CHRIST OUR PASSOVER (EASTER MEDITATION #1)-THE DOWNWARD

Yesterday in corporate worship we digested the Passover/Lord’s Supper passage of Matthew 26:26-30.  I made mention that the passage was full of so many rich teachings (like a stuffed tenderloin) that I could not possible exhaust the deep well of its significance.  So I decide that I would try to unpack one aspect of the Last Supper/Lord’s Supper truth in the lead up to Easter.
One component of the Lord’s Supper is the downward element.  Roman Catholic teaching emphasizes that we give God our gifts in the Supper, but that seems to be the exact opposite of what Matthew’s text highlights.  Just look at the actor and the action line.  “Jesus took the bread…Jesus blessed…Jesus broke…Jesus gave…Jesus took…Jesus gave thanks…Jesus gave.  The point is that Jesus is the host, serves the meal, and gives instructions.  If anyone is giving gifts in the Supper it is Jesus to us.  Isn’t that the point of the Supper anyway?  A visual drama of the gospel?  And in the gospel, God comes to us.  He makes contact with us first by offering Himself, serving us, and instructing us to eat and drink from Him (see John 6).  Indeed, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are celebrated the gospel.  We are celebrating the downward when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.