Reflection:
In Joshua 5, the Israelites celebrate the Passover, as it was the 15th of Nisan. God certainly has a way with timing. Remember, it was the Passover that marked the beginning of their freedom from Egypt and slavery. And now that they have crossed the Jordan and are in the new land, they are celebrating it as a Nation in their homeland… for the first time – 40 years later. Many of the symbols in the Passover refer to the time of slavery in Egypt – such as the bitter herbs, the charoset, and the cup of plagues. However, some of the elements in the Passover feast, while originally pointing to the Exodus, can also apply to other times in our lives. No doubt, when the Jewish people drank the 3rd cup- the cup of redemption, they not only remembered the end of slavery in Egypt but also celebrated God’s redemption of their lives and their new place of Canaan.
When Jesus celebrated the Passover with His Disciples – His last supper, the took the third cup (the cup of redemption) and said, “This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. As often as you drink this, do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus was ushering a new understanding for the application of a cup that signified God’s redemption. It now was a symbol of ultimate redemption – the death of our Lord Jesus – the propitiation for our sins.
When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper together, it is to be a reminder of what God did for us. It’s not a magical meal. It’s a way to remember all that the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross. Just like the monument the Lord had the Israelites build once they crossed the Jordan River to remind them of what happened, so the Lord’s Supper – the Passover – is a reminder of God’s sacrifice to us on the cross.
Prayer
Spend time worshipping and praising the Lord. Thank Him for His sacrifice on the cross for you. Thank Him for His love that He pours out over you.
Blessings,
Justin<><