So Simple Yet So Profound

So Simple - Yet So Profound

By Jon Peasey

Published by Peasey Publications

at Smashwords

Copyright 2013 Jon Peasey

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's diligent work.

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: The Emblems

Chapter 2: The Offerings

Chapter 3: Great High Priest

Chapter 4: The Lord's Table and the Lord's Supper

Chapter 5: Kinsman Redeemer

Chapter 6: The New Covenant

Chapter 7: The Messiah - The Christ

Chapter 8: The Son of Man

Chapter 9: The Son of God

Chapter 10: Till He Comes

Chapter 11: Christ - The Image of God

Chapter 12: The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ

Chapter 13: Reflections

About the author

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Preface

Have you ever sat and partaken of the bread and wine on the Lord's Day and really thought about what it represented? The act itself is simple; but what is the significance of it all? I wrote the first chapter of this book some years ago and it was put on the back burner. Other book manuscripts came to the forefront and the uncompleted manuscript languished. In 2012, I gave a series of lectures to my local Christian fellowship on the sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament. Those lectures were the impetus for the necessary study and research to complete this book.

To glorify Christ has been the aim and object of these writings.

Psalm 34:3, Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version of the Holy Bible; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point.

Verses quoted from the Scriptures with three dots ... before and/or after a verse signify that only a part of the verse is quoted. The part of the verse quoted is relevant to the current subject matter.

Chapter One - The Emblems

The Lord’s Supper is so simple, yet at the same time, so profound! It is so simple in its consummation, yet, so profound in the depth of its meaning. The Lord uses two emblems to convey deep truths. Bread is the symbol chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ of His body given as a sacrifice to God on our behalf. Wine is the symbol He chose for His blood, which was shed for the remission [forgiveness] of our sins. The actual partaking of the bread and wine takes only a few minutes of time. Yet, these emblems express precious truths; truths that anchor our souls in the reality of God’s love.

In Luke 22:19, 20 we read, And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of Me.’ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you’.

Let’s consider the setting in which the Lord Jesus spoke these words. It was the night of His betrayal; the Passover feast was finished. Judas Iscariot, the traitor, would later go out into the night to carry out his evil work. This would have weighed heavily on the Lord’s mind. Psalms 41:9, Even, my own familiar friend in whom I trusted; who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.

The Bread

The Lord now introduces a new feast. He takes bread and gives thanks for it.

How marvellous! With complete knowledge of what lay before Him this blessed, perfect man gives thanks to God for the bread; and passes it to His disciples to eat. He tells them that the bread is His body given for them. The bread, therefore, becomes a symbol of His body.

In many countries bread is an essential part of the diet. Bread is very important to the people of those countries. In Israel, where Jesus lived and carried out His unique ministry towards mankind; wheat was one of the main food crops. Ripe wheat was harvested and the grain was often stored for long periods of time without ill effect. The harvested wheat was ground into flour; which was then used to bake bread and cakes.

Bread is made from finely ground flour. Fine flour speaks to us of the perfect balance in the man Jesus. His spirit, soul and body working in perfect harmony. His thoughts, words and actions perfectly blended and tempered together. He never had to retract a word, or apologise for an action. There were no rough spots in His behaviour. His manhood was perfect.

Bread has to be baked before it can be eaten. It passes through intense heat. Fire is used in Scripture as a symbol of God’s judgement. The Lord Jesus passed through the fire