SHABBAT MESSAGE: FEBRUARY 10, 2024
Brothers and sisters in Yeshua,
The Covenant Continues: Embracing Communion
Introduction
Last week, we explored the theme of “Living the Covenant: a Continual Commitment”. We discussed the importance of the covenant and our commitment to it. Today, we continue this journey by understanding how this commitment is renewed and remembered through the act of communion.
The Paleo-Messianic Perspective
The Paleo-Hebrew understanding of the covenant provides a unique perspective. It emphasizes the covenant as a relationship, a bond between YHVH and His people. This bond is not just a set of rules or obligations, but a deep, personal connection that shapes our identity and purpose.
The Paleo-Hebrew Marriage Proposal
In the Paleo-Hebrew tradition, marriage is seen as a covenant between a man and a woman, in which they commit to being faithful to one another. This commitment is often seen as a symbol of the relationship between YHVH and His people. Before the groom places the ring on his bride’s index finger, he recites the following marriage proposal in both Hebrew and English because it must be 100% understood by bride and groom:
“Harei at me’kudeshet li be’tabaat zo ke’dat mosheh ve’yisrael. Behold, thou art betrothed unto me, with this ring, in accordance with the Law of Mosheh and Yisrael.”
Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (CJB)
“For what I received from ADONAI is just what I passed on to you — that the Lord Yeshua, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and after he had made the b’rakhah he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this as a memorial to me”; likewise also the cup after the meal, saying, “This cup is the New Covenant effected by my blood; do this, as often as you drink it, as a memorial to me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.”
Linking the Covenant with Communion
Communion is more than a ritual. It is a deeply personal act of remembrance of Yeshua’s sacrifice and a renewal of our covenant commitment. When we partake in communion, we are not just remembering an event from the past. We are participating in the ongoing story of YHVH’s covenant with His people.
From Pesach to Communion
The Last Supper, which Yeshua shared with His disciples, was a Pesach meal. During this meal, Yeshua took the bread and the cup, gave thanks, and shared them with His disciples, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” This act of breaking the bread and drinking the wine during the Pesach meal is what we now commemorate in the act of communion.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (you can read it in Matthew 25:1–13), ten virgins await a bridegroom; five have brought enough oil for their lamps for the wait, while the oil of the other five runs out. The five virgins who are prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival are rewarded, while the five who went to buy further oil miss the bridegroom’s arrival and are disowned. This parable has a clear eschatological theme: be prepared for the Day of Judgement. It serves as a reminder for us to always be ready for the return of Yeshua, the ultimate bridegroom.
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb
The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is described in Revelation 19:6-9. It is a symbolic representation of the joyful, intimate, and eternal fellowship that takes place between Yeshua (the Lamb of God) and his bride (the Church). This supper is the ultimate fulfillment of the covenant, the final realization of the marriage between Yeshua and His Church.
Conclusion
As we approach communion, let us do so with a renewed understanding of its significance in light of the covenant. Let us challenge ourselves to live out this covenant commitment in our daily lives. From the Pesach meal to the act of Communion, and looking forward to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we see a beautiful progression of YHVH’s covenant with His people.
Act of Communion
Please take a piece of unleavened bread, break and eat it. Remember that Yeshua broke it in the night he was betrayed and said, "Take and eat. This symbolize my body broken for you." Also drink some grape juice. Remember that Yeshua said, "Take and drink this as symbol of my blood shed for you and as the NEW COVENANT signed in my blood."
Thank you, YHVH, for giving us Ben Elohim as the Pesach Lamb taking away our sin and shame. Aman.
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Shalom!