WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An international Sunday school lesson commentary
For Sunday June 2, 2019
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JESUS
INSTITUTES THE NEW COVENANT
(Our
superior all-inclusive covenant with JESUS)
(Mark
14:17-24 and Hebrews 8:6-12)
Scripture
shows us again and again how efficient JESUS was in planning and arrangement.
We see over and over again how HE did not leave things unprepared until the
last moment. All of HIS arrangements were made far in advance.
In Matthew’s account of the last week of JESUS’ life, in chapter 26,
starting at verse 17, we see HIS Disciples coming to HIM inquiring as to where
HE wanted them to prepare the Passover Feast. JESUS sent them into Jerusalem
with instructions to look for a man and tell him that, “MY time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with MY
Disciples” (KJV).
However, in John Mark’s Gospel account, here in chapter 14, verses 13-15,
we pick up a few more details. Here we see JESUS instructing HIS disciples to “look for a man carrying a pitcher of water”.
This sort of instruction is an obvious pre-arranged signal, because in those
days, carrying pots of water was strictly a woman’s duty. To see a man
performing this chore would be extremely unusual, and would be a sure-fire way
of identifying the right man.
Now, let’s examine why this man’s house would be a good place for JESUS
and HIS disciple’s Passover Supper. In those days, the larger Jewish houses had
upper rooms. They were constructed in such a manner, that they resembled a
smaller box that was stacked on top of a larger box. The smaller “upper room”,
which could be accessed by way of an outside stairway, served multiple
purposes. It was used as a storage area, guest room, or just a quiet place of
meditation. However, customarily it was used as a place where Jewish Rabbis
would come to teach, and it was not just a coincidence that this particular man
had just such a house.
According to the way that the Jews count days, the new day begins at 6:00
o’clock in the evening, and Passover Day is on the 14th Nisan. However,
preparation for the Passover is done on the 13th Nisan, and is
completed by 6:00 p.m. on that day.
In preparing for Passover, there is first, a “ceremonial search for
leaven”, where every bit of “leaven” must be totally removed from a person’s household.
This is in conformance with the tradition of the very first Passover in Egypt
Then, on the afternoon of the 13th Nisan, came the
“sacrificing of the Passover Lamb”. All the people would come to the temple and
the worshipers who could afford a lamb, would each kill their own for a
sacrifice to GOD.
Two long lines of priests stood between the worshippers and the Altar,
each holding a gold or silver bowl. When the lamb’s throat was slit, the blood
was caught in one of these bowls, and was passed up the line to the priest at
the end of the line, who would pour the blood onto the Altar.
The lamb is then skinned and gutted, and the fat is extracted. The meat
is then handed back to the worshipper, and it is then, carried home to be
roasted on an open fire with a spit made of Pomegranate wood. The table that is
used for the Passover meal is shaped like a square, with one end open. It was
very low, and the diners had to recline on couches, resting on their left arm,
while keeping their right arm free for eating.
With that said, I’ll now try to shed some
light of understanding on the concept of the Christian Church communion with
CHRIST JESUS and what it symbolizes. The words “in remembrance”, that JESUS
uses in HIS instituting of the LORD’s Supper, dates back to the Old Testament
concept of “Zikkaron” (Zik-ka-rone). Zikkaron is a Festival, Practice, or
Object, that is used to symbolically link future generations to a distinctive
act of GOD. The name derives from the Hebrew word “zikrown” (zik-rone), which
means “a memento, or memorable thing, day, or writing”.
Through the Zikkaron, GOD’s people could
sense their personal participation, along with the original generation, in the
act that GOD had performed for them years earlier. Thus the LORD’s Supper is a
unique institution of sacrament, intended to link all generations to the memory
of CHRIST JESUS’ vicarious sacrifice as a 100% human being on the cross at
Golgotha.
The New Covenant is mentioned many times in
the Old Testament, and it is spelled out quite clearly by GOD, in Jeremiah
31:31-34. JESUS came to usher in that new Covenant from GOD, and it is a
Covenant that is far superior to any before, or since, that time. This New
Covenant provides for the “regeneration of mankind”, and allots for us to be “indwelt
by the HOLY SPIRIT”, when we come to believe in JESUS CHRIST. The bread, which
we eat at the sacrament, is common bread, but for those who have the heart to
feel and understand, it is indeed the very body of CHRIST.
In the Gospel according to Luke, as
expressed in 22:22, in his original Greek writings, the word Luke uses in
JESUS’ statement, that translates “determined”, is “horizo” (hor-id-zo). Luke
is the only author in Scripture who uses this particular translation for
“determined”, and he uses it only there, and in Acts 17:26. In both places it
means “decreed by GOD”, and is meant to remind us, from a “time-bound”
perspective, that JESUS’ death was a miscarriage of justice, and that, from
GOD’s point of view, it was the keystone of HIS plan to, not only provide
salvation to mankind, but to also, set all things right with HIM.
In Hebrews chapter 8, we see that JESUS now ministers
on the basis of a much better, superior covenant than the one handed down to
Moses by GOD back in the book of Exodus. JESUS is GOD’s superior priest, and our
ultimate representative in the presence of GOD the FATHER in Heaven.
A “superior priest” could never operate on
the basis of “an inferior covenant”, and so here in this chapter of Scripture, the
writer begins to move toward the conclusion of his discussion and argument regarding
the superiority of CHRIST JESUS as our “HIGH PRIEST”.
