[0:00] I want to especially focus this morning on the passage we read in Jeremiah. And perhaps as we also read in the Gospel of Luke that you recognized the connection.
[0:25] As we concluded that reading in the Gospel, it was Jesus affirming that his blood was the cup of the new covenant.
[0:39] And the new covenant that was announced by the Lord through Jeremiah. We come to the Lord's Supper and the Supper relies upon Jesus' words.
[0:54] He is the one who instituted it. We're perhaps slightly more familiar with the wording that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
[1:05] But you may well have recognized how close they are to the words that Jesus himself spoke in Luke chapter 22. That was the Lord himself instituting it.
[1:19] And Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11 that he is passing on what he first received. The Lord Jesus says, as you take this bread and the cup in a moment, this is what it's for.
[1:35] There are many times it would be quite good if these windows were clear. And we were right down beside the road.
[1:48] And everybody who passes by could watch what is going on and see it. But I suspect they would be quite puzzled by what's going on.
[1:58] Because these are signs, these are pictures, which need the words. They need the instruction. They need the explanation of what they are for. And the Lord gives us that.
[2:13] He gives us the way of understanding what this is about. These symbols that he's saying, they signify something. There is the liquid that signifies his blood.
[2:26] There is the bread that signifies his body. But they also seal it to us as we receive these things on this occasion by faith.
[2:37] It seals to us the reality, Christ's giving of himself. It's the reality that is laid hold of by faith.
[2:49] He makes the gift of the table before us today. But they speak of the real gift of his own life. The life that gives us life.
[3:02] If we come to him, rely upon him, trust in him. The fullness of life in our souls first, but also our bodies. And he had two things to say as he used two elements that we use still today.
[3:20] There are two things he says. He says of the bread, he says, this is my body which is for you. It's a very direct statement. Very direct equivalence.
[3:33] And when he comes to the cup, does he say, this is my blood which is for you? He adds something. This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood.
[3:48] And we're very familiar with those words. And perhaps you've had them explained before. Perhaps you've reflected on them and come to an understanding of them before. But I do believe that I'm led to speak of these things today.
[4:01] That expansion, the precise nature of his explanation of what the cup is. And that we come to it, we receive it ourselves today.
[4:12] But what does it mean? This cup is the new covenant in my blood. So familiar, aren't they? Those words. But what Jesus does is he uses those words.
[4:27] As we take the cup and hear them again. This is the new covenant in my blood. Jesus is laying hold and he says, this is yours in my blood.
[4:39] What? What is yours in my blood? This greatest of Old Testament promises. It's a glorious promise that God gives through Jeremiah in chapter 31.
[4:52] He gives there the promise to the struggling people of Israel. I will give a new covenant one day. Psalm 40 says, I waited long upon the Lord.
[5:05] The faithful man of Israel waited long upon the Lord. From the day of Jeremiah to the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then he says, that new covenant, here it is in my blood.
[5:21] The new covenant that was given to resolve that historic incapacity of Israel.
[5:31] The incapacity of man, of all mankind. To live by the law of God. To live by his judgments.
[5:43] To live an obedient life. And so comes the promise. This is something new. And Jesus says, all of that is here.
[5:55] In what I'm doing. Giving my life. All that is here. In my blood. You've been waiting hundreds of years since Jeremiah's day.
[6:09] Now is the moment. Now it's fulfilled. And how great that fulfillment is. We look back, don't we? Those things have been done.
[6:21] But the content of the promises. The glorious work of God and his spirit. Is still brought to us. And reaffirmed for us.
[6:33] In this, the Lord's table. His body and his blood. And so let us consider this a little further this morning. I think it's important that we first of all do grasp the setting in which these words came to God's people.
[6:51] So I want to speak first of all about the prophetic setting. But then to see their promises and the promises significance. But there is a promise.
[7:04] Who does it belong to? And so the third thing I want to emphasize is the secured participation. Participation secured.
[7:16] The prophets, the prophecies setting. The promises significance. And participation secured. The prophecies setting then first of all.
