.519 --> 00:01:23.120 I imagine that your day probably didn't include spam. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:24.319 Maybe it did. 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:32.400 But sometime over the last few days, you probably did share a meal with people that you love, or at least tolerate. 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:41.120 This morning, we will continue our Thanksgiving weekend together with an invitation to come to a table. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:46.879 Jesus himself is inviting you to his sacred table. 00:01:47.120 --> 00:02:05.760 And my hope for our time together is that as we open the scriptures to hear what is so special about being invited to Jesus' table, that you would experience communion with fresh eyes and a deeper understanding of its power and meaning in your life. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:11.759 So we're gonna start off in the book of Acts, a book of the Bible, all about the early church. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:20.080 Acts 2 says they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:26.879 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:30.879 Now all the believers were together and held things in common. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:37.439 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all as any had need. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:45.599 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple and broke bread from house to house. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:53.680 They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:59.439 Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:07.680 Breaking of bread is this term that includes both the Lord's Supper as well as eating a meal together. 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:16.080 Elsewhere in Scripture, the phrase describes both an ordinary meal sometimes, and sometimes it describes the Lord's Supper. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:22.960 The people came together to share a meal and to take the Lord's Supper together. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:30.159 In many Asian American churches, the practice of sharing a meal together is a regular feature of church life. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:34.639 It's over these meals that true community building takes place. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:38.639 This is similar to the community building in the early church. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:44.800 The habitual practices of breaking bread and building community are connected. 00:03:45.039 --> 00:03:50.560 The believers met with one another daily, enjoying the unity of the Spirit. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.599 They ate meals and they observed the Lord's Supper together in their homes. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:03.919 In their culture, eating together reflected a common commitment to one another and deep fellowship. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:11.840 The Lord's Supper began as a meal that Jesus celebrated with his disciples at the time of the Jewish Passover. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:20.399 This morning we're going to hear the words of Jesus and then be invited to come to the table together in this community. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:32.319 To get a fuller picture of the meaning of the Lord's Supper, or what we often call communion, we will read the account of the first Lord's Supper in three of the Gospels. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:37.519 The first three Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are considered the synoptic gospels. 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:46.079 They cover many of the same stories, but each have different details that give us a fuller picture when read side by side. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:55.920 It's sort of like when you ask two people how they met, and their stories are generally the same, but they each add different details into that story. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:05:01.279 And by hearing both of them, you get to know more about what happened and what was said. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:15.519 So as we go through these three accounts of Jesus introducing the Lord's Supper to the disciples, the details will be what give us a greater understanding of the purpose and meaning behind communion. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:27.439 So to set the scene for us, it's Passover, where Jewish people gather to share a meal together, celebrating God's salvation of his people from slavery in Egypt. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:33.600 In Exodus 12, the Lord is putting a plan in place to save his people. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:50.959 So he instructed the people to spread the blood of a lamb on their doorframe of their homes, so that as he executed judgment on the Egyptians for enslaving them, he passed over the houses with blood on the doorframe. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:57.439 The people were passed over and they were saved because of the blood of a lamb. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:01.199 God gave them the instruction to celebrate the Passover. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:09.120 The Lord said, This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:20.000 And then Moses instructed them, remember this day when you came out of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, for the Lord brought you out of here by the strength of his hand. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:29.279 The people continued to remember how God rescued them by celebrating with this Passover meal year after year after year. 00:06:29.519 --> 00:06:31.439 This is where we find Jesus. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:38.639 He's gathered with his disciples for this Passover meal, as was their Jewish tradition of remembrance. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:41.199 So we'll begin with the account in Matthew. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:42.720 Matthew 26. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:50.639 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed, and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, Take and eat it. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.319 This is my body. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:07:04.160 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, Drink from it all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:12.720 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:16.959 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:23.839 Jesus took this bread that was served at the Passover meal, and then he gave thanks to God. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:34.160 He then broke the bread into parts, distributed it among the disciples, and then instructed them to eat it with the words, This is my body. 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:44.959 The Passover dinner has specific rituals and words to it, but these words, this is my body, these were not part of that Passover ritual. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:52.560 Jesus was rewriting the script to signify something new that God was doing. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:56.399 His body, like the bread, would be broken. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:05.519 Jesus was linking his sacrifice with redemption history when he declared this during that Passover meal. 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:14.639 The Jewish people associated their redemption from Egypt with eating the Passover meal because God had told them to remember. 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:24.560 Now, Jesus' disciples were to associate their redemption with Jesus' death, symbolized in this similar meal. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:32.480 The Messiah, the Savior, was coming to save his people by his sacrificial death. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:37.039 This is what Jesus is declaring as the new covenant. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:46.159 To understand what's significant about this new covenant, we need a bit of understanding of the covenant given to the Israelites after the Exodus. 