A Meal You Can't Passover

[0:00] skill skill All right, how we doing? You ready to get after it? Man, it's so good to see that.

[0:49] I love it. Man, I love it. It's good to look out and realize not many of you have cabins. So, that's my Memorial Day joke every year. I'm usually expecting a ghost town, so I'm glad you're here. It's good to see you.

[1:02] If you've got a Bible, Exodus chapter 12, Exodus 12 continuing. This is week 15 in our series through the book of Exodus, and we are having a ball studying the gospel of the Old Testament here in the book of Exodus.

[1:16] And we have worked through Israel's slavery in Egypt and Moses' struggle and call of God on his life to go and to lead this mission.

[1:26] We've looked at the plagues of Egypt and how God's character is even revealed in those plagues, specifically the tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn.

[1:37] And then last week, we introduced an idea that many of you are familiar with, and that's the idea of Passover. And we looked at it more specifically from the event itself.

[1:49] But this evening, we want to look at something that God institutes. And I told you last week that on Memorial Day weekend, we were going to have a Memorial Day sermon.

[2:00] That's literally what the text says. And so if you are able to stand, please do so as we read our passage tonight, Exodus 12. We'll look at some passages in chapter 13 as well because this gets mentioned several times.

[2:14] Exodus 12 and verse 14 says, This day shall be for you a Memorial Day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations.

[2:28] As a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days, you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you shall remove leaven out of your houses.

[2:40] For if anyone eats what is leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day, you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day, a holy assembly.

[2:54] No work shall be done on those days, but what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. But you shall observe the feast of the unleavened bread.

[3:05] For on this very day, I brought your host out of the land of Egypt. Therefore, you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a statute forever.

[3:18] In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. For seven days, no leaven is to be found in your houses.

[3:33] If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. You shall eat nothing leavened.

[3:47] In all your dwelling places, you shall eat unleavened bread. This is God's word. Pray with me and for me as we look to his word this evening.

[3:58] God, thank you for this time to celebrate, to rejoice, to study your word. Lord, I pray, whatever's been going on this week, whatever we've been dealing with, that in these next few moments, regardless of the circumstances of our life, we would be able to celebrate and rejoice in the good news of our deliverance in the Lord Jesus Christ.

[4:22] And we pray this in his name. And God's people said, amen. You can be seated. You can be seated. Well, they call him Mr. Christmas. His real name is Andy Parks.

[4:34] Andy is a 59-year-old electrician who lives in England. Back in 1993, Andy was having a bad day.

[4:46] You ever had a bad day? You ever had a boring day when things just aren't going very well and you're not in a very good mood and things just aren't clicking? Andy was having one of those days.

[4:57] There was not anything exciting happening in his life. And he thought, I'm going to do something to brighten up my day. And so he decided he'd celebrate Christmas.

[5:10] Why not? Andy said this, in fact, quote, I decided it would be fun to get all the Christmas decorations out, even though it was summer.

[5:21] I cooked a turkey dinner, got some crackers out, and had a really great time. So great, in fact, that Andy decided he'd do it again the next day.

[5:34] Sure enough, he wrapped up Christmas presents that night and placed them under the Christmas tree to be opened the next day. He left all the Christmas decorations out overnight.

[5:46] He even wrote himself a Christmas card and put it in the mailbox so that he could open it up the next day, got all the food ready for a Christmas meal. And sure enough, the next day, he celebrated Christmas again.

[6:02] Oh, Andy had so much fun celebrating Christmas that day, he did it again the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day for the past 30 years.

[6:19] Not making it up. That's right. Andy has celebrated Christmas every single day for the past 30 years.

[6:31] That is one holly jolly dude right there, all right? Now, he admits that the cost of putting on the most wonderful time of the year every day has been a lot.

[6:43] He estimates that he has eaten over 1.5 million mince pies for breakfast. That must be an English thing. 3.5 million sprouts.

[6:55] And he has spent over 635,000 U.S. dollars on turkey and booze. That is the gift that keeps on giving, Clark.

[7:07] Anyways, now, listen, listen, listen. Most of you would not go to that extreme. Most of you would not celebrate Christmas every day. But I know something about you.

