Pastor Marshall Ochs | June 2, 2024
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from Luke 22:1-38. This chapter covers the final Passover meal Jesus celebrates with His disciples. The meal is filled with symbolic imagery of the exodus and Jesus reinterprets that imagery for a new covenant. The new covenant is marked with the bread and wine of communion. The moment takes place over a meal and helps the disciples focus on the work of God, the strengthening of God’s people, and preparation for the upcoming tribulations.
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In Luke 22, we witness Jesus transforming the Passover meal into a profound symbol of the New Covenant. The Passover meal was filled with symbols like candles, washing, sacrifice, bitterness, bread, and wine, each representing key elements of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Jesus, however, reinterprets these symbols, giving them new meanings.
Jesus takes the bread, breaks it, and declares it as His body given for us. This act signifies that His body will be broken as a sacrifice for our sins. He takes the cup, which represents the wine of redemption, and declares it as His blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins. This act signifies the establishment of a new covenant through His sacrificial death. In verse 18, Jesus speaks of the final cup of praise, reserving it for the marriage supper of the Lamb. Through this, the Passover meal became a way to view the New Covenant where Christ Himself is the sacrificial lamb.
Even in the sacred moments of the Passover dinner, the disciples were caught up in a petty argument about who among them was the greatest. This is a convicting snapshot of God's church. Here was Jesus, preparing to lay down His life, and His disciples were too busy looking at each other, too focused on their own status and righteousness to see what was unfolding before them. Isn’t this often the case with us today? Jesus calls us to look at Him, to focus on His work and what He is doing in our lives and the world. But we get distracted, caught up in comparisons, arguments, and self-righteousness.
Reflecting on the significance of meals in Jesus' teachings, how can be intentional to use shared meals to remember God’s faithfulness, strengthen relationships, and prepare for the trials of this world that lie ahead?
How can we shift our focus from self-centered comparisons to Christ-centered servanthood?
How can you actively pray for and support your fellow believers, helping them endure trials and strengthen their faith?
What steps can you take to ensure that your focus remains on Jesus and His work rather than getting caught up in arguments or distractions?