One of the important passage in Matthew
Chapter 26 was the event at the garden of Gethsemane. That passage was important because Jesus was
given a choice whether He should go to the Cross. In a sense God gave Him a choice. After He “gave in” all events after that were
human activities. Because He already
submitted to God’s will.
Jesus instituted the Holy Communion after
He ate the Passover meal with His disciples.
The Passover meal parallels the Holy Communion. Jesus brought in the Spiritual significant of
a meal and turned it into the Holy Communion.
Under the old covenant, the Jews were preoccupied
with the Mosiac Covenant :
a)
Abrahamic Covenants
representing perpetuities, and circumcision.
b)
Noah Covenant – covenant of
mercy
c)
Covenant of Moses has three
streams –
i) Abraham’s descendants to be circumcised.
ii) the Jews
were descended from Isaac and Jacob, they have the Torah and kept the Sabbath to distinguish them from the
Arabs.
iii) Through Jacob Jesus came to institute the New Covenant.
There are 7 parts to Dr.
Thomas Chung’s sermon :
1.
Jesus predicted His death. Politic prevailed to get Him.
2.
A woman anointed Jesus. Jesus said the anointment was beautiful “to
Him”, meaning as a worship and it was meant “for Him” as an act of service.
3.
He was sold as a slave.
4.
The New Covenant He instituted.
5.
At the Garden of Gethsemane
where Jesus could chose whether to go to the Cross.
6.
The Trial of Jesus. False testimonies of blasphemy and false
politics.
7.
Peter denied Jesus three times.
Matthew Chapter 26:
Vs. 1 & 2 – Jesus predicted His death
and He warned His disciples.
Vs. 3 – 5 – The politics behind the trial.
Vs
6- 13 – A woman anointed Jesus. It was the most beautiful act ever
performed by a human to the
Son of God.
Vs 14-16- Jesus was sold by Judas for 30
silver coins a price of a slave.
Vs 17-29- The Passover meal parallel the
Holy Communion. The difference between
the Passover meal and Holy Communion is that the Passover meal was part take
with meat whereas the Holy Communion did not.
Jesus instituted the Holy Communion because this was to indicate that
Christians need not part take of the Passover meal.
Vs 30 -45 – Peter denied he knew
Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus
prayed that the Cup may be taken away from Him.
Vs 47-68- Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus’ trial was a religious trial but it was
turned into a political trial. The
religious part accused Him to had blasphemed by claiming to be God and the
political part accused Him of calling Himself King.
Vs 69-75 – Peter denied Jesus. Dr. Chung explained that he was recognised by
his accent as he spoke. People from
different region spoke with different accent.
Holy
Communion
In explaining the Holy Communion, Dr. Chung
referred to 1 Corinthians 10:14 and 1 Corinthians 11:23
Jesus instituted a new Covenant. He also instituted the Holy Communion after
the Passover meal. The Holy Communion
was a parallel to the Passover meal. The
Holy Communion was to be taken after the Passover meal. It was not a whole meal. It was a symbolic meal with Spiritual
significance.
1 Corinthians 11:25 – Jesus instituted the
Holy Communion after the Passover has ended.
The Holy Communion was for the Christians and the Passover was for the
Jews. The blood symbolised the cleansing
of our sins. Exodus 12:13 indicated the
significance of the blood. The blood of
the lamb brought deliverance. Holy
Communion is also a deliverance, exorcise people.
Covenant can also means testament or
agreement.
1 Corinthians 10:16 – Holy Communion is to
participate in the life of God and life of the church. In participating in the Holy Communion is
also a fellowship of God’s people. It is
a fellowship in the body of Christ.
The
Significance of Holy Communion
1.
Speaks of the centrality of the
Cross
2.
An act of continuity.
3.
Constant regular reminder of th
centrality of the Cross.
4.
Proclamation of Jesus’ death
until He comes again.