[7:20] I know something about every single one of you. And here's what I know about you. Unless you are the world's biggest Grinch, there is something in your life you love to celebrate.

[7:33] Amen? Amen? Maybe for you, you go all out on birthdays. Oh, man, when somebody in your family has a birthday, everything stops and you throw a party. Maybe for you, there's a favorite holiday that you have and you look forward to it every year.

[7:50] Maybe on the anniversary night, you go all out and you really celebrate. Maybe you're the kind of person that looks forward to your class reunion. You know, one of those weird kind of people.

[8:01] Anyways, maybe you're the type of person. In fact, no, no, no. Some of you right now, you're celebrating graduations. I mean, we're literally in the season of graduation and you're celebrating that with your family.

[8:14] And I could go on and on and on with examples. Retirements, weddings, baby showers, celebration of life services, championship parades, honoring achievements.

[8:24] There are some people that will find a reason to celebrate anything. And now for the piece de resistance. Oh, my goodness.

[8:36] A little something I've been working on. Oh, I see. Mom will be in in a sec. What's that? It's you. The wall of Gaylord.

[8:47] The wall of Gaylord? Isn't it nice to finally display your accomplishments, son? Yeah. Honey, look at all your awards. That's great. He's my champion. I didn't know they made ninth place ribbons.

[8:59] Oh, Jack, they got them all the way up to 10th place. There are people that will celebrate even ninth place ribbons. Listen, all of you have something that you love to celebrate.

[9:10] There's something in your life that when that comes around, it's a big deal. It's an important time. It's worth celebrating. And that's because there are people in your life.

[9:21] There are occasions in your life. There are moments and memories of your life that deserve being celebrated. Do you agree? Yes. And what's common in every single one of these celebrations?

[9:35] Well, there's some things that are in common in all of them. First of all, there's usually a people gathered. It may be a family. It may be a group of friends. It could be a fan base. It might be classmates, but whatever.

[9:46] There's usually a group that is gathered. There's always food. And all God's people said, amen, you got to have food or some kind of meal that's usually associated with that event.

[9:58] It might be cake. It might be turkey. It might be whatever. And then there's usually some kind of remembrance or memorial. It could be of someone's life. It could be of a particular achievement.

[10:09] It might be of a relationship. But these are common experiences in life. Now, listen up. I want to speak to you tonight. I want you to listen closely.

[10:20] If that is true, and it is, all of us experience that in one way or another. If that's true in our personal or relational or vocational life, how much more in our spiritual life?

[10:35] Think of this on the screen here. There's no greater reason for celebration than the reality of our salvation. Why would you even consider, why would you make room in your life to celebrate a graduation, but not make room in your life to celebrate your salvation?

[10:58] One is temporary and momentary. Important, yes, but it pales in significance to eternity with God.

[11:11] Oh, if there are things in life worth celebrating, there's no greater thing in life than celebrating the salvation we have in God. That is exactly why God institutes the Passover celebration here in Exodus chapter 12.

[11:30] Now, before we break it down and talk about what it is, I want to remind you of what the event is. We looked at this last week, so we'll briefly go through that. The event, and then the memorial that God establishes to remember the event.

[11:44] The event is you're reminded of the sentence of death. We talked about the plagues for the last few weeks, how the plagues reveal the effects of sin in the world, God's justice on Egypt, as well as the gods of Egypt.

[12:00] We talked about in the final plague that we see how the wages of sin is death, and the death of the firstborn, that all sin leads to death.

[12:11] And that the final plague was coming down, not just on Egypt, but it would also come down on Israel as well if they did not obey the word of God.

[12:24] The night the angel of death comes would be death for all firstborn, except those, number two, who had the substitution of a lamb.

[12:36] Exodus chapter 12, verse 5 and 6, Israel is told to take an unblemished lamb and to sacrifice it. We talked about the fact that it would either be their death or the death of a substitute.

[12:49] That was the option here. And this death of a substitutionary sacrifice points to Christ as our sacrificial lamb that took our place.