[7:30] The day of Jeremiah. We need to look at this because it helps us to grasp just how major. Just how vast. How extensive. How glorious this promise was.
[7:42] Just to grasp it better. Setting for Jeremiah. And these particular words. Was at the very end of the nation of Judah.
[7:56] To the end of the city of Jerusalem. The rule of David's house in Jerusalem. This is in chapter 31. Chapter 38 tells us of the story of the Babylonians finally coming and saying.
[8:11] We've had enough. The Babylonians already had control over Judah and Jerusalem. But they said they've had enough. You're too rebellious. We will destroy the city. We will destroy the temple. That's shortly after this.
[8:23] It's not far away. And it's in those days. And in those days when many of the people had already been taken in exile. The quality people like Daniel that we read about.
[8:36] They were not here anymore. It was a desperate strait for Jerusalem and Judea to be in. That's when Jeremiah prophesied. That's when these words came to the people.
[8:49] We read a few verses before the promise. And there we were reminded that God is saying. It was I who was watching over this people to pluck up and break down.
[9:02] To overthrow, destroy and bring harm. That was God's work. These desperate conditions that they were living in. And the loss of hope that they faced.
[9:15] That was God's work upon them. Where were they to turn from here? The heart of the people. In one way at least.
[9:27] Was already destroyed. Now this is hugely important for Israel. Because they had been promised the land. And they were losing it.
[9:39] As they were led. You know the old stories of Moses and Joshua. Being brought into the land. And God had said. It's yours. You are my people. This is your land.
[9:50] You will have it for an eternal inheritance. He'd said many other things concerning the land as well. And now they were coming to fruit. But many didn't understand.
[10:03] Many said. But God said we would have the land. And now we don't have it anymore. What's that all supposed to mean? It's to remind ourselves.
[10:14] What it meant that they were being sent into exile. It was because they had not been faithful to the Lord. There were moments. There were short periods.
[10:26] Where things were looking good. But much of the time. It was decline. Away from God. God. And it was for that reason. Which God had promised.
[10:37] Remember God's promises. We look for them as comfort and encouragement. God's promises are also promises of judgment. Equal.
[10:50] One against the other. God's promises. And God had promised. If you're not faithful. If you go after the gods of these nations. You will lose the land.
[11:01] Just as they lost the land. And now they were losing the land. Just at the time. These words came. Through Jeremiah. It was in that condition.
[11:14] That they received the promise. Of this. New covenant. Not like the old one. It's new. It's different. It's radically different. He was giving them a new hope.
[11:27] In the middle of all this. God was reminding them of his. His part in their destruction. But. He says. I will also watch over them. To build and to plant. I do have a plan.
[11:38] For my people. I. Try to go back. Into that situation. And I know. Such men as Jeremiah. There were a few. Around him.
[11:48] Who were faithful men. Who were. In anguish. Over. What was taking place. In the. Amongst the people. At that time. And to put myself. Into their place.
[11:59] And to. To save for the nation. How. Will we ever get beyond this. We have our moments. Josiah had had a. Had brought a fresh.
[12:09] A breath of fresh air. He brought new life. Not long before this. Amongst the people. And then he was. He was killed in battle. Great despair. That was the condition.
[12:22] Of the nation. Going up. Towards God. As it were. And then down again. Into the depths of sin. And the faithful man. Amongst them. Did they think.
[12:34] Will we ever. Get to change. Will we ever. Walk faithfully. With our God. Again. Will we ever. Truly be. God's people.
[12:44] God's people. God's people. And this is the promise. That says to that. Such a man. There is hope. There will be a change.
[12:56] Not just there may be. There will be. A change. In the middle of all this darkness. You can have hope. That hope was also going to mean.
[13:08] A return for exile. From exile. To be made new. A new beginning. As it happens. In the story. Of Israel.
[13:20] When they did. Physically return. From exile. There was still much to do. There were still many moments. Of decline. Away from God. But this is the promise. There is hope still.
[13:32] Even beyond that. That it's not just. What's on the outside. God is working. And will work. To bring about. What is most needed.
