As we meditate Luke 22 today, verses 19-20 say,
Luke 22:19-20
19 And 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.” 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.
What is a covenant?
A covenant is an agreement between at least two parties.
The word covenant comes from the Latin convenīre, meaning “to come together, agree.”
In the Old Testament, the phrase “make a covenant” is most often a translation of the Hebrew kārat berît, which literally means “cut a covenant’’ - “establish” or “confirm”) and (“give”)
Examples of covenant:
In our day a contract often becomes legally binding when the parties sign a document detailing the terms of the agreement. Such as in marriages, adoptions, business partnerships etc.
It makes a very serious affair: life and death
It’s not just a legal agreement, but brings two people into a relationship
The vilest enemies become trusted friends as soon as the covenant is established.
No man takes advantage of the covenant or breaks it. It is so sacred that the children of the third and fourth generations revere it and keep it.
In other words, it is a perpetual covenant, indissoluble, a covenant that cannot be annulled.
The Old Covenant:
In ancient times, the covenant practices often became binding by killing and cutting an animal.
When God made a covenant with Abraham, there came blessings (to obedience) and cursing (to rebellions) up to the next generations of the Israelites.
When God heard the groaning of the Israelites in Egypt He remembered His covenant with Abraham so He delivered them from the enemy.
God couldn't break the Covenant. He could not forget it nor ignore it. He is the covenant-keeping God.
The New Covenant:
Whenever we do the Lord’s Table, We are entering into a covenant that is unbreakable. We are establishing a strong ties relationship with God.
The covenant that God had with us through the blood of the Lord Jesus is indissoluble.
1 Corinthians 11:26,
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
It is more special than any other covenants in the past because the blood sacrifice was not merely from the slaughtered animals but from the blood of the ONE and ONLY Son of God, Jesus Christ.
When God hears our groans and cries for help, He would remember His covenant with us and would come to rescue us.
When we sin, Jesus' blood does not only cover our filthiness but cleanses it.
Along with the covenant, there comes blessings, protection, and assurance.
How’s life in the new covenant?
The promises:
Life in you
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:53-54
The meal serves as a taste of what is to come—a taste of true life.
Life is secured on Earth and in Heaven
Remain in you
John 6:56“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
The relationship between you and God is unbreakable and cannot be untied.
Purpose in you
John 6:57“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
Imagine, waking up everyday with a sense of purpose.
We don’t just live, we live for the Lord.
Philippians 1:21 For me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].
God is true and faithful to His covenant. He will remain forever as long as we keep His covenant with us we will live forever.
“This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”
John 6:58
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