No matter what schedule is used to observe communion and foot washing, Jesus said that as often as we do it to do it in remembrance of him. All these centuries later we have these emblems of this New Testament. Regardless of the treaties and documents of man, this covenant has not fallen through. Jesus made a testament through the giving of his blood and his body. No matter what adversaries come against us or God, they cannot break this covenant.
Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
These are the last moments of Jesus with his disciples before his suffering. They had no idea what was getting ready to happen. They thought they would observe Passover and retire for the evening. Little did they know they were going to the Garden of Gethsemane and then they would be scattered. One of the 12 had already made plans to sell Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. For a little bit of nothing Judas sold Jesus out. He came to think so little of Jesus that he was willing to betray him. Jesus was priceless. The money didn’t satisfy Judas. Afterward he didn’t even want it, but he could not undo what he had done.
Think about how much Jesus is worth. Society says it can do without Jesus. Regardless of the efforts of man to get rid of Jesus, they were turned around and used by God for our salvation. God used a wicked covenant between Judas and the Sanhedrin. Jesus gave his body for us. He wasn’t forced on the cross. He lay down willingly. He allowed his blood to be shed to seal this new covenant. The Passover was the old covenant; the heart of it was the Law. It showed us we could not save ourselves. We couldn’t put ourselves on equal ground with God. Everybody was against Jesus but he came for everyone. He was willing to allow his blood to be shed on the cross. It wasn’t the Romans or the Jews who were at fault. It was all our sins. The sin caused Jesus to step up to the plate. His blood was pure and spotless. Instead of our blood, he shed his. At Passover, a lamb was taken and Israel remembered how God delivered their forefathers. Those who stayed under the blood were spared and were able to leave out of Egypt the next day.
Jesus took the bread and broke it, his body in our place. We are saved because he gave his body. He allowed himself to be broken so our broken souls could be put together. The cup was the New Testament in his blood. Jesus said to carry this on in his remembrance. The covenant would stand forever. He is the Savior given for us. When we see him, we’ll see him as the Lamb of God who loved us and gave himself for us. It was so we could be washed. Worthy is the Lamb who hung on Calvary and lay in the tomb and came out on Easter morning.
It’s 2015 and we know that the covenant is still just as good as it was then. There is nothing that needs to stop us. Take new assurance. The Savior of the New Testament is with us. We are all the recipients of the covenant and are partakers with the Savior.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 