46-The Last Supper And The Communion Service - NIV

1. Jesus Was The Lamb Of God. The Lamb Was An Important Part Of The Passover.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus _coming_ _toward_ him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

2. The Account Of The Communion Service In The Four Gospels.
Matthew 26:26-30 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his _disciples_, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." [27] Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. [28] This is my blood of the _covenant_, which is poured out for many for the _forgiveness_ of sins. [29] I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my _Father's_ _kingdom_." [30] When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of _Olives_.

Mark 14:22-26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his _disciples_, _saying_, "Take it; this is my body." [23] Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. [24] "This is my blood of the _covenant_, which is _poured_ out for many," he said to them. [25] "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the _kingdom_ of God." [26] When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of _Olives_.

Luke 22:14-20 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles _reclined_ at the table. [15] And he said to them, "I have _eagerly_ _desired_ to eat this _Passover_ with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds _fulfillment_ in the kingdom of God." [17] After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. [18] For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." [19] And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in _remembrance_ of me." [20] In the same way, after the _supper_ he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new _covenant_ in my blood, which is _poured_ out for you.

John 13:1-17 It was just before the _Passover_ Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. [2] The _evening_ meal was being served, and the devil had already _prompted_ Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was _returning_ to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer _clothing_, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he _poured_ water into a basin and began to wash his _disciples_' feet, _drying_ them with the towel that was wrapped around him. [6] He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" [7] Jesus replied, "You do not _realize_ now what I am doing, but later you will understand." [8] "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "_Unless_ I wash you, you have no part with me." [9] "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" [10] Jesus answered, "A _person_ who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, _though_ not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. [12] When he had _finished_ _washing_ their feet, he put on his _clothes_ and _returned_ to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. [13] "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and _rightly_ so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have _washed_ your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an _example_ that you should do as I have done for you. [16] I tell you the truth, no _servant_ is greater than his _master_, nor is a _messenger_ greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be _blessed_ if you do them.

3. Paul's Account Of The Communion Service And Its Purpose.
1 Corinthians 11:23-29 For I _received_ from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." [25] 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." [26] For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you _proclaim_ the Lord's death until he comes. [27] Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an _unworthy_ manner will be guilty of _sinning_ against the body and blood of the Lord. [28] A man ought to _examine_ himself _before_ he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. [29] For _anyone_ who eats and drinks without _recognizing_ the body of the Lord eats and drinks _judgment_ on himself.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we _break_ a participation in the body of Christ? [17] _Because_ there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all _partake_ of the one loaf.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21 No, but the _sacrifices_ of _pagans_ are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. [21] You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the _Lord's_ table and the table of demons.

4. What Is The New Covenant?
Hebrews 8:8-10 But God found fault with the people and said: "The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. [9] It will not be like the covenant I made with their _forefathers_ when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not _remain_ _faithful_ to my covenant, and I _turned_ away from them, declares the Lord. [10] This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their _minds_ and _write_ them on their _hearts_. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Hebrews 8:13 By calling this _covenant_ "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon _disappear_.

Hebrews 12:24 To Jesus the mediator of a new _covenant_, and to the _sprinkled_ blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Participating in the communion service may be most meaningful after a person is baptized into the body of Christ and sees the need for a renewal of his or her relationship with Jesus and members of the church.

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