[13:00] But we talked about, listen, it's one thing that death is on all of us because of sin and the judgment of death, but there's a substitute for us, that of a lamb, that of Christ.

[13:10] But none of that matters if you don't actually apply the blood. We talked about the fact that when the angel of death came on that final plague, the question is not, okay, inside, is that someone from Israel or is that someone from Egypt?

[13:26] Is that person a good person? Have they been naughty or have they been nice? Are they, you know, following a good moral code? None of that's the question.

[13:38] On that night, there's only one question. Who has applied the blood? And if you've applied the blood, the angel of death, the judgment of death would pass over.

[13:50] And we talked about how that that's appointing us to the gospel, that when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, his blood is applied to us.

[14:02] We receive his life. At the end of the day, faith family, when you stand before God, the question will not be rationality. It will not be, have you been a good person or a bad person? It will simply be, are you washed in the blood?

[14:16] Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ and the blood been applied to you? And then once the blood was applied, this led to the salvation of Israel. After 430 years, Israel was set free.

[14:31] They are now free from Egypt. And so now that's the event of Passover and what God, I mean, can you imagine an event worth celebrating more than that?

[14:42] After 430 years, they are set free and God says, I do not want you to forget it. And not only do not, I do not want you to forget it. I want this to be a cause of celebration on an ongoing basis, a regular reality of your life.

[15:01] Verse 14 of chapter 12. This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord.

[15:13] And this is throughout your generations. As a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days you'll eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses.

[15:24] For if anyone eats what is leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly. On the seventh day, a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days, but what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

[15:41] And you will observe the feast of unleavened bread. For on this day, here's why. On this day, I brought you out of the land of Egypt.

[15:52] Therefore, you shall observe this day throughout your generations, a statute forever. And then you'll see this in chapter 13 as well. Here's chapter 13, verse 3. Moses said to the people, remember this day in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

[16:13] For by a strong hand the Lord brought you out of this place, and no leavened bread shall be eaten. And then look again in verse 9 of chapter 13. It shall be to you as a sign on your hand, as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth.

[16:32] For with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. So listen, this is a big deal. I can't even stress tonight how big of a deal this is.

[16:43] I told you last week that Passover was the single greatest event in the life of the nation of Israel. And now this celebration is going to be the greatest celebration that they would participate in.

[16:57] Nothing is more important than the Passover and what the Passover represents. Remembering how the Lord redeemed them out of Egypt and was faithful to his covenant promise that he had given to Abraham.

[17:11] Now, can I just make a little interesting note here? Okay? I'm going to anyways. Here's the note. In verse 12, the verses that we just read, verses 12 or chapter 12, 14 through 17, guess what's going on here.

[17:26] Here's pretty awesome, right? Notice this on the screen. God establishes this memorial before the event even happens. Did you notice that?

[17:38] In verses 14 through 17 of chapter 12, the Passover event actually hasn't even happened. In other words, I love this. God institutes a celebration and the thing to celebrate hasn't even happened yet.

[17:54] Why? Notice it on the screen. Because whatever I am says will be. Whatever I am says will be. And that should give you great hope for your future.

[18:07] Whatever God has said about your future will be even if it hasn't happened yet. Anyway, that was just, that was for free and hopefully worth more than what you paid for it.

[18:20] Back to the point. Just as we have a Memorial Day remembering those that died for our freedom, Israel here is giving a memorial feast, a Memorial Day to remember their freedom from Egypt.

[18:32] And listen, listen. Oh, this feast was not some kind of somber reflection. No Holy Grail fans.

[18:49] Anyways, this was in no way a somber moment. It would have been much more like this. Ain't no party like a Jewish party because a Jewish party don't stop.

[19:23] There is no party like, come on, y'all get the reference. Anyways, I mean, they threw a feast. This was a party of all parties.

[19:33] Yes, there would be a day at the beginning that would be a day of rest, a day of no work. And there would be a day at the end on the seventh day of no work, of rest. But man, in between, it was a feast to God.

[19:49] It was a joyful celebration for the salvation they have in God. And listen, there is a time and place for somber reflection, to be quiet, to meditate.

