Lord's Supper
At EBC we observe the Lord’s Table each month, until He returns, for both remembrance (testimonies) and examination (confession) in order to keep short accounts with both God and man. This includes:
- The breaking of bread – klasisartos – to fracture the loaf. We use broken matzos to remind us that Christ was bruised, striped, pierced, and broken for our sins on the cross.
- Remembrance – anamneôsis – recollection, to remember again (Strong’s G364). Jesus is coming back and the Table is a good place to reflect on His coming.
- Examination – dokimazoô – to test, to prove, scrutinize, examine, try one’s self (Thayer, G1381). We confess our faults one to another and pray for one another, that ourselves and our relationships may be healed.
“And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread” (Luke 24:35).
Four Cups of Passover – The Tradition
The New Testament mentions the ‘Pesach Cup’ at the time when Jesus celebrated the Passover feast with His disciples. He raised a cup at least twice during the meal to make important statements about Himself. Jewish tradition says that every year during the Pesach it is necessary to consume four “cups” of wine during the Seder meal. Tradition teaches that Jesus raised the third cup and announced that “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). All four cups during the Passover meal have significance from Scripture. Let’s explore a moment:
Significance of Passover Cups
- The First Cup: The Cup of Sanctification – “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians,” (Exodus 6:6b)
This is regarded as the “Cup of Sanctification” that represents the first “I Will” of God – His promise to free Israelites from the slavery under the Egyptians. It is believed that the Messiah lifted the cup to remind people of this promise of God. Every person attending this ritual should focus their attention on the incident when God freed His people, keeping His promise.
- The Second Cup: The Cup of Judgement or Deliverance – “and I will rid you out of their bondage,” (Exodus 6:6c)
Known as the “Cup of Judgement”, it is filled with wine, and people dip their fingers into the cup making a drop of liquid fall on their saucer ten times, reducing the fullness of the cup of joy. (While dipping fingers, believers in Christ remember the death of the Messiah and consider that His blood would spill at Calvary within hours.) People drink this cup of wine after going through a section of the Seder and recognize that it was no one else, but God, who affected the salvation of the people of Israel.
- The Third Cup: The Cup of Redemption – “I will redeem you with a stretched out arm,” (Exodus 6:6c)
Known as the “Cup of Redemption”, this cup is filled after the supper is eaten. It is believed that the Messiah lifted this cup and said, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant of my blood (Luke 22:20; paraphrased). Here Jesus signifies why He came – to redeem us to Himself. This cup depicts His work on the Cross at Calvary.
- The Fourth Cup: The Cup of Praise or Restoration or Marriage Cup – “And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Exodus 6:7)
Also known as the “Cup of Praise or Restoration,” Jesus said that the Messiah would drink this cup of wine in the new kingdom of God and would not take it until then. It is assumed that at the wedding feast of the Lamb, the Messiah will lift this fourth cup and complete the Seder that began over two thousand years ago in that small upper room in Israel.
The Lord’s Supper and the Cup of Redemption
It is believed that when the Lord spoke these words to Moses, He foretold the plan by which He would redeem the people of Israel (and the Gentiles). In other words, He was telling Moses how He is going to redeem His elect to become His children. It is this third cup, the Cup of Redemption, we now drink at each Lord’s Supper. We look forward to finishing with Him the Marriage Cup, the fourth cup, at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Hallelujah!
References
Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)
Thayer, J. Thayer's Greek Definitions. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation.