Today's Passage - Matthew 26:26-30

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 26:26-30   While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.                   Holy Communion has threefold meaning: Looking at the past, Jesus has completed the work of salvation, so that we are no longer in the bondages of sins and receive freedom and joy in Christ. Jesus is the lamb of the Passover, and the salvation of Passover is twofold: First, the forgiveness of sin. When the Israelites left Egypt, God commanded them to take some blood of lamb and put it on the top of doorframe, so that the angel would not kill the children of Israelites when he saw the blood on doorframe. By putting blood on the doorframe, Israelites was pardoned from the judgment of God. In the same way, Jesus is the lamb of the Passover, and we are pardoned from God's judgment when His blood is upon us. Besides the forgiveness of sin, the salvation of Passover includes deliverance. Not only the Israelites were pardoned from judgment, they left Egypt and were liberated from slavery. In the same way, not only we are forgiven from sin, but in Christ we are also being delivered from the dominion of the world to receive freedom and joy from God.                   Secondly, looking at the present, the Lord wants us to remember Him via Holy Communion. We need to remember Him in every moment of our lives, not just when we first believe in Him. This is why we partake in Holy Communion in church regularly, so can we can remember Him. Regardless we have Holy Communion every week or once every month, or even just few times a year, the Lord asks us to remember how He died for us every day, so that we may live for Him.                   Thirdly, looking at the future, partaking in Holy Communion is a hope for His return one day. The Holy Communion we partake while on earth is a symbol of the heavenly banquet in the future. Revelation 19 described this event, where one day we will meet the Lord and attend His wedding banquet, where Christ is the bridegroom and we are the bride. When we are still on earth, we need to prepare ourselves and constantly remember our Lord, having the hope that one day He will come for us. Therefore, we need to partake in Holy Communion joyfully every time.                   We need to live with Christ today so that we can enter into victory. Moreover, we also have the wonderful hope that our Lord is coming back. May this wonderful hope give us greatest motivation in our lives!    Pray with Pastor Tong     Dear Lord, I thank You, for not only You died for us, You are with us today, and in the future You will bring us to heaven to be with You forever. May You place this wonderful hope in us, so that it will becomes motivation for our daily life. I thank You and I pray all these in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!