TEXT: 1 Peter 2:9-10
If I were asked to come out one evening to speak to a group of people, do you know what one of the first things I would do would be? I would check with Heather.
When our children were living at home and they wanted to go out or stay out late or go out of town, what would they do? They would check with us, their parents. And even as young adults, if they are home, we all still communicate our plans with each other.
These commitments and connections are not just among family members; we also bear in mind our communities. Recently our new across-the-street neighbors were going to be out of town for a couple of days and they asked us to pick up several packages that they knew would be delivered to their front porch. We don’t know them well, but it was a simple neighborly act.
We are people of community and responsibility. Sometimes we don’t do that well, but it is true nonetheless, and it extends to the practice of our faith as well.
In the second half of our summer series we are looking at seven major themes of the New Testament. We have talked about FULFILLMENT, as Jesus embodies God’s promises and redemptive plan for humanity. We have talked about the KINGDOM of God, featured prominently in Jesus’ teaching and ministry. We have talked about the meaning of the CROSS, both as atoning sacrifice and call to follow Jesus. We have talked about GRACE, God’s gift of love, mercy, and reconciliation toward us in Christ. And this week we return to a theme that featured prominently in the Old Testament as well: COVENANT.
Covenant describes God’s actions toward and with fallen humanity to rescue, redeem, and restore us to God. We have looked at covenants with Abraham and David and today we will look at a “new covenant” made through Jesus. And as with many of the themes in the Old Testament, we will see that Jesus doesn’t do away with them, but explains and fulfills (and sometimes expands) them in himself.
Abraham
We’ve talked a lot this summer about God’s covenant with Abraham. In short, God initiated a relationship with Abraham, promising to bless him and his children, and through them bless humanity, the nations, and the world. Most of the Old Testament has something to do with that covenant. There are two parts to that second half that I want to highlight. First, God blessed Abraham and his children in order that they might bless others. We remember that simply as “blessed to be a blessing.” Faith and a relationship with God always overflow and turn outward toward others!
Secondly, that blessing was to extend broadly beyond Abraham and his immediate family. It was for the nations, for all humanity, for the world. And so we are reminded, even in the midst of the Psalms – the songs and prayers of Israel – of what we heard as the call to worship:
Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the peoples. (Psalm 105:1)
And as you may remember, prophets like Micah extended the mission of blessing beyond only making God’s deeds known; we are also to make God’s priorities known through actions like “doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God.”
Jesus
Enter Jesus… Jesus lifted up significant themes of the Old Testament like the Law, sacrifices, Kingdom, and the promises of Messiah, and claimed fulfillment of them in himself. In some cases he took the message of prophets like Isaiah, and explained their message in a new way: explaining that he was the “suffering servant” sent to make an atoning sacrifice through his own suffering and death.
And… he took the covenant with Abraham and declared a “new covenant” centered in his own body and blood. You may recognize that as part of the language around the Lord’s Supper, repeated from his own words at the Table the night before his death.
This [bread] is my body which is given for you…This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20)
Jesus saw his own wor
