“The Significance of Communion”
Luke 22:17-20

              Often we lose the real significance of why we do certain things such as partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Just what is the significance of communion for us in the 21st century? We live in a fast-paced technological society where we rush through our days failing to look back at the reasons why. We just go through the motions and go on to something else. We don’t often stop to think about the meaning behind things that are a part of our worship.

          In Luke chapter 22 the traditional Passover was approaching and Jesus’ disciples had made preparation for the occasion. The Passover was a Jewish festival commemorating their exodus from Egypt. It was repeated annually. The bread and the fruit or the vine were traditional parts of the Passover. They understood this, but Jesus gave these elements new meaning.
            In verse 14 he said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” The reason why this was so important to Him was that He was ready to go to the cross and He was going to use the bread and the wine to explain the significance of what he was about to do on the cross. He used things that they were already familiar with to lead them into a new spiritual dimension. The Passover was under the Old Covenant, but Jesus’ death on the cross seals a New Covenant between God and people. The Old Covenant involved forgiveness of sins through the blood of animal sacrifices. In the New Covenant or agreement between God and man, Jesus, Himself, would become the Lamb of God and die on the cross in place of sinners. John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus, “cried out Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29).

        His blood would be effective in removing the sins of all who placed their faith and trust in Him because He is God. Jesus sacrifice would not have to be repeated over and over again. It would be good for all eternity.
       At different times we might think of someone who has gone on to be with the Lord--a grandmother, grandfather, etc. You look back at something they gave you or you look at their picture. Some symbol or memento reminds you of this person.                  

        Jesus said, “remember Me--remember my teachings--remember what I did for you on the cross and remember that the New Covenant is for you today.”
        Just as the Passover was a very significant reminder of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, so the Lord’s Supper celebrates deliverance and freedom from sin by Christ’s death.