Sunday, June 2, 2013

Communion 聖餐

From the Latin word meaning “sharing in common”.  The cross over word in Greek means “fellowship”.  So, a sharing fellowship that is in common.
Found in over 40 verses in the New Testament.
Shared or fellowshipping with or in:
The Divine Nature: 神の性質
2 Peter 1:4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  2ペテロ14 その栄光と徳によって、尊い、すばらしい約束が私たちに与えられました。それは、あなたがたが、その約束のゆえに、世にある欲のもたらす滅びを免れ、神のご性質にあずかる者となるためです。
Jesus, Son of God: イエス、神の子1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  1コリント19 神は真実であり、その方のお召しによって、あなたがたは神の御子、私たちの主イエス・キリストとの交わりに入れられました。
The Blood and Body of Christ: キリストの血および肉
1 Corinthians 10:16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 1コリント1016 私たちが祝福する杯は、キリストの血にあずかることではありませんか。私たちの裂くパンは、キリストのからだにあずかることではありませんか。
Fellow Believers Sufferings and The Faith They Share: 信者の苦しみと共有する信仰  they share:
Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  使徒242 そして、彼らは使徒たちの教えを堅く守り、交わりをし、パンを裂き、祈りをしていた。
Hebrews 10:33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  ヘブル1033 人々の目の前で、そしりと苦しみとを受けた者もあれば、このようなめにあった人々の仲間になった者もありました。
Others' Sufferings and Consolation: 受難と慰め
2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.  2コリント107 私たちがあなたがたについて抱いている望みは、動くことがありません。なぜなら、あなたがたが私たちと苦しみをともにしているように、慰めをもともにしていることを、私たちは知っているからです。
Their privileges:  特権  
Romans 15:27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.  ローマ人への手紙1527 彼らは確かに喜んでそれをしたのですが、同時にまた、その人々に対してはその義務があるのです。異邦人は霊的なことでは、その人々からもらいものをしたのですが、物質的な物をもって彼らに奉仕すべきです。
Their material needs, to remedy assistance: 物質的な必要、癒しの助け
Romans 12:13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  ローマ1213 聖徒の入用に協力し、旅人をもてなしなさい。
1 Timothy 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1テモテ618 また、人の益を計り、良い行いに富み、惜しまずに施し、喜んで分け与えるように。
Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. ヘブル1316 善を行うことと、持ち物を人に分けることとを怠ってはいけません。神はこのようないけにえを喜ばれるからです
A Ministry-Work Partnership: の牧会的働きのパートナーシップ
Luke 5:10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ルカ510 シモンの仲間であったゼベダイの子ヤコブやヨハネも同じであった。イエスはシモンにこう言われた。「こわがらなくてよい。これから後、あなたは人間をとるようになるのです。」
There are only two ordinances found in the Bible for the Local Church: Communion and Baptism. 洗礼と聖餐
It is my understanding that Communion was one of the first activities of the Early Church---right after Baptism.  Once a person found new Life in Jesus—opening their heart to the Savior who died for them—the person is taken to a place of water (tub, river, tank, pool) and enter the water to be covered with water—as the covering of God’s Grace has been done at the time of believing.  The person is brought low into the water and raised up out of the water as a symbol of dying and being resurrected into Jesus.
Communion is the celebration Baptized Believers share when present are to the two elements: juice and bread.  Some churches use wine, some use grape juice.  Some use wafer, Matzah, a loaf of bread, cut pieces of bread or cracker. 
This was set within the commonly known and understood Passover Meal of egg, celery, parsley, greens (bitter herbs-horseradish), Roasted Lamb and Matzah-a unleavened bread.
History of the Passover (過越の祭り)Remembered:  It is recorded in Leviticus 23:5~ as to keep the Passover and was first used in Exodus 12:23. It is to remember three events:
Deut 16:12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees.  申命記1612 あなたがエジプトで奴隷であったことを覚え、これらのおきてを守り行いなさい。
Exodus 12:14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance. 出エジプト記1214 この日は、あなたがたにとって記念すべき日となる。あなたがたはこれを主への祭りとして祝い、代々守るべき永遠のおきてとしてこれを祝わなければならない。
Exodus 13:3 Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. 出エジプト133 モーセは民に言った。「奴隷の家であるエジプトから出て来たこの日を覚えていなさい。主が力強い御手で、あなたがたをそこから連れ出されたからである。種を入れたパンを食べてはならない。
