Here are my notes for leading the church in open communion. Pleasant Hill is partaking of the elements of the Lord’s Supper this Sunday.
Luke 22:19-20
19And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem on the donkey was on a Sunday. Several days later, on Wednesday, Jesus reclined at a table with His 12 disciples. The meal they were having was the Passover meal.
Passover symbolized the deliverance of Israel from captivity in Egypt.
Exodus 6:6-7
6Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Four cups of wine of Passover
1. Cup of Sanctification (Kiddush)
The first cup is part of The Kiddush or Thanksgiving. This is the Cup of Sanctification. God promised that He would bring His people out from under the cruel oppression of the Egyptians. Of course, this parallels God’s promise of redemption to His elect through faith in the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Cup of Deliverance (Makkot)
The leader of the feast would then recite: Moses left the wilderness to return to Pharaoh’s palace where he had been raised. He returned with the message, which the Lord had given him, knowing of the resistance he would encounter.
Exodus 3:19-20
19But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. 20So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders that I will do in it; after that he will let you go.
They’d fill their cups as a sign of their joy. Then, they’d eat the Passover meal.
3. Cup of Redemption (Ha-Geulah)
The Jews would always drink this cup immediately following the Passover meal. The Jews used this cup to symbolize the blood of the Passover Lamb.
Luke 22:20
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Hebrews 9:22
Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
Isaiah 53:5-6
5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
4. Cup of Restoration (Hallel)
When all of God’s people are saved, as in after Jesus’ second coming, we will drink the fourth cup with Jesus in Heaven.
The drinking of this cup took place during the hallel, “singing of praise to the LORD.”
Matthew 26:29
I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Partaking of Elements
1 Corinthians 11:28
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
Taking Bread
1 Corinthians 11:23-24
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Taking Cup
1 Corinthians 11:25-26
25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
