Christ Our Passover

Text: Exodus 12:1-14a; Luke 22:7-20;

1 Cor. 5:7b-8a

Introduction:

“The worst misunderstandings of the Lord’s Supper would arise from any attempt to understand this eucharistic meal as an entirely new and independent act by Christ."" Max Thurian, The Eucharistic Memorial, 16

Lesson:

I.     Passover: The Promise of Christ, Exodus 12:1-14a

II.    The Lord’s Supper: The Fulfillment by Christ, Luke 22:1-20; 1 Cor. 57b-8

Conclusion:

Q. Why. . . . does Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the New Covenant in His blood; and why does St. Paul speak of a communion of the body and blood of Christ?

 A. Christ speaks in this way for a good reason. He wants to teach us by His Supper that as bread and wine sustain us in this temporal life, so His crucified body and shed blood are the true food and drink of our souls to eternal life. But, much more, by this visible sign and pledge He wants to assure us, first, through the working of the Holy Spirit we are really partakers of His true body and blood as surely as we receive by the mouth these holy signs in remembrance of Him; and second, that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly ours, as if we had ourselves suffered and done all in our own person.

Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A, 79