[13:44] A new work within. And I wonder sometimes. If it's. Like that for many of us. Personally. Individually. That we're.
[13:56] It seems to me. That when Paul is writing. In Romans 7. He's. He's speaking about. Much that struggle. That many of us have talked about. Many of us have experienced. Where. We. We. We draw near to God.
[14:07] And in no time at all. We find ourselves. Crashing. Another. Another disaster. In our lives. And we say. How can I escape. This body of death. This. This.
[14:18] This sin of the flesh. That seems to have such a hold over me. How can I escape. Will I escape. But isn't this the promise too.
[14:29] For. For each one of us. Still today. And all the more. Because Jesus said. That new covenant. That I've promised. I'm bringing it. This is the moment.
[14:40] In my blood. And for someone here. Perhaps. Maybe it's the very reason. You're not.
[14:50] Coming to the table. That that's what you're despairing over. You're struggling with. You're saying. I come. And I go.
[15:01] And I. How can I know. The folk who are at the table today. Are no different. How can I know. That. Christ is for me.
[15:15] This is how you can know. Because God said. I will. Put this in your heart. It's a process. Of the. Of. Of.
[15:26] Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Of. Is. Israel. Had. To. Rely. On. It. On. It. The. Disciples. Had.
[15:36] To. To. Rely. On. It. I. Have. To. To. Rely. On. It. Every. One. Of. Of. Us. Has. To. Rely. On. This. It. Can. Only. Rest. On.
[15:46] This. Promise. That. God. Has. Made. And. Christ's. Fulfillment. This. Cup. Is. The. New. You.
[16:02] Will. Be. My. People. And. So. That's. The. Significance. Of. The. Promises. Yes. Multiple. Promises. Within. This. One. Great. Promise. Of. The. New. Covenant.
[16:15] That's. In. That. Very. Condition. In. That. Condition. Of. The. Nation. And. In. The. Condition. Of. The. Hearts.
[16:25] Of. Each. Man. Woman. Child. What. Is. It. That. God. Christ. Rather. Is. Bringing. To. Man. To. Israel.
[16:35] To. Israel's. Believers. What. Is. It. He. Is. Bringing. To. You. And. To. Me. He. Says. It's. My. Blood. That. Brings.
[16:45] This. To. You. You. You. Waited. Long. Upon. The. Lord. What. Israel. Had. Been. Waiting. Hundreds. Of. Years. For. Perhaps. In. The. Most. Unexpected.
[16:56] Place. Away. From. The. Crowds. Jesus. Said. Now. It's. Here. This. Is. The. Moment. You've. Been. Waiting. For. As.
[17:07] I. Give. My. Life. God. Gives. This. Spirit. And. This. New. Covenant. Receive. My. Life. By. Faith. And.
[17:19] You. Will. Receive. The. Fullness. Of. This. New. Covenant. Do. You. Long. For. A. Deep.
[17:29] Heart. Change. Do. You. Long. To. Be. That. New. Creation. That. Paul. Speaks. Of. In. Second. Corinthians. Five. This. Is.
[17:39] Where. It. Comes. From. Only. Here. Only. Here. Only. Through. The. Gift. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. On. The. Cross. Only. Through.
[17:49] Him. Do. You. Receive. These. Promises. An. Unbreakable. Covenant. Relationship. On. God's. Side. The. Old. Covenant. Was. Unbroken. But.
[18:00] The. People. Had. Broken. It. In. In. These. These. Verses. That. We've. Looked. At. He. Announces. That. I. Will. Make. A. New. Covenant. In. Verse. 31. I.
[18:16] Was. Their. Husband. This. Is. An. Unbreakable. Covenant. It. Is. Distinguished. From. That. Old. One. It's. A. It's. A. New. Covenant.
[18:27] In. That. The. Law. Of. God. Will. Be. As. It. Were. In. A. Different. Place. It. Will. Not. Be. In. The. Ark. Of. The. Covenant. On. Those. Tablets. Alone. Tought. Out.
