“Then the king commanded all the people, saying, “Keep the Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” 22 Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. 23 But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the Lord in Jerusalem. 24 Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. 25 Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” 2 Kings 23:21-25 NKJV
God our Saviour,
A ritual that You called Your people to continue to practice. Passover. To remember when the blood of a lamb, slaughtered as You commanded, smeared on a house doorway, saved those in it from death. And the sacrifice and the way it was killed was important.
All those years later we can see mirrored in that ritual, the death of Jesus. The lamb who came to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). And Jesus called us to gather together as at passover and remember Him. His death – and His resurrection. I am not sure how long ago it exact was but I read somewhere it is over 1700 years from the first passover to Jesus. And over 2000 years since . . . An illustration to every generation to the saving power and protection of You Lord God.
But it is not the ritual that You want us to remember and faithfully keep but what it represents. A ritual – a structured, repetitive sequence of actions or words performed in a specific way. Passover was very strictly observed and still is by many. Communion has become structured in the church because some abused or misused it. But it is not the be all and end all.
It is not the ritual we look to worship or trust in Lord God. We partake to remember and have communion with You. Whether we come to the altar, pass the bread around or gather together in a home. You are the one we are meet with. The bread (real or wafer) and wine (cordial or non alcoholic) only has meaning because of You, our risen Lord. Keep it from becoming a ritual.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 30th June 2026
Its not the ritual that saves us, but the Savour it leads us to. Jesus knew we, like His people, need a regular reminder of the depth, height, width, length of His gift of life (Ephesians 3:17-18).
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my pardon this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my cleansing this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Chorus
This is all my hope and peace
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
This is all my righteousness
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Chorus
Lyrics: Robert Lowry