To better understand Easter we must better understand the Passover. On this night Jesus ate the meal with his disciples, infused it with new meaning, and commended it to all his future followers.
The four cups of Passover are an integral part of the Passover celebration. They stand for each of the four promises the Lord makes to His people in Exodus 6:6-7.
The Cup of Sanctification
"I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."
The Cup of Deliverance
"I will rescue you from their bondage."
The Cup of Redemption
"I will redeem you with an outstretched arm."
The Cup of Praise
"I will take you as My people."
Jesus speaks to each of these four promises:
Jesus sanctifies us - "And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth" (John 17:19).
Jesus delivers us - "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).
Jesus redeems us - "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Galatians 4:4-5).
Jesus is our joy - "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11).
It was in breaking the bread that Jesus told us, "This is my body, broken for you." He is the lamb, broken for us.
It was after the meal, in taking the third cup, the cup of redemption, that Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
We now call it Communion, the Lord's Supper, or the Eucharist.
Let's raise a cup to Jesus today, in a worship, or in our home with family and friends.
Let's propose a toast to Him who is our sanctifier, our deliverer, our redeemer, and the one worthy of all praise!
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