/
RSS Feed
In this episode, Brett, Brian, and Jason begin an examination of Holy Communion allusions in the Old Testament. Today, they look at Exodus 12 and compare and contrast the Passover with the Lord’s Supper. Passover does not have a one-to-one correlation with the Lord’s Supper, however there are many similarities and connections.
Brothers,
I could not agree with you more about your position on the “Christian Seder”. Personally, I find that term to be an oxymoron. I do think there is great benefit in thinking about and discussing how the Passover points to and is fulfilled by Christ. But to go any further seems to me to be in danger of doing exactly what the author of Hebrews warns us against, going back.
I say that the term is an oxymoron because the Seder requires the shedding of blood and in Christianity the blood has been shed and there is no longer any need of any more shedding of blood. (See Hebrews 9 and 10) I know that the Christians who participate in these re-enactments of the Passover would agree with me on that point. But as you guys said in this episode, what the shadow of the Passover hinted at has been fulfilled in the work of Jesus and our focus needs to be on that.
I agree that there is not a one-to-one correlation between the Passover and Communion and, I would argue with the author of Hebrews that, the main disconnect is the role that blood plays in both. The OT sacrament of Passover required the shedding of blood until the coming of Christ. I think this might be why Jesus did not stick a fork into a piece of lamb when He instituted this sacrament. He seems to be saying that after I shed my blood for you tomorrow no blood will ever need to be shed again for the forgiveness of your sins. This NT sacrament is bloodless and replaces the OT sacrament which required the shedding of blood. The exact same thing can be said about the other NT sacrament of baptism, it replaced the other bloody OT sacrament of circumcision.
So, in Christianity there is no more need for the shedding of blood. In participating in a Seder meal you necessarily have to shed blood and that is why I argue that the term “Christian Seder” is an oxymoron.
That being said, lets not miss one of the correlations between Passover and Communion that, I would argue, still remains, they are both meals. No mention of altars. 😉
Again, you guys did a great job in this episode. Every week I find myself waiting with bated breath for the next episode.
Your brother in Christ,
JT