Rosemary Kemp from Seaford Baptist Church was our returning speaker this week.

Rosemary led our service which was entitled ‘Bread and Wine’ and thoughtfully played three songs for us to sing and enjoy which linked in with her theme – namely:

  • Before the throne of God above which recounts how Jesus, the risen Lamb is our perfect, spotless righteousness who made an end to all of our sin.
  • You’re the Word of God the Father which tells how with a shout Jesus rose victorious, wrestling victory from the grave.
  • Light of the World where we reflect how much it cost to see our sin upon the cross.

Rosemary’s readings were taken from:

  • John 6 v 63
  • John 6 v 53-58
  • 1 Corinthians 5 v 6-8
  • 1 Corinthians 11 v 27-28

Rosemary who is proud to be Jewish showed us the link between the Jewish traditions of the celebrated meal at Passover and the Christian tradition of Communion.

Passover is an important feast day when Jews remember deliverance out of slavery in Egypt.  The angel of death (the tenth plague) passed over the blood daubed on the door frames and lintels so that the first-born of the Israelites were spared but the first-born of the Egyptians who had not done so were not! Rosemary linked this to the Last Supper which Jesus commanded His disciples to do in remembrance of Him. This was a new covenant.  His body was broken and His blood was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Rosemary explained that some traditions believe that the bread and wine actually turn into the body and blood of Jesus but this is not something the early Jewish Christians would have believed. Rosemary said that Jesus is speaking metaphorically and we should not take this literally. When Jesus talks about bread and wine He is referring to His Word and His Spirit. His Word brings life and so does His Spirit. In Communion we commune with God and we need to examine ourselves before we eat and drink and to not take this precious meal lightly.

Rosemary helpfully brought along some food items to illustrate her message. The most striking were the Matzos crackers representing unleavened bread – they are a) striped which reminds us that by His stripes we are healed; b) They have holes in them which reminds us that Jesus was pierced for our sins; and c) when Rosemary broke them to share out, it reminds us that His body was broken.

Sadly most Jewish people do not recognise Jesus as the Messiah – they are still waiting for Him to come.