Not Since the Days of the Judges (Luke 22:14-20, 2 Kings 23:21-27)
Rev. William L. Barron, May 24, 2020Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
After finding the Law, King Josiah reinstated the Passover and made a vow to keep the commandments, and all of the people joined in his renewed covenant. The bloody sacrifices had to continue for the sins of the people, and the yearly remembrance of the Passover would continue so as not to forget the blood and the death that sin demands. When Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples, He cut a new, fulfilled Covenant. Offering a cup of “His blood” was a graphic picture for them, knowing that a covenant required the spilling of blood. His sacrifice meant no more bloody altars. We now come to a Table, not a bloody altar, to celebrate what Christ did on the cross and to look forward a future gathering with Him.
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Luke 22:14–20 (Listen)
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.
(ESV)
2 Kings 23:21–27 (Listen)
21 And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.
24 Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him.
26 Still the LORD did not turn from the burning of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him. 27 And the LORD said, “I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.”
(ESV)