[20:05] Amen. I believe that. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place. I think that ought to be a part of your journey with God. Amen.

[20:16] You should have time of quiet, to be still and know that he is God. But you must also have room in your life to holy party.

[20:29] I mean, holy party. To genuinely celebrate the salvation that is yours in God. Notice it on the screen. The reality of our salvation should impact our affection.

[20:46] The reality of our salvation should impact our affection. And here's what some of you are going to say. Yeah, but we're from Minnesota. We're reserved. You know, and people tell me that all the time because I get real excited when I preach.

[21:00] And oftentimes people, and they think they're being encouraging, they'll say, you realize that most of the people you're preaching to is from Minnesota. And here's my response. No, they used to be from Minnesota.

[21:13] You say, what do you mean I used to be from Minnesota? No, I'm still from Minnesota. No, no, no, no. According to Philippians 3 verse 20, your citizenship is now in heaven and you should celebrate accordingly.

[21:26] I don't care where you're from. You can be from the frozen tundra and you should rejoice and celebrate and lose your mind at the grace of God that has been given to you in the salvation of Jesus Christ in your life.

[21:46] Yes, be meditative and somber and let that be a, but man, if there's not room for a feast, if there's not room for a celebration, my friends, you are not worshiping the way you should worship God.

[22:02] For all of our affections should be pointed in the direction of worship to God, including joy. Amen? Amen. Well, that was my attempt to put a fire under you, you Minnesotans, right?

[22:17] So, listen, the point here is God does not want his people to forget. He wants them to celebrate in this day. And you might say, how in the world could anybody forget a day like this?

[22:29] How could anybody forget the Passover event? Here's what a theologian, Douglas Stewart writes, quote, Why such an emphasis on commemoration?

[22:41] Because what is not carefully remembered by a community is easily forgotten. As soon as the oldest members of that community who experienced the original event die.

[22:58] This present generation must not assume this will never be forgotten.

[23:10] And faith family, you should never assume it either. Oh, you know, there's a lot of gospel preaching churches out there. We'll never forget the gospel.

[23:20] You know, sometimes I think we just get so used to talking about the gospel, we just assume it's always going to be the emphasis. Never assume it won't be forgotten.

[23:32] And to make sure it never is forgotten, you build into your life intentional moments of remembering and celebrating the gospel of God in your life.

[23:47] Much like this is Memorial Day weekend, I thought I'd use a Memorial Day illustration. In an article entitled, Why World War I Has Become the Forgotten War, John Donovan writes, quote, The Great War, as was known before we started numbering our world wars, is remembered as anything but great now.

[24:09] If it's remembered at all, World War I remains the only major American war of the 20th century not commemorated with a memorial in the nation's capital of Washington, D.C.

[24:20] World War I lacks the historical reverence that World War II or the Civil War has, the cachet of the Vietnam or Korean War, the acclaimed movies or TV shows.

[24:32] Yet over a hundred years after it ended on November 11th, 1918, scholars continue to highlight ways that the Great War changed America and shaped it even now.

[24:44] World War I is worth remembering. Well, if World War I is worth remembering, how much more so the Passover, how much more to celebrate the salvation of God?

[24:59] Not only the importance of this celebration, but notice there's a few specific things that God lays out that he wants to be a part of this celebration. Pick it up in verse 18. In the first month of the 14th day of the month, at evening, you shall eat what?

[25:14] Unleavened bread until the 20th first day of the month at evening. For seven days, no leaven shall be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether it's a sojourner or a native of the land.

[25:28] You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your dwelling places, you shall eat unleavened bread. Like, okay, we get it. We get it. There's to be no leaven.

[25:39] I mean, over and over again, it's repeated. This is to be unleavened bread only. Yahweh makes it very clear. There is to be no leaven here. In fact, if they do partake of leavened bread, they will be cut off from the covenant community, which on the surface might seem a bit harsh.

[25:57] But there is purpose behind these things. There is a reason why God is giving these commandments. And there's a reason why we should follow that. First of all, it's this.

[26:09] Notice, we're to worship God his way, not our way. Amen? I mean, this isn't, eh, but I want to eat leavened bread. Eh, shut up. You don't get a say here. This ain't your party.

[26:20] You don't get to worship God how you want to worship God. You worship God how God wants to be worshiped. He's the one who rescued you, right? So when he says, this is how I want it done, and there's a purpose behind it, guess what you do?

[26:34] You do it that way. There's a reason why God does not want them to have leavened bread. He wants them to have unleavened bread.

[26:44] And there's other things here as well. Notice he gives us the reason why for this unleavened bread. Verse 39. Verse 39. They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened.

[27:00] And here's why it wasn't leavened. Because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. So they ate on the night of Passover unleavened bread.

[27:15] So to commemorate that, to memorialize that, they are to always eat of unleavened bread. And that is not a minor detail. This is actually very important.

[27:27] Because it says something theologically as to why the unleavened bread. Follow along the context. The first generation of Israel died waiting for deliverance.

[27:38] The second generation of Israel died waiting for deliverance. The third generation. The fourth generation. The fifth generation. The sixth. The seventh. The eighth. The ninth. The tenth generation.

[27:49] And the eleventh generation left immediately. On that night. There was no process. It was now.

[28:00] When the Lord said go, it was time to go. And why was that so important? Two reasons. God determines when you will leave Egypt. And when God determines when you leave Egypt, you will leave Egypt.

[28:16] That moment. There's no messing around here. There's no reason why God was sovereign over the deliverance of his people. And by the way, that should encourage you about the Lord's return.

[28:29] Right? It's like, when is he going to return? When is he going to return? Anybody with me? You're just like, you know, I'd be fine if the Lord returned right now. Anybody good with eternity with God in the presence of God beginning now?

[28:42] Right? And we wait and we wait and we wait and generation passes and generation passes. But one day in the Lord's perfect timing, it will happen immediately.

[28:55] I mean, like the blink of an eye. It will all be changed. And so this reminds us the reason you left in a hurry is because God is sovereign over the timeline of your life.

[29:11] And when he says now, it's now. And that unleavened bread reminded them of that sovereignty of God over their life.

[29:23] There were other elements of this. You look at verse 8 of chapter 12. It says, You shall eat the flesh. That's the flesh of the lamb. Roasted on the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

[29:36] They shall eat it. You likely understand why the lamb would be a part of this meal. Because it was the lamb that was sacrificed as their substitute. They would also drink wine, which represented the blood of that sacrificial lamb.

[29:51] There's the mentioning of bitter herbs that reminded them of the bitterness of life in slavery under Pharaoh. And so my goal is not to unpack every single detail of the Passover meal.

[30:02] Those were the main, that was the main menu that God commanded that they eat to celebrate the Passover. And so everything that God prescribed mattered.

[30:14] There was nothing that was unnecessary. And listen, that meal, and some of you already know where I'm going with this, but that meal would become their identity. The unleavened bread, the lamb, the blood would be a meal that would define who they are.

[30:31] Because it was so attached and associated to their salvation. Are you with me? And we know that. There are meals that carry with it a certain identity.

[30:42] Or certain types of food that bring about a certain identity. If I say Chicago, what type of food do you think of? Yeah, most of you probably think Chicago deep dish pizza.

[30:54] And all God's people said, amen, that looks good. If I say New Orleans, you're going to think Cajun food. Maybe some type of a crawfish boil or something like that.

[31:05] If I say Wisconsin, you're going to say cheese. You got that one. If I say Memphis, you'll think of likely barbecue. Ain't nothing like some good Memphis barbecue.

[31:15] If I say Minnesota, you'll say, oh, the great dish of Lutafisk. Oh, Lutafisk. Oh, the gift of God that tastes like Jell-O flavored in fish.

[31:33] Right? Have you ever like been at the supermarket and you're looking at the Jell-O and you're like, I wish they had fish flavored. That's Lutafisk. The most disgusting thing God has ever given us to eat.

[31:48] And somebody's literally about to hit me with a cane. Anyways, if I say Thanksgiving, you think probably turkey or pumpkin pie. If I say Fourth of July, you're thinking hot dogs and hamburgers.