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:54.320 After God rescued his people from Egypt and gave them instructions for the Passover, he instituted a covenant with them. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:02.240 He said, You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagle's wings and brought you to myself. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:12.000 Now, if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possessions out of all the people, although the whole earth is mine. 00:09:12.240 --> 00:09:16.480 And you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.919 Moses took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:25.039 They responded, We will do and obey all that the Lord has commanded. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:35.919 Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:42.320 And they, Israel's elders, saw God and they ate and they drank. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:48.960 God rescued the people from slavery in Egypt and was declaring them his people. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:59.440 His part of the covenant was to hold the Israelites as his holy people, and their part was to listen to him and obey his commands. 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:03.759 This is the section of scripture where we see the Ten Commandments and the other laws. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.600 This is where that comes from. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:08.320 The covenant was made with blood. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:14.960 We see Moses splatter the blood on the people and refer to it as the blood of the covenant. 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:19.679 The leaders saw God and they ate and they drank. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:25.279 And now we go back to Jesus, celebrating the Passover in the book of Matthew. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:32.720 The disciples are seeing Jesus, who is God, and they will now eat and drink. 00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:43.039 Jesus says, For this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:52.480 This declaration of Jesus is referencing a prophecy from the prophet Jeremiah, who told about this new covenant that was to come. 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:57.200 The disciples would have been familiar with this prophecy, and we're gonna read it this morning. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:11:09.440 In Jeremiah 31, it says, Look, the days are coming, this is the Lord's declaration, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:17.279 This one will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:23.840 My covenant that they broke, even though I am their master, the Lord's declaration. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:32.639 Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, the Lord's declaration. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:36.399 I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:40.320 I will be their God and they will be my people. 00:11:40.879 --> 00:11:49.600 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:52.240 This is the Lord's declaration. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:58.320 For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:03.440 He says, I will be their God, and they will be my people. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:11.679 This mirrors the covenant with the Israelites, but this time it isn't conditional on their obedience to his commands. 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:18.879 This time the Lord declares, I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin. 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:29.120 And so Jesus declares, This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:37.440 Jesus, who is called the Lamb of God, used his own blood for this covenant. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:54.559 As we saw the blood of the Lamb rescue the people during the Exodus, as we saw Moses splatter the blood on the people to make the covenant with God, Jesus poured his own blood for the new covenant for the forgiveness of sins. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:01.679 Jesus invites us to come to the table, which is the table of forgiveness. 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:06.639 Jesus' table is the place of forgiveness. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:12.639 As we take the Lord's Supper, we remember this new covenant that we are a part of. 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:14.639 He will be our God. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.039 We will be his people. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:34.799 This is where we can confess to God what we need forgiveness for and stand in gratitude of this grace that all of our sin and our iniquity is washed away. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.519 Jesus sets this table for us. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:41.279 He invites us to come to be forgiven. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:45.279 And all of our shame is wiped away. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:54.799 When we come to his table, we remember this great grace that God has on us because of Jesus. 00:13:55.440 --> 00:13:57.360 But who's invited to this table? 00:13:57.519 --> 00:14:05.120 While Matthew gives us the reason for the pouring of Jesus' blood, the account in Mark gives us the answer for who? 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:07.600 Isn't this a question that we ask? 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:11.759 We say, Well, what about that person or that group of people? 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:15.120 Jesus' forgiveness can't possibly include them. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:17.840 We say, Not my Jesus. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.159 Let's read the account. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:29.759 Mark 14, as they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, Take it, this is my body. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:35.039 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:41.200 He said to them, This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:49.600 Truly I tell you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:54.399 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:15:02.000 Jesus says, This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.480 But God, how many? 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:10.000 Because there's some that I don't think should make it, who say that they follow you. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:14.960 Possibly the most famous verse in the Bible speaks to this. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.200 These are the words of Jesus. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:21.440 And this morning we're going to see a little bit more context than we typically cite. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:24.399 This is John 3, 14 through 17. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:36.960 Jesus replied, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.240 For God loved the world in this way. 00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:49.759 He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:56.879 For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:02.240 Jesus said, everyone who believes in him, everyone. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:08.399 The expansive nature of Jesus' heart is way bigger than we could imagine. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:12.799 Or if we're really honest, it's way bigger than we would like it to be. 00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:17.600 The blood of the new covenant is poured out for many. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:23.120 Jesus invites everyone to come to his table. 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:29.919 The table is wide enough for everyone, and everyone is invited. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:38.559 While I was on sabbatical this summer, I attended multiple different churches and got to partake in communion at almost every single one. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:43.519 I attended different denominations, so they practiced communion in different forms. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:48.639 One had those tiny sealed cups that you have to peel it off and everybody took it at the same time. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:55.519 One passed trays through the rows and you have to juggle all the pieces while you're taking them out of the trays. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:02.639 One had each person come to the front, like in order to get the bread from the Reverend. 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:13.359 One even had this choose your own adventure cup, where one side you could go and sip from a communal cup, and the other side, if you didn't want to share germs with everybody else, you could dip it instead. 00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:26.079 What was so beautiful about this experience was that the table was wide enough for everyone, even with our differing theology, because that's what makes up these different denominations. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:36.160 But we all declare that we believe in Jesus, and so we are all welcome at his table and can live in community with one another. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:45.440 And something I noticed as I was doing this week after week was that the mode, how we took communion, didn't actually matter. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:53.839 Many of us have preferences on how we prefer to receive the bread and the cup, but that's not the main thing. 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:59.519 The mode doesn't matter as much as who is at the table. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.599 Everyone is invited to the table. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:09.359 And those who believe in Jesus are part of this new covenant. 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:15.119 This everyone includes way more people than we could imagine. 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:22.000 Everyone includes that family member that you have tension with or you no longer speak to. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:27.519 It includes that coworker who just gets on your nerves day after day. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:32.480 It includes the person with wildly different political opinions from you. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:38.000 It includes that person who you have declared is living in sin. 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:48.000 It includes the person who hurt you that you have decided to never forgive because of the magnitude of harm done. 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:56.000 It includes the person who you hope to not run into at the grocery store because you want to avoid them at all costs. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.720 Everyone really does mean everyone. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:15.680 When we come to Jesus' table, it is an act of reconciliation with others as we acknowledge that Jesus invites even those we wish that he wouldn't. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.839 Jesus invited everyone to the table. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:26.559 And we begin to catch how expansive this many really is in Luke's account of the night. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:27.759 So let's read. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.279 Luke 22. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:34.000 When the hour came, he reclined at the table and the apostles with him. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:39.599 Then he said to them, I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:44.960 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:51.759 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, Take this and share it among yourselves. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:58.000 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:06.400 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, This is my body which is given for you. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.359 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:20.079 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:26.240 But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:32.559 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. 00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:38.559 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:49.119 As Jesus invited the many for the forgiveness of sins, he narrows that scope and he makes it personal. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:54.880 That this blood of the new covenant is poured out for you. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:05.119 Now he was talking to his disciples directly, the people at the table physically with him, but if we remember the many from Mark, that includes us. 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.880 It includes you. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:15.599 Sometimes we wonder if we're good enough or qualified enough to be invited to Jesus' table. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:22.400 We wonder if our sin is just too great for Jesus' forgiveness, and then we spiral in shame. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:27.440 But notice who makes an appearance in this version of the story. 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:34.160 Jesus said, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:42.480 The very disciple who personally betrayed Jesus was part of this original invitation to come to the table. 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:45.599 Church, nothing can separate you from Jesus. 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:51.119 Nothing you have ever done or could ever do can take this invitation away from you. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.799 Nothing can separate you from the love of God. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.839 Nothing. 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.759 Jesus poured his blood for you. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:09.200 To be part of God's new covenant, that he would be your God and you would be his people and he would forgive you and remember your sin no more. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.880 Jesus invites you to the table. 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:16.160 You are invited to Jesus' table. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.720 This invitation is personal. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:31.920 It's not like being in a restaurant where you're an anonymous customer to the chef or some fundraiser dinner where the host doesn't actually know you or care about you, but instead they invited you to ask just to donate to their cause. 00:22:32.240 --> 00:22:34.880 Jesus' table isn't like that at all. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:42.480 It's more like an invitation to a meal in someone's home where they wanted to be with you. 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:46.480 So they invited you and prepared for you. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:56.000 They found out what you like, what you don't like, what you can't eat, what you're allergic to, and they made a meal that you would love, that's catered for you. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:01.279 And they did all this because they love you and they wanted to spend time with you. 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.839 That's what Jesus' table is like. 00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:11.119 He wants you at his personal table because he loves you and he wants to share this great forgiveness with you. 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:19.839 When we receive the bread and the cup, it's a symbol that this new covenant includes us. 00:23:20.640 --> 00:23:23.519 His blood was poured for us. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:29.920 Paul in 1 Corinthians instructs us in this way, based on these words of Jesus. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:34.559 He said, For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:47.200 On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, This is my body, which is for you, do this in remembrance of me. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:55.039 In the same way, he also took the cup after supper and said, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.720 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:07.119 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:12.079 Jesus said, Do this in remembrance of me. 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:15.359 And Paul reminded the church of this. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:20.960 I want to take us back to the instruction from the Lord about the Passover meal. 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:25.519 Moses said, Remember this day when you came out of Egypt. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:32.000 The Passover meal that Jesus was at was remembering God rescuing his people. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:39.839 And now Jesus, as Jesus is giving new meaning to this Passover meal, he says, Remember me. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:46.079 The Israelites were given the instruction, celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:50.720 And then Paul said to the church, proclaim the Lord's death. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:25:05.039 When we come to the Lord's table, we remember and proclaim Jesus' death, which is the new covenant of the forgiveness of sins, declaring that we are God's people. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:08.559 It's easy to forget that though, isn't it? 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:12.000 To forget that we're remembering and proclaiming. 00:25:12.160 --> 00:25:21.279 We go through the motions, we come down the aisle, we take the cracker, we dip it in the juice, it starts dripping everywhere on our hand, on the floor, as we walk back to our seat. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:24.160 We go back, we eat it, and we move on. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:31.680 I hear sometimes that it can feel stale or routine after so many times of taking it. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:35.519 And maybe it lacks some of its power when it's overdone. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:42.720 Every single week, my best friend and I go out for chips and guacamole, just about every Thursday night. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:43.920 And guess what? 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.759 It doesn't get stale. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:49.039 We both look forward to it every single week. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:54.400 And when we have to miss a week, we lament over text that we're not getting to do this together. 00:25:54.720 --> 00:26:01.200 Every week we eat the same chips and the same guacamole, but the food isn't the point. 00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:05.839 It's the connection with my friend that matters. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:13.680 Here's what we need to remember as a part of the remembrance as we receive the bread and the cup. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.200 This bread, it doesn't get stale. 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:19.119 It doesn't get stale. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:23.119 Jesus declared that he is the bread of life. 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:28.960 So this bread is a proclamation of his body being broken and his death. 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:33.039 His body was given for us so that we could have life. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:27:02.559 When Moses says remember, and then Jesus says remember, and then Paul says, remember, this bread and cup is the physical monument for us to remember the new covenant, that we are God's people, and he is our God, and he has forgiven our iniquity and remembers it no more. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:09.119 That Jesus poured out his blood for many for the forgiveness of sins for you. 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:21.759 When we gather with God's people, the many included in this new covenant, we are invited to come to the table to eat and to drink. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:32.319 And as we do this, it's a celebration of this new covenant and proclaiming Jesus giving his body and blood for many and for you. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:38.240 So this morning, would you come to Jesus' table? 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:43.680 Come to his table where forgiveness is given. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:47.839 Come to his table where everyone is invited. 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:57.039 Come to his table where you are loved and wanted, and your shame and your guilt are wiped away. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:28:06.720 We're gonna close our service by having the opportunity to come to the table that Jesus is inviting us to and taking the Lord's Supper. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:12.400 Once you have the elements and you're back at your seat, meet Jesus at his table. 00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:15.759 Before eating, ask yourself a few questions. 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:19.440 First, where do I need forgiveness today? 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.680 What do I need to confess? 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.720 Then would you take a moment to do that? 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:30.400 Acknowledging that Jesus' table is the place of forgiveness. 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:33.680 The next question is, who do I need to forgive? 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:37.519 Who do I need to see is welcome at Jesus' table? 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:56.559 Because the table is wide enough for everyone, it's an opportunity for us to take a step toward forgiveness for people who have harmed us or others, noticing that at this table of forgiveness, they are also forgiven because of the blood of Jesus. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:01.359 And lastly, receive the elements with gratitude. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:08.799 Thanking God for being part of his new covenant and forgiving you and remembering your sin no more. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:15.839 This is how I instruct my kids to take communion, simply to pray, thank you, Jesus, before they eat. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:26.000 In this act of gratitude and remembrance, this is how the forgiveness table that Jesus sets for us becomes the Thanksgiving table. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:35.519 The family of God is gathered around the table, giving thanks for what Jesus has done by pouring Himself out on our behalf. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.359 Let's pray. 00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:41.039 Jesus, thank you that you poured yourself out for us. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:48.000 Thank you that you showed up for us and that you invited us to your table. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:57.200 Thank you that you are our God and we are your people, that you have forgiven our iniquity and you remember our sin no more. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:30:01.200 Jesus, may we remember and proclaim that this morning. 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.160 Amen. 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:07.359 Church, you're now invited to come to the table to remember and proclaim. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:13.200 And then, like the accounts in Matthew and Mark, we'll end with singing a song of praise to God. 00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:16.880 We hope you were blessed by this message. 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:21.440 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.680 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:29.839 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.