[18:37] By. The. Priests. But. It. Will. Be. In. Your. Own. Heart. He. Will. Place. It. There. He. Will. Work. His. Spirit. Within. One.
[18:49] Of. Those. Enduring. Promises. That. God. Has. Made. He. Made. It. To. Them. To. The. People. Just. Before. They. Left. Egypt. In. Exodus. And.
[18:59] He. Said. I. Will. Be. Your. God. Excuse. Me. Your. God. You. Will. Be. My. People. He. Comes. Back. To. That. He. Reiterates. It. He. Reinforces. It. And.
[19:10] That's. The. Greatest. Of. Blessings. He. Will. Be. Their. God. You. Will. Be. My. People. How. Is. This. About. Come. About. It. Is.
[19:20] He. Expands. On. It. Further. He. Says. In. Verse. Thirty. Four. You. Will. Know. The. Lord. It. Is. Not. A. Thing. That. Has. To. Be. Taught. Not. A. Thing. That.
[19:30] Has. To. Be. Be. Be. Repeatedly. Encouraged. Know. The. Lord. But. You. Will. Know. The. Lord. The. Lord. Jesus. When. He. Prayed. To. His. Father. He. Said. That.
[19:40] They. Might. Have. Eternal. God.
[19:52] Is. Embedded. Within. Your. Heart. But. That's. Not. All. We. May. Know. God. Because. Of. Forgiveness. They.
[20:06] Shall. Know. All. Know. Me. From. The. Least. Of. Them. To. The. Greatest. Declares. The. Lord. In. Verse. Thirty. Four. Four. You. Will. Know. Him. Because. I. Will. Forgive.
[20:16] Their. Iniquity. And. I. Will. Remember. We. Cannot. Know. God. If. We. Hold. On. To. Our. Sin. It.
[20:27] Comes. Between. Us. And. God. But. If. We. Seek. His. Forgiveness. According. To. His. Word. He. Will. Forgive. I. Will. Forgive. And. Remember. It. No. More. And.
[20:39] My. People. Can. Come. To. Me. And. Know. Me. And. Knowing. Me. They. Will. For. Me. That. New.
[20:49] That. Great. Transformation. The. Great. Transformation. That. Is. Brought. About. By. The. Shedding. Of. Blood. For. The. For. For. The. For. The. For. The. Blood. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ.
[21:01] Is. Effective. For. The. For. Sin. For. All. Who. Come. To. Him. And. He. Will. Remember. Our. Sins. No. More. Men.
[21:14] Had. Been. Tried. And. Tested. And. Failed. Men. Were. Found. Incapable. Of. Keeping. True. To. God. They.
[21:25] Broke. My. Covenant. Though. I. Was. Their. Husband. We. Know. Don't. We. It's. Often. Like. That. We.
[21:37] Use. Words. Like. Stumble. And. So. On. And. Sometimes. We. Try. And. Try. And. Gloss. Over. But. The. Reality. Is. We.
[21:49] Sin. Against. Our. God. And. It. Grieves. His. People. It's. A. Great. Grief. To. Sin. Against. Him. But.
[22:00] He. Says. I. Will. Forgive. That. Failure. Dear. Friend. Is. Not. The. Final. Word. Such.
[22:10] Failure. Is. Overcome. By. This. The. Promise. Of. Our. God. Which. Is. The. Final. Word. What.
[22:21] He. Says. Is. What. He. Will. Do. It. It's. Because. Of. This. Promise. He. Has. Said. It. He. Will. Do. It. It's.
[22:32] Because. He. Has. Made. This. Promise. And. It's. Because. This. Promise. Has. Been. Delivered. In. The. Giving. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. Of. Himself. Yes.
[22:44] In. Its. Fullness. It. Has. Yet. To. Be. Completed. We. Might. Say. On. The. Great. Day. Of. Glory. But. It's. Already. Applied. It's. Already. Applied.
[22:55] God. Says. I. Will. Do. It. And. He. Applies. It's. In. Spite. Of. Our. Stumbling. And. When. We. Stumble. That. We. Find. Forgiveness.
