Indeed. The Last Supper was a Passover meal and the Jews who were present knew the language of the Passover. When the Jewish people celebrate Passover they literally place themselves in the Exodus. It’s not just some memory of a past event but instead it makes the event present to them. So when Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me”, He transformed the salvific action of the Exodus into the salvific action of His sacrifice on the Cross. The apostles would have known that they were to make this freedom from the slavery of sin present each time they came to the table as they did with their freedom from their slavery in Egypt.When Christ said “Do this in memory of me” He was echoing the words of God at the Passover when He said “This day shall be a day of memory for you” (Ex. 12:14).
When the ancient Israelites were commanded to “remember these things” they didn’t just close their eyes and recall in their minds the events that happen. They remembered past events through feasts and festivals such as the example raised earlier the Passover feast. They re-enacted the Passover event eating the same food (Passover lamb) and saying or chanting the same words that were originally spoken. So when Jesus said “do this in memory of me” Jesus meant re-enact what he just did and say what He just said. Jesus did not say or even give a hint that He would merely be present in the Eucharist spiritually. When Jesus said “this is my body” and “do this in memory of me” He meant exactly what He said.During the Last Supper in which Christ says “Take and Eat, this is my body which will be given up for you” Do this in memory of me". I am not questioning the Presence in the Eucharist, I am just wondering how the Apostles started or understood to do this and for all generations? Did it become much clearer to them at Pentecost or did Christ instruct them further in this between Easter and Pentecost?
The Eucharist is the most spiritual communion that you can experience with the Lord. It is at the table of the Lord where we receive Him, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. There is no more intimate relationship that we can experience this side of heaven.I don’t understand how someone can explain communion unless they have experienced communion.
I truly believe I have been in spiritual communion with the Lord. It isn’t just a mundane act of thought. It is spiritual.
Well put. I like the echo sentence.For a Jew, the Passover meal was a personal participation in the Exodus throughout all time.
For seven days you will eat unleavened bread, and the seventh day will also be a festival to the LORD. Unleavened bread may be eaten during the seven days, but nothing leavened and no leaven may be found in your possession in all your territory. And on that day you will explain to your son, ‘This is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:6-8)
For all time, a Jew who celebrated the Passover would explain to his son that the Lord brought him - him personally - out of Egypt. The passover was his personal participation in the Exodus from Egypt.
Remember that Jesus was was the new Moses, who was to lead a new Exodus.
About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. (Luke 8:28-31)
People miss that little phrase, which is recorded only in Luke’s version of the transfiguration, that Jesus was speaking with Moses and Elijah about a new exodus.
Jesus was instituting a new exodus from slavery to sin, and his exodus would include the return of the manna from heaven, the miraculous bread which came down from heaven every night and gave the Israelites life.
We have to read Jesus’ words, “Do this in rememberance of me”, with the eyes of a Jew who celebrated the passover as a personal participation in the Exodus, concious of the fact that Jesus was the new Moses who was instituting a new exodus. And we have to remember that Jesus said those words at that very same Passover meal.
When Jesus (who is God) sits down at the passover meal on the night before he was to die and says, “Do this in rememberance of me”, he echo’s the words he himself (as God) had given gave to Moses thousands of years prior.
Just like the old Passover was a rememberance - a personal participation for every Jew in the first exodus - the new Passover done “In rememberance of me” is a personal participation for every Christian in the new exodus - the passion, death and ressurection of Jesus Christ.
-Tim-
Jesus instructed them for forty days. How they understood is was they way they taught it. That teaching is what was continuously taught to this day.During the Last Supper in which Christ says “Take and Eat, this is my body which will be given up for you” Do this in memory of me". I am not questioning the Presence in the Eucharist, I am just wondering how the Apostles started or understood to do this and for all generations? Did it become much clearer to them at Pentecost or did Christ instruct them further in this between Easter and Pentecost?
I listen to evangelical bible truth radio. These folks, full of pride, can be convincing if you aren’t a properly informed Catholic. It is dangerous.Jesus instructed them for forty days. How they understood is was they way they taught it. That teaching is what was continuously taught to this day.