“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22:15 NIV)
“In the same way after supper He took the cup saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’” (1 Corinthians 11:25 NIV)
During one Lenten season, our church held a special presentation of Christ in the Passover. Depicting Jesus as the Passover Lamb, I was inspired by the beautiful setting in which our Savior instituted the Lord’s Supper and shared this special meal with His disciples in the upper room. This image touched my heart giving me a deeper appreciation for Holy Communion.
It was interesting to observe the four cups of wine or grape juice during the Passover ritual and how each cup corresponded to the four verbs expressed in Exodus 6:6 when the Lord redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage:
First Cup – I will bring you
Second Cup- –I will free you
Third Cup–I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
Fourth Cup –I will take you as my own
Focusing on the third cup, also known as the “cup of blessing,” I was amazed at the remarkable symbolism. I thought how our Savior literally stretched out His arms on the cross of Calvary to redeem us from the bondage of sin. This was the cup of which our Lord spoke these words: “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28 NIV)
In light of the New Testament, Christians may now have a full understanding of the spiritual meaning of the Passover event. The apostle Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “For Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.” (NIV) Thus, the Passover lamb foreshadowed the One who would come centuries later to be God’s final means of redemption.
The story of Passover and Holy Communion would be incomplete if our Lord had not been raised from the dead. But God’s Word testifies to the resurrection of Christ who defeated death and given us the victory over the grave. So as we commemorate the Lord’s Table and drink from the cup of redemption, may we be mindful of our Lord’s sacrifice, rejoice in His ever living presence, and look forward to the blessed hope of His return.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the precious sacrifice of the “Lamb of God” through whom You have made an everlasting covenant. As we drink from the cup of redemption may our sins be forgiven for the sake of Your Holy Name. With praise we honor You for the blessings we receive both now and forever as our inheritance among those who are sanctified. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Lori Ciccanti