[23:05] In. Him. Draw. Near. To. God. Know. God. Find. That. Work. Of. His. Spirit. Giving. Newness. Of. Heart. Receiving.
[23:16] What. Christ. Has. Done. And. It's. Because. Of. That. As. The. Promises. That. We. Look. At. We. Might. Receive. Them. We. Might. Participate.
[23:27] In. Them. And. That. Is. Secure. It. Is. Quite. Secure. Because. God. Has. Said. It. Is. Quite. Secure. Because. Christ. Has. Done. Received.
[23:39] By. Faith. What. God. Has. Accomplished. What. About. Israel. As. They. Heard. These. Words. It's. A. Wonderful. Promise. It.
[23:50] Is. Wonderful. Grace. No. Mere. Words. When. They. Come. From. The. Mouth. Of. God. God. Says. I. Will. God. Says. I.
[24:00] Will. God. Says. I. Will. And. He. Says. I. Will. And. Again.
[24:10] I. Will. Five. Times. I. Will. God. Says. It. I. Will. God. Says. He. Will. Will. Certainly. Do. It. Why.
[24:22] Do. We. Doubt. His. Word. Is. Great. His. Word. Is. True. He.
[24:32] Does. Not. Fail. To. Keep. One. Word. The. Evidence. Of. That. Is. Found. On. The. Cross. Of. Our. Lord. Jesus. Christ. And. The. Empty.
[24:43] Tomb. I. Will. That's. The. Security. How. How. Do. We. Know. How. Do. We. Know. That. We. Can.
[24:53] Benefit. And. Participate. Because. Of. What. Jesus. Himself. Says. And. Does. Jesus. Answers. After. Those. Many. Years. He.
[25:03] Says. That. New. Covenant. That. You've. Rested. Your. Hopes. Upon. I'm. Accomplishing. It. I'm. Fulfilling. It. I'm. Bringing. It. About.
[25:18] It. Comes. Comes. By. Receiving. Him. As. He. Gives. Himself. Receive. Him. John. Chapter.
[25:28] One. Verse. Twelve. As. Many. As. Received. Him. To. Them. He. Gave. The. Right. To. Be. Called. Children. Of. God. To. Them. That. Believe. On. His.
[25:38] Name. As. Many. As. Receive. Him. Of. Israel. And. Beyond. To.
[25:49] Become. A. Child. Of. God. To. Be. Reunited. With. Him. To. Be. Brought. In. To. Security. It's.
[25:59] The. Very. Essence. Of. This. Promised. Covenant. God. Makes. That. Undertaking. Of. Covenant. He. Says. I. Will. Do. It. It. The.
[26:14] Hope. That. God. Gives. Us. The. Hope. That. Is. Is. Born. Witness. To. Today. On. The. Lord's. Table. It. Rests. Not.
[26:24] One. Little. Bit. On. My. Ability. To. Keep. God's. Law. For. Because. I.
[26:34] Fail. You. Fail. But. That's. Not. Where. Our. Security. Lies. That. Should. Not. Break. Our. Knowledge. Of. Security. Our.
[26:45] Sense. Of. Security. It. Rests. Entirely. On. God's. Gift. And. God's. Establishing. Of. That. Security. It. Rests. Entirely. On. God's.
[26:55] Forgiving. And. God's. Forgiving. Rests. Entirely. Upon. What. Christ. Himself. Has. Done. It. All. Rests.
[27:05] On. God. Himself. Installing. His. Law. Within. You. Writing. It. On. Your. Hearts. The. Rule. Of. His. Spirit. Within. So. That. You. Can. Know.
[27:15] Him. It. Rests. Entirely. On. His. Work. It. Rests. On. This. Work. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. Giving. His. Body. His. Blood. His. Life.
[27:26] It. Rests. On. God's. I. Will. I. Do. And. I. Have. Done. It.
[27:37] Was. Jesus. Who. Said. Do. This. Remembering. Me. Do. This. I. Am. Your. Hope. This. New. Covenant. Of.
