Communion Easter Sunday
Communion Message Easter Sunday 16-Apr-2017
Let us welcome this day of the Lord in joy and peace. Like a Bride, radiant and joyous, comes the day of the Lord. It brings blessings to our hearts, workday thoughts and cares are put aside to honor the Lord and celebrate His Resurrection.
The exodus is remembered daily in Jewish prayers and celebrated each year at the feast of Passover which occurred in the year 1446 BC.
One of the most significant Jewish holidays recalls and rejoices over the Israelites’ redemption from slavery in Egypt. The symbolic elements of the feast cause us not only to look back and remember what the Lord did in the past but they also foreshadow a greater redemption through Jesus, the Passover Lamb.
According to the Gospel of Mark 14:12, Jesus prepared for the Last Supper on the “first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,” and it was at this time that Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper as in Mark 14:22-24.
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread,
Lord, through your goodness we have this bread, a sign of Your daily provident care and love. It is a symbol of our brotherhood and unity. From many grains of wheat comes this one bread. As we share this bread, may we also share our lives together completely through the power of Your Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life.
Jesus blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks,
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, through Your Goodness we have this wine a symbol of joy. As we enter into this celebration, we thank You for the blessing of this past week; for life, health and strength; for home, love and friendship; for the discipline of our trials and temptations through which we are strengthened; for the fruit that has come out of our labours. You have ennobled us Lord, by the blessing of work. In your love and kindness you have made your people holy by the blessing of rest according to your commandment: “Six days shall you labour and do all your work, but the seventh is a Sabbath to the Lord God.” We thank you for the blessings you have bestowed on us in Christ. He is our true Sabbath rest and on this, His resurrection day, we acknowledge that we have all received His fullness, grace following upon grace. We, who were dead through sin, have been brought to life together with Christ. We have been raised up with Him and made to sit in heavenly places with Him.
He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.