The Eucharist                 Acts 2:42

Act 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer

Eucharist

1. The history of the Eucharist begins in Gen 3:15,21 with the 1^st animal sacrifice.

• 3:15 – 1^st promise of the Savior – seed of the woman will defeat the devil
• 3:21 – animal sacrifice to clothe the nakedness of man

2. Animal sacrifice was used to illustrate the Person and work of the coming Messiah

• Gen 5:3-5 – Cain and Abel – animal sacrifice; Gen 8:20-21 – Noah offers animal sacrifice after the flood; Gen 12:7 – Abraham; Gen 26:25 – Isaac; Gen 35:1 – Jacob

3. The Passover sacrifice gave greater clarification of the plan of God – Ex 12:3-13

• Lamb w/out blemish – perfect Person of Messiah; blood of lamb – work of Messiah protecting bel’s from divine judgment; unleavened bread – freedom from sin; Passover – death passed over those protected by the blood of the lamb.
• Passover celebration was a meal that eaten year after year as a memorial to the 1^st Passover
• Roasted lamb, bitter herbs, unleavened bread – cloak tucked in, sandals on, staff in hand, eat in haste.

4. The Passover feast and Feast of Unleavened bread were joined together

• Passover meal – 14^th Nisan – evening meal
• Unleavened bread – 1 week festival following the Passover meal.

5. It was during the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the Eucharist – Lk 22:14-20

• 14 – Eating the Passover meal – reclining – Jesus is making changes to the Passover meal
• 15-16 – Passover meal fulfilled – the prophetic meaning fulfilled in His suffering
• 19-20 – the bread – this is my body given for you; Cup – New Covenant in my blood poured out for you

6. Jesus changed the prophetic Passover meal to the historic Eucharist.

• Passover – prophetic looking to the Person and work of the Messiah
• Eucharist – historic looking back to the Person and work of the Messiah

7. The early church celebrated the Eucharist in connection to the love feast. – 1Cor 11:17-34

• 11:20-21 – not waiting on others; some remain hungry; others get drunk – meal of sorts
• 11:22,33-34 – if hungry, eat at home so you don’t eat all the food
• 11:27-32 – discipline – divisions, disrespect others; disregard for significance of the ceremony
• Jude 1:12; 2Pt 2:13 – love feast – sacred meal shared by the early church
• There is no command to celebrate the love feast in connection to the Eucharist – tradition of early church

8. It is possible the early church celebrated the Eucharist every week – Acts 20:7

• 20:7 – 1^st day of week – Sunday – resurrection day
• disciples came together to break bread – Eucharist and love feast
• Worship service included Paul’s preaching – spoke until daylight the next day

9. Frequency of the Eucharist in today’s church – 1Cor 11:25-26

• Whenever – osakis ean – as often – as often as you do this
• The Greek word ean indicates uncertainty and possibility – not definite
• There is no definite command as to the frequency of celebrating the Eucharist

10. The sacred Eucharist is required & involves discipline for improper behavior – 1Cor 11

• 11:17-19 – divisions – differences that became divisions – differences should edify
• 11:20-22 – disrespect – for those less fortunate – despise and humiliate those who have nothing
• 11:27-32 – disregard – for the body and blood of the Lord – examine your attitude toward the Lord