If we had been in the upper room that night we would have heard Jesus speak these immortal words recorded here in Mark 14:22-25
℗And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
What did that mean to them as they sat and listened to Him?
℗The word covenant or testament first occurs in Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
℗It is repeated again…Genesis 9:9&11 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;… "And I establish My covenant with you; and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood, neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth."
In a conversation with Abraham God makes a covenant to establish the Land of Palestine with him and his offspring…
℗ Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
From the city limits of Cairo to the Northern border of Syria!
From the Mediterranean coastal city of Haifa to Bagdad on the Euphrates!
And only under David and Solomon did it even begin to move in the direction of its potential…
Then God involves Moses in the Covenant to invite the people to join Him in claiming the relationship…
℗ Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
God extends the covenant to a family and the sons of Noah in the context of protection from the judgment of the world…
He then extends the covenant to the sons of Abraham in a geographical context so that they would have a place to call their own and worship Him and bring blessing to the world.
Through Moses God redefines the Covenant in the context of a protection from judgment (The Passover) The possession of the Land of Canaan and victory over the inhabitants and a relationship with Him guided by the Ten Commandments.
And for 1400 years the nation of Israel staggered and stumbled through feast and famine, freedom and domination until the ultimate covenant was made.
And just like in all the covenants before it came down to a conversation between God and a man…in this situation it was Jesus and the Twelve…
℗For clarity sake, a covenant is a solemn agreement that is binding on all parties…
And the Covenant that Jesus was talking about was similar to the old covenants but yet eternally greater…
I have protection for you from the judgment…John 3:16
I have a place for you…John 14:3
I have a plan for you… I am the Vine you are the branches…
Love me with all you heart soul mind and Strength and love those around you the way I love you!
Here is what I want you to focus on this morning as we distribute symbols of the covenant…
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you are in a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ in relationship that will deliver you from judgment.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you because of this covenant you will spend eternity with Him.
℗ You are celebrating and reaffirming that you want and choose to live out the rest of your life loving Him with all your heart and loving others the way He loves you.
