A Wedding Toast: May We All Say – to Completion

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, Luke 22:1 NIV

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”   Luke 22:8

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15

Note that during the Passover, four cups of wine are drunk.  These symbolize the four promises God gave Moses.

In Exodus, God said through Moses:

“I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

I will free you from being slaves to them, and

I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”  [Exodus 6:6-7]

The promises outline a pathway to salvation.

Sanctification: I will bring you out.

Plagues:           I will free you from being slaves.

Redemption:    I will redeem you.

Completion:       I will take you as my own people.

Jesus emphasized the cups of sanctification and redemption.

His is an invitation into a journey towards transformation as sons and daughters of God, and to participate in His sufferings, by remembering as His body, its breaking, and drinking from the cup He drank.

After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.  For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Luke 22:8, 14-20 NIV

Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  1 Corinthians 5:8 NIV

And know, He will hear when we cry out to Him, and He will keep His promise to deliver and redeem.

For,

The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord , save me!”  The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.  Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.  Psalms 116:3-7 NIV

And then, the fourth cup, Completion, Jesus reserved to be drunk with us all in Heaven at the marriage supper of the lamb.

May we all say!

Worthy is He….a hallel (praise) psalm

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.  Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord ’s right hand has done mighty things!  Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.  This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter.  I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord, we bless you.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.            Psalms 118:14-15, 19-21, 26, 29 NIV