Aaronic priests ministered on earth in a
sanctuary that was a mere copy of the Heavenly Sanctuary. It was only a shadow
of the true sanctuary in Heaven that was built by the hand of GOD, and where
CHRIST now ministers. The superiority of JESUS’ ministry is also reflected in
the superiority of the New Covenant, which HE ushered in to us, during HIS
three-year ministry here on earth.
Unlike the earthly high priest who was
required to offer gifts and sacrifices for, first, their own sins, and then
ours, JESUS has no need to offer sacrifices for HIMSELF because HE, quite frankly
never sinned. And the sacrifice HE offers for our sins, past, present, and
future, is HIS OWN life, which was offered up on the cross at Golgotha, where
HE spilled HIS blood, some 2000 years ago.
Back in Exodus 24, verses 1-8, the
Israelites accepted GOD’s covenant as it had been given to Moses on Mount
Sinai. However, man would not then, and quite frankly, will not now, abide by
such a covenant, because we let our sins, continuously interrupt our relationship
with GOD. It took the life of CHRIST to restore our lost relationship of friendship
with GOD. If we, as a people, would have abided by the first covenant, there
would have been no need for the, more superior covenant that was ushered in by
CHRIST JESUS to replace it.
The first covenant was offered by GOD to
show us how much we need HIM in our lives to survive, and, how far we were from
living according to HIS OWN glorious standards. And so, while “the old Covenant”
in essence, could only condemn us, the New Covenant, by contrast, brings
forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS, and thereby, can only save us. However, this
salvation can only be given to those who voluntarily accept GOD, in all HIS
fullness.
In the Greek, the word used for “covenant”,
in all normal secular applications, is “suntheke” (soon-tha-kay), and it is “an
agreement between two equal parties or entities, on equal terms”, i.e. a
marriage, or a business deal or partnership.
However, in the New Testament Scriptures,
the Greek word that is always used for “covenant” is “diatheke”
(dee-ath-ay-kay), and it is “an agreement that is actually along the terms of a
“devised Will”. In other words, only one party draws up the terms, and the
other party can either accept or reject the terms, or inheritance, that is
offered. They cannot change or alter any of the contents within that Will.
The use of this word, “diatheke”, is
understandable, because we, as human beings, cannot enter into an equal
partnership with GOD, and cannot be on equal terms with GOD for obvious
reasons. We are only able to make a voluntary decision to accept, or reject HIS
covenant offer, and cannot alter, or change HIS terms in any way.
Even in the secular world, we know that “a
Will” does not go into effect until the person who wrote it has been proven
dead. JESUS, WHO is our HIGH PRIEST, first died on the cross for our sins, then,
re-entered into Heaven, bearing HIS OWN blood to present as a sacrificial
atonement for all of our sins, past, present, and future. And with HIS
sacrifice, HE purchased eternal salvation for all mankind in general, and all
Christians in particular, once, and for all time. In short, JESUS is the
mediator of the New Covenant that was activated by HIS OWN death.
And finally, in the biblical Greek, there
are two words that are used for “new”. One is “neos” (neh-os), which means “new
in respects to time”. It can be a regeneration, or “exact copy” of something
already existing, such as a new piece of clothing, or a new pair of shoes, or
furniture. The other word used for new in the biblical Greek is “kainos”
(kahee-nos), which means, not only new in relation to time, but also “new in
quality and expression”. It is something that is “a new creation altogether”,
or “a new product that has been introduced into the world for the first time”.
“Kainos” is the word used here by the author to describe the covenant ushered
in by JESUS CHRIST, however, this New Covenant can never be improved upon, or
copied.
There is one other essential that we should
accentuate regarding the New Covenant which was ushered in by the actions of
CHRIST JESUS. In Hebrews 10, verses 16-18, the author of GOD tells us that the
New Covenant is one that calls for “internal”, rather than “external” adaptations.
This means that we will no longer want to obey GOD simply because the law
compels us to, or, because we fear punishment, but rather, we will obey HIM because
“the desire to obey will be written on their hearts and minds”.
Under the old Covenant, man could only hope
to keep a right relationship with GOD by obeying HIS laws, through their own efforts.
Here, in the New Covenant Age, everything is dependent, not on, what we can do,
but rather, everything rests solely on the grace of GOD, and what JESUS CHRIST
has done, by way of HIS vicarious sacrifice. JESUS, both, removes our guilt,
and, mediates our New Covenant with GOD.
GOD wishes to place HIS laws for living on our
hearts, not just in writing on stone or, even paper, for that matter. HE wants
us to understand HIM in our innermost being, so that we can obey HIM more completely.
HE wants to be our GOD, and HE wants us to be HIS people. HE wants us to teach
of HIM, not just with the words of our mouths, but more importantly, with our
behavior as professed Christians.
We, as Christians, must make our old selves
obsolete, just as GOD made the Old Covenant Law obsolete when HE sent us HIS
only begotten SON to save us from ourselves. In the New Testament Greek, the
word used for “old”, or “obsolete” is “palaioumenon” (pal-ah-yo-o-me-non), and
it describes “something that is out of date” and “ready to be set aside”. And so
we as professed Christians must be voluntarily willing to set aside our old way
of thinking and behaving, and take up those new and unique examples that were
demonstrated to us by CHRIST JESUS during HIS 100% human lifetime here on
earth.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
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