New Testament Class, Week 10, Student Choice Assignment

Choice 1: Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20. The Institution of the Sacrament

1. The Savior instituted the Sacrament the night before He was crucified, near the time of the Passover celebration. Many centuries earlier, the feast of the Passover had been instituted to help the children of Israel remember when the destroying angel “passed over” their houses and delivered them from Egyptian bondage (see Exodus 12:21-28; 13:14-15). The blood of the unblemished Passover lamb that saved ancient Israel was a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who redeemed all mankind. Review Matthew 26:26-29 and Luke 22:14-20. Then read the institute student manual introduction to chapter 23 (pg. 160) and the commentary for “What Is the Relationship Between the Sacrament and the Atonement?” (pgs. 161-62). Write responses to the following questions:
   • What was the relationship between the Passover and the Atonement of Jesus Christ? The Passover gave the Jews hope that the Lord would be merciful to them. The Atonement gives us hope that our sins will be washed away. The lamb was slain in the Passover to symbolize Christ as the lamb of God being slain for the sins of the world.
   • What is the relationship between the Sacrament and the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Each week as we partake of the Sacrament, we can repent of our sins and be cleansed. Through the Atonement, we can be cleaned from our sins and live with our Father in heaven again.
   • How does John 4:13-14; 6:48-53 add to an understanding of the symbolism of bread and water? The bread represents Christ's body and the water represents Christ's blood. Christ is the bread of life and the living water. We cannot be saved without Christ. As we partake of the bread and water each week, we symbolically take a part of Christ into us.
   • Considering the Savior’s instructions in Luke 22:19 and 3 Nephi 18:7, why do you think we are commanded to partake of the Sacrament weekly? How does Mosiah 5:13 apply to this idea? We partake of the sacrament as a testimony to the Father that we do remember Christ. We are commanded to partake of the Sacrament weekly so we constantly remember Christ. Mosiah 5:13 talks about not being able to serve a master who we do not know. If we do not constantly remember Christ, we cannot serve him.
2. Carefully look at the additions and corrections in the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 26:26, 28 (see Matthew 26:26 footnote b, and Matthew 26:28 footnote a). Write responses to the following questions and tasks:
   • What important truths do we gain from these verses of the Joseph Smith Translation? As we partake of the sacrament we need to remember that Christ's body was given as a ransom for us and our sins.
   • What does ransom mean? How does properly participating in the ordinance of the Sacrament ransom us? (See JST, Matthew 26:26) Christ, through his atonement, has done more for us than we will ever be able to do for him. There is nothing we can ever to to fully repay him for what he has done for us. By partaking of the sacrament weekly, it is a small gesture to Christ of our desire to repay him for what he has done for us. 
   • Make a list of what you want to remember about the Savior the next time you partake of the Sacrament. What his sacrifice means to me, what the bread and water fully represent, what sins I need to repent of, and what I need to do better at to be more like Christ.