[32:02] You get the point. There are certain memorials, certain events that go along with certain foods. That's exactly what God does with the Passover meal.

[32:13] This food becomes their identity. The bread, the wine, the lamb represents who they are.

[32:25] It takes them back to that night when God delivered them from slavery. Oh, this is such an important event and the details matter.

[32:37] Now, what does it have to do with us? I have no doubt that most of you know what this has to do with us. And we close tonight by looking at Luke chapter 22.

[32:48] Watch what happens and we close with this. Luke 22 verse 7 says, Then came the day of, say it, unleavened bread. We know what all that's about now.

[32:59] On which the Passover lamb would be sacrificed. We know what that's about. Jesus sends Peter and John and says, I want you to go prepare the Passover for us so that we can eat it.

[33:17] Two important things there. It's the Passover. It's the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. It's Exodus 12 and 13 being celebrated. And Jesus calls the disciples together and says, We're going to celebrate this together.

[33:31] And somebody might say, Well, big deal. Jesus is a Jew. All the Jews celebrated Passover. Yes. But Jesus is going to do something on this particular night that has become so familiar to us.

[33:45] But it was outrageous then. What he does and what he says would have been maybe the most shocking thing he'd ever said to the disciples.

[33:57] Here's what he says. So when the hour came, he's reclined at table and the apostles with him. He said, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

[34:11] For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took a cup. And when he had given thanks, he said, Take this and divide it among yourselves.

[34:22] For I tell you that from now, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took the bread. And when he had given thanks, he broke it.

[34:33] And he gave it to them. And this is what would have been so incredibly outrageous and shocking. This unleavened bread is my body.

[34:45] This is my body.

[35:15] This is my blood. You know what Jesus is doing here. He is saying that the salvation Israel experienced in Egypt was preparation for the salvation I have come to provide.

[35:34] I am the greater Moses leading a greater Exodus. The Passover was pointing to me.

[35:46] Can you imagine how the disciples responded? This feast of unleavened bread that had been memorialized and practiced for years and years and years and years.

[35:58] Jesus says, Jesus says, The point of which it was given is finally here. You're looking at him. It's my body. It is my blood.

[36:10] And all the ingredients were there. You have the wine, the blood sacrificed on the door. You have the bread, God's faithfulness to his covenant by getting them out immediately.

[36:20] And you have the... There was no mention of the lamb. How could Jesus celebrate the Passover with the disciples and not have lamb?

[36:42] You know why. The lamb is not missing from the meal because he is the lamb.

[36:53] Look at it here. 1 Corinthians 5, 7. Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump as you really are unleavened.

[37:03] For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 1 Peter 1, 18 and 19. Knowing that you are ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

[37:23] In other words, all the ingredients are there. The bread, the wine, and the lamb. They are all the Lord Jesus Christ.

[37:36] Faith family, listen to me. When we weekly share the Lord's Supper together, as we're about to do, we do this every week, we're doing more than a tradition. We are celebrating more than a ritual.

[37:49] We are remembering every week our Exodus story. We refuse at Faith Family to forget the gospel, which is why every single week we want to be reminded that Jesus has set us free.

[38:08] Amen? Final few things about the Lord's Supper, and I'm done here. First of all, this meal, this Lord's Supper, says something about our identification. This is something only people who are believers in Jesus should participate in.

[38:24] When you come to the Lord's Supper, what you're saying is, I have been delivered by Jesus. I have been set free. I am in Christ. I have been identified with him.

[38:35] If you are here and you are not a believer, you should not partake. But do you know what I would prefer? I'd prefer that you become a believer, that you put your faith in Jesus Christ, and then join in the celebration of your salvation.

[38:52] Amen? Secondly, meal is about our participation. Sometimes people get bothered by this, but I think this is important to point out. The Lord's Supper is not about your personal time with Jesus.

[39:03] The Passover was what sets up the Lord's Supper. The Passover was not for a Jew to go out on the mountain and say, well, I'm just going to have the bread and wine by myself, you know, because I really love the view, and I'll just have my personal quiet time with Yahweh.