God’s Spirit passed over the homes of the Hebrew people when He saw the blood on the doorpost.  The Angel of Death would ‘float’ over Egypt’s homes and enter all the homes where the blood was not applied.  As a family unit, the Hebrews would eat the meal at midnight while standing with their shoes on—ready to leave.  (No leaven is allowed in their homes and was a sign of corruption and spoiling.)  The MAIN item at the meal was the Passover Lamb.  A male, one year old without blemish.  Each family had one.  The neck of the lamb was slit and the blood was caught in a rounded bowl and was handed to the next priest who would hand it on the next.  At last, the last priest would sprinkle the blood on the altar.  In the home, the headman—or if no man was found, an older woman—would lead the service.  For a Jewish service to be performed, 10 males need to be in attendance.  Within the Church in Jerusalem, the practice was followed as it has since the Days of Moses…but Jesus gave the Passover a still deeper meaning:
Killing the lamb truly became a sacrifice. The price that had to be paid foreshadowed the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The scriptures refer to Jesus as the Lamb of God over 40 times.  Just as Israel was saved by the blood of the paschal lamb, we are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, our Passover [who was] sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).  It is important to point out the following parallels between the paschal lamb and the life of Christ:
1. Both were the firstborn, without blemish (see Exodus 12:5).
2. Both were to have no broken bones; the paschal lamb was to be prepared whole (see Exodus 12:46).
3. Both the paschal lamb’s and Christ’s Blood were to be used as a token and sign of redemption (see Exodus 12: 13).
4. Both the paschal lamb’s and Christ’s Blood was spilled; the blood of the paschal lamb flowed into the basin (see Exodus 12:22).
Luke 22:14~20.  Stand for the reading.   ルカ22:14-20
14-16 When it was time, He sat down, all the apostles with Him, and said, “You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter My time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.”
17-18 Taking the cup, He blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for Me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.”
19 Taking bread, He blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My Body, given for you. Eat it in My memory.
20 He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in My Blood, Blood poured out for you.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Why is this important to this Fellowship? なぜこれがこのフェローシップに重要ですか?
The answer is universal.  Not just for this group here today, but for ALL Believers in the Lord Jesus.  The Communion is indeed a reminder of what He did for us on the Cross.  He said: “Remember Me…as often as you eat this bread and drink of the cup…”  Not only in a service like this but as often as you get together.  As common as a friendly cup of coffee---during that time, Remember Him.  Let your conversations be seasoned with the Gospel.
And what do we remember?  The time when…  you fill in the blank.  Tell us this morning; what do you remember Him for?  What has He done for you?  Give a witness this morning.  If I were to call on any one of you, you should be able to put into words something Jesus has done in your life.  In fact, I will be asking you that!  What do you remember Him doing for you or doing in you?  Give a witness. 証人を与えます

Now, come to the Table 食卓に来るthat is ready for you. Remember that He provided all that was necessary for you to be able to take this meal with Him.  He came to die for you.  He suffered on the Cross for you.  He went to the Grave for you!  He rose from the Dead for you.  He promised to return for you.  He gave His all for us so that His Father could even look on us.  His Holy Righteousness on us—not that we deserve it at all!  In fact, we do not.  But His righteousness is on us.  We are to wear His Robe of Righteousness so that when His Father looks on us, He sees His Son’s Blood covering us.
That is why I like this!  That is why I will miss breaking bread with you.  Until we meet again.  Come.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.