Luke 22:14-20
What does it mean? It was a Passover meal that Jesus grabs ahold of to show that he is the fulfillment.
God liberated Israel from the oppression of Egypt through an act of judgement and deliverance at the same time. They would roast a perfect lamb over fire (judgement). The angel of death would kill the first born of a house unless the blood of the lamb was on the doorpost. They eat unleavened bread to show the speed with which they would be delivered. They pass through the Red Sea (baptism). A covenant is formed between God and Israel and is confirmed with the blood of a sacrifice. Later they added the "four cups" tradition with deep meaning.
Passover answers the question: By what means does God rescue his people and have relationship with them?
Jesus gathers up and reinterprets the Passover meal to say that He is the answer. Moses' Exodus will be fulfilled in Jesus' Exodus. What Jesus is about to do will be God's act of judgement, deliverance, and forgiveness all wrapped up in one.
Two tracks of belief about what Jesus accomplished on the cross developed. Church of the East said sin is a sickness that we need healing from. The church of the West said that sin is a crime that we are guilty of and need freedom and forgiveness for. Both things are true and they feed off of each other.
Romans 4:5-7 forgiveness, 6:17-18 set free, 8:3 judgement
What does communion accomplish?
Thoughts about this have caused massive amounts of division.
The "is" my body. This "is" my blood. The Roman Catholic Church says that the elements become the literal body and blood of Christ (Transubstantiation). The Lutheran church says the elements don't change, but the real body and blood are with it (Consubstantiation). The Orthodox church says it is literally the body and blood, but don't claim to know how. The. Church says that it doesn't change, but the very real presence of Christ is with us when we take communion. The Evangelical church says it is purely symbolic (tokenism). The Evangelical church is afraid of sacramentalism where the taking of communion would save if taken even if the heart isn't in it. Unfortunately, we remove all power and spiritual value.
1 Corinthians 10:16-18, 11:27-30 Participating in eating the sacrificial lamb was taking the meaning and effect of the sacrifice into their homes and themselves.
What is the elements don't change, but where faith is, a very real change happens in the person holding them.
Jesus says he won't drink of the fruit of the vine again until the Kingdom of God has come. We normally think of that as an eschatological statement.
Four cups: Exodus 6:6-7
1. Cup of sanctification- started the Passover meal. It sanctified the meal. The meaning of the meal is explained.
2. Cup of deliverance- The Father of the house would tell the Exodus story. This is the cup Jesus gives in Luke 22:17.
3. Cup of Redemption- Host would lift and break the bread explaining the suffering of Israel.
4. Cup of Praise- tied to the statement "I will make you mine and I will be your God." Passover is complete and God has done everything God intended to do is done. In the garden Jesus prays, "Father, take this cup." On the cross Jesus drinks the sour wine and then gives up his life to signify that the work was done. Passover is complete and the Kingdom is now here.