It was all symbolical; there was nothing sacerdotal or actually sacrificial about their actions as they sat at that table of love in communion with their Lord. Matthew was a Levite, but he gave no attendance upon priests fulfilling their duties at an altar that day; with his companions he was elected to become a priest of the New Covenant and his great High Priest was installing him with them into office. There was no doubt that by these things the Lord was introducing to them all a wholly new concept of priesthood. 'Do this', He said, 'in remembrance of Me, and broke the bread and gave it to them.
What He did was an example and exposition of voluntary self-breaking for the purposes of self-giving with a view to total self-distribution. The supreme sacrifice so soon to be offered was at that moment being tendered to them as their example. Presently they were to see Him give Himself up to those who should finally put Him to death; He even restrained Peter from fighting to prevent it. There was to be no resistance; He gave Himself. Treacherous betrayal, cowardly denial, brutal savagery, mock trial, false condemnation, cruel crucifixion and cold death must be suffered with dignity and take their toll, but none of these would find Him a reluctant slave forced to do things against His will. Whatever He felt about it in Himself, His act was love. He, the High Priest, did this, therefore all the priests must do the same. They could not make the reconciling sacrifice, but cannot live except they make the spiritual one.
Only once need the redeeming sacrifice be made; Jesus Himself only did it once. It was the final act in the end of the age of atonement by bloodshed for sin. Unlike men of old, or of His own generation, He never made the actual bodily sacrifice daily or even yearly, but once and eternally. Yet according to the plan of the ages He instituted the communion on the anniversary of the day when the feast which most nearly corresponded to it was originally established in Israel. No other day but this would have served the purposes of God — He always does everything with absolute correctness in age-abiding affinity with truth.
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G.W. North (1913 - 2003)
G. W. North was born in London England in 1913. As a young man he became aware that the Lord was calling him into the work of the ministry. At timely stages the Lord placed folk in his path who were able to direct him into the truth of heart purity and a more expansive understanding of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He held pastorates in Kent and Bradford. By the late 1960s, following a significant period of ministry in Liverpool, he began a more itinerant ministry. This led him to many parts of the world, and occupied him until well into his eighties. His powerful preaching and the unique sense of the Lord's presence, which seemed to brood over his meetings, were always intensely challenging.The true secret of his remarkable ministry stemmed from his personal communion with the Lord Jesus. To him, 'entering the holiest' was not merely a theological concept; it was a distinct spiritual reality - and the central feature of his spiritual life. It was here, in the place of worship, that his revelatory ministry found its source. He preached from understanding and conviction. He was never the echo of another, nor did he take on board the ebb and flow of various contemporary emphases. He was not a man of 'books'; he soaked himself in Scripture and allowed it to saturate his heart and mind. Truly, this is a man who has lifted up a standard for the people. Mr North went to be with the Lord on 29th April 2003, shortly after his ninetieth birthday.