[27:48] Hope. You. Will. Find. It. In. Me. And. My. Blood. Do. This. He. Says. Believing. In. Me. Receiving. Me. Dead.
[27:59] And. Alive. It. Rests. On. This. But. He. Gives. You. Something. To. Do. Believe.
[28:12] Receive. What. He. Gives. And. It's. Complete. So. When. We. Come. To. The. Supper. When.
[28:24] You. Take. Take. The. Cup. And. Do. Take. The. Cup. Swallow. As. It. Were. This. New. Covenant. I. Know.
[28:34] It's. Full. Of. So. Much. More. It's. All. I. Can. Do. For. This. Morning. Swallow. It. Receive. It. Absorb. These. Promises.
[28:45] Just. As. Your. Body. Absorbs. The. Food. And. The. Drink. May. I. Remind. You. Too. When. The. Lord. Jesus. Instituted. The. Supper. Remembering.
[28:56] This. New. Covenant. He. Was. Also. Remembering. The. Passover. It. Was. His. Passover. Commemoration. Which. Was. The. The. Great. Escape. And.
[29:07] There. It. Was. It. Was. Established. Around. Meat. And. Drink. And. Food. That. Came. From. The. Lamb.
[29:17] That. Died. In. Place. Of. The. First. Born. Now. He. Has. Come. He. Has. Come. To. Take. The. Place. Of. That. Lamb. He.
[29:29] Is. The. One. Who. Is. The. First. Born. Who. Did. Die. For. Many. Brethren. Where. Once.
[29:39] Israel. Were. Renewed. Year. After. Year. They. Had. To. Eat. And. Remember. The. Passover. Eating. The. Food. Of. The. Lamb. He. Says. From. Now.
[29:50] On. From. From. Now. On. It's. A. New. Covenant. From. Now. On. I. Am. The. Lamb. That. You. Are. To. Eat. And. Live. By. That.
[30:00] He. Is. Our. Food. He. Is. Our. Food. For. Life. In. Egypt. That. Food. Was. To. Be. Eaten. For. Strength.
[30:11] For. The. Journey. That. Was. Guaranteed. To. Take. Place. That. Night. It. Was. Guaranteed. Because. God. Had. Said. This. Is. What. Will.
[30:21] Take. Place. Just. So. He. Is. To. Be. Our. Strength. For. Life. For. The. Way. Before. Us. The. Journey. The.
[30:31] The. The. Directions. Before. Us. He. Is. To. Be. Our. Food. Our. Strength. As. It. Was. For. Israel. In. Jeremiah's. Day. So.
[30:41] To. It. Must. Be. For. Us. He. Is. Our. Hope. Our. Focus. Our. Center. He.
[30:52] Is. Our. Hope. Of. Having. A. Journey. Ahead. Being. Able. To. Enter. Into. That. Journey. He. Is. Our. Hope. And.
[31:03] There's. No. Hope. More. Certain. More. Sure. And. So. Friends. Will. You. Make. It. Yours. And. Refresh. That. Hope. Today.
[31:15] And. Let. Me. Also. Say. I. Plead. With. Everyone. If. You. Have. Not. If. You're. Not. At. The. Place. Of. Refreshing. That. Hope. Make. It. Your. Hope. Because.
[31:27] There. Is. No. There. Is. No. Other. Hope. Given. Amongst. Men. We. Are. In. The. Best. Possible. Place. Today. Let.
[31:39] Us. Look. On. Let. Us. Consider. Let. Us. Hear. The. Lord. Himself. Explaining. To. Us. What. He. Has. Done. And. What. He. Gives. Elements.
[31:51] And. Not. Things. For. Us. To. To. Think. Up. Our. Own. Explanation. But. These. Promises. That. He. Will. Enter. In. And. Give. Us.
[32:01] Newness. Of. Life. And. A. Way. Before. Us. And. A. Strength. For. That. Way. There.
[32:11] For. The. Moment. I. Must. Close. But. May. We. Seek. God's. Blessing. And. A. Further. Searching. To. Understand. These. Things. And. Lay. Hold. Of. Him.