[39:20] No, you're celebrating it with the community of God. Because part of your identity with that meal is that you belong not as some isolated Israelite, but a part of God's chosen and redeemed people.

[39:35] Listen, I know this bothers people, and I'm not making it a division of fellowship between us, but I am not a big fan of people that celebrate the Lord's Supper by themselves on a hike or with a group of friends out fishing.

[39:49] I believe that is isolated from the community of God of which the ordinance of the Lord's Supper has been given. This is not an expression of, yep, it's just me and Jesus. No, it's an expression of I belong to a body.

[40:02] I belong to a people, the people of God. And I want to celebrate, yes, my salvation along with our salvation, for we are all a part of an exodus.

[40:15] So this is not just about our identification. It's about our participation, not just as an individual, but in a community of faith.

[40:26] That's why we do this together. It's why I don't say spread out and take it by yourself. I say hold on and let's take it together. And when we take it together, we're saying we are a part of a community.

[40:40] And that community is bigger than me. For the exodus is bigger than you. It's about a redeemed people of God.

[40:53] Amen? Amen. Thirdly, the meal and our anticipation. Jesus says in Luke 22, I will not eat of this until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

[41:04] Quickly here, Passover remembered the exodus, but it also looked forward to the promised land. In the same way, and this is an aspect I don't think we talk enough about, the Lord's Supper looks back to the cross and the resurrection, but it also looks forward to the second coming.

[41:25] Listen, when you eat, when you partake tonight, here's what you're saying. I take this bread, and I take this juice, and I remember that these symbols point back to his body and his blood as he was crucified on the cross and risen on the third day.

[41:39] And I remember that. I won't forget that. That is my salvation. That is my identity. Amen? And one day I'm going to join with the people of God from all nations across the globe, and we're going to gather in eternity for a feast.

[41:55] And I will sit down at table, and I will eat with my king in the kingdom of God. And this little sample of juice and cracker is reminding you there will one day be a feast prepared for you in the presence of God.

[42:18] You look back to the cross and resurrection, and you look forward to celebrating it in God's eternal kingdom. Finally, the meal and our proclamation.

[42:31] We do this every week because we proclaim the gospel to one another. Here in a moment when we partake, if you are here and you are not a believer, what I hope that you are hearing proclaimed to you is that this meal can be yours too.

[42:48] Christ can be yours. Salvation can be yours. Come and believe. Come and join the family of God by the grace of God.

[43:02] This can be your story. And so we proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to one another as we partake. I'm closing.

[43:14] I promise. Listen, like with any other tradition or culture or family that has a specific food or meal that represents who they are, represents where they came from, that's what the Passover, the Lord's Supper is for us.

[43:30] It is a meal that reminds us we were slaves. A meal that reminds us that God sent Christ into the world and he has set us free and given us an eternal inheritance in Jesus Christ.

[43:47] Faith family, that's the kind of celebration worth having. Amen? Amen. That's the kind of celebration that could go on and on forever.

[44:00] And that's exactly the vision you see in Revelation. They sang a new song saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and open its seals for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God and they shall reign on the earth and I looked and I heard around the throne the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels numbering myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands saying with a loud voice worthy is this lamb the lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing and I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all of them saying to him who sits on the throne to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever that's a party that's a party that is a celebration it is a celebration you do not want to miss it is a celebration of the salvation purchased by the lamb and it will go on forever for eternity we will celebrate what God has done for us in Jesus

[45:42] Christ in a sense it will be like celebrating Christmas every single day and God's people said amen let's pray Lord we thank you for this time tonight to be reminded of our salvation and the importance to celebrate that to remember what you have done for us in Jesus Christ and so now tonight Lord we enter into this time of remembrance as we do every week but I pray tonight with a special enthusiasm a very special remembrance of why this matters and why it is so important and why we need to celebrate the salvation that is ours in Christ there is nothing in our life that warrants the kind of celebration

[46:46] God that you do so I pray that in these next few moments this will be a time of great joy to remember we are yours you are ours forever in Jesus name amen amen