11/3/02

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 174

TITLE: THE FINAL PASSOVER, PART I

TEXT: MATTHEW 26:17-21a

INTRODUCTION: (1) THE JEWISH CALENDAR IN JESUS' DAY WAS FILLED WITH RELIGIOUS CELEBRATIONS, MANY OF THEM INVOLVING FEASTS OR FESTIVALS, ALL WITH SPECIFIC SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE AND REMINDERS.

* FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEAST OF PENTECOST, OR OF WEEKS, COMMEMORATED GOD'S PROVISION AT HARVEST TIME ACCORDING TO EXODUS 23:16.

** IT WAS THE FEAST WHICH THE JEWS WERE CELEBRATING IN JERUSALEM WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON BELIEVERS AND PETER DELIVERED HIS FIRST SERMON IN ACTS 2.

*** THEN THERE WAS THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES OR BOOTHS. AND THIS FEAST COMMEMORATED ISRAEL'S WANDERINGS IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS.

**** AND THEY WERE REMINDED DURING THIS FEAST OF WHEN THEY LIVED IN TEMPORARY DWELLINGS AND WERE DEPENDENT ON GOD'S DIRECT PROVISION FOR FOOD AND WATER.

(2) AND THIS FEAST IS TALKED ABOUT IN LEV. 23:33-43.

* THEN THERE WAS THE DAY OF ATONEMENT AND THIS DAY WAS THE HIGHEST HOLY DAY OF THE YEAR FOR THE JEWS, CULMINATING IN THE ONCE A YEAR SACRIFICE OFFERED FOR SINS IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES IN THE TEMPLE BY THE HIGH PRIEST.

** NOW ON THIS DAY, THE BLOOD OF THE SACRIFICE WAS SPRINKLED ON THE ALTAR, SYMBOLIZING GOD'S PROVISION OF ATONEMENT FOR THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE, TALKED ABOUT IN LEVITICUS 23:27-32.

*** NOW MOVING ON, ANOTHER FEAST WAS THE FEAST OF PURIM.

**** AND THIS FEAST CELEBRATED THE PROTECTION FROM SLAUGHTER OF THE JEWISH EXILES IN PERSIA THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF QUEEN ESTHER, TALKED ABOUT IN ESTHER 9:16-19.

(3) THEN THERE WAS THE FEAST OF DEDICATION, OR HANUKKAH, WHICH COMMEMORATED THE VICTORY OF JUDAS MACCABEUS OVER THE SYRIAN RULER ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES AND THE RESTORATION OF TEMPLE WORSHIP IN 164 B.C.

* NOW ALL OF THESE SPECIAL DAYS AND FEASTS WERE FILLED WITH MEANING AS HOLY REMINDERS OF GOD'S GREAT WORK AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.

** BUT OF ALL OF THESE FEASTS OR FESTIVALS, THE FEAST OF PASSOVER, CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, WAS THE CENTRAL FEAST OF THE JEWISH YEAR.

*** FOR THE PASSOVER, FOLLOWED BY THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, WAS INSTITUTED IN MEMORY OF ISRAEL'S PRESERVATION FROM THE LAST PLAGUE VISITED UPON EGYPT, WHICH WAS THE DEATH OF THEIR FIRSTBORN.

**** AND THROUGH THAT MIRACLE, ISRAEL WAS DELIVERED FROM SLAVERY FROM EGYPT. THEIR BONDAGE WAS ENDED AND THEY WERE FREED BY THE STRONG ARM OF THE LORD.

(4) AND IN OUR TEXT TODAY, WE WILL SEE JESUS CELEBRATING THIS FEAST WITH HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH WOULD BE THE FINAL PASSOVER BEFORE JESUS HIMSELF WOULD BECOME THE PASSOVER LAMB.

* AND THIS PASSOVER FEAST, THE PASSOVER SUPPER, THE LAST SUPPER, WILL BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER MEMORIAL SUPPER, THE LORD'S SUPPER, AS THE FINAL PERFECT SPOTLESS LAMB WILL DIE FOR PEOPLE HE WILL SAVE TO DELIVER THEM FROM SLAVERY FROM SIN, AS TRUE REDEMPTION WILL TAKE PLACE.

** IN LIGHT OF THAT, I'VE TITLED OUR MESSAGE TODAY, THE FINAL PASSOVER, PART I. AND TODAY AND LORD WILLING NEXT SUNDAY, WE WILL STUDY OVER THE FINAL PASSOVER THAT TURNS INTO THE LORD'S SUPPER AS WE LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:17-30.

*** AND TODAY WE'LL LOOK AT VV. 17-21A WHERE WE'LL SEE 3 THINGS: NO. 1 THE SETTING OF THIS PASSOVER CELEBRATION, V. 17; NO. 2 THE SECRECY OF WHEN THIS CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE, VV. 18&19; AND NO. 3 THE SUPPER ITSELF, VV. 20&21A.

**** AND WITHOUT FURTHER INTRODUCTION, I WANT TO BEGIN BY TALKING ABOUT THE SETTING OF THE PASSOVER, OUR FIRST POINT TODAY. LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:17 PLEASE.

I. THE SETTING, (READ V. 17)

A. NOW THE EVENT THAT IS TALKED ABOUT IN V. 17 IS "THE FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD".

* AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE PASSOVER FEAST AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WERE SO CLOSELY CONNECTED IN TIME AND IN PURPOSE THAT THESE TWO FEASTS WERE USED INTERCHANGEABLY TO DESIGNATE THE ENTIRE 8 DAY CELEBRATION.

** THE TWO FEASTS WERE ROLLED INTO ONE CELEBRATION WITH THE PASSOVER TECHNICALLY KICKING IT OFF FOR ONE DAY, AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD FOLLOWING FOR 7 MORE DAYS, IN TOTAL, AN 8 DAY CELEBRATION.

*** AND BOTH FEASTS COMMEMORATED THE DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPTIAN BONDAGE.

**** NOW SPECIFICALLY THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WAS NAMED AFTER THE TYPE OF BREAD THE ISRAELITES WERE TO TAKE WITH THEM AS THEY LEFT EGYPT IN HASTE.

1. ORDINARY BREAD OF THAT DAY, AS IN OUR OWN, USED LEAVEN OR YEAST TO MAKE IT RISE AND BECOME SOFT.

* YET LEAVEN OR YEAST COULD NOT BE USED IN BREAD THROUGHOUT THIS FEAST. FOR THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE LEAVEN IS USED TO REPRESENT INFLUENCE, USUALLY EVIL INFLUENCE, A PICTURE OF SIN.

** THEREFORE, AS A SYMBOL OF LEAVING BEHIND ALL EVIL INFLUENCES OF THEIR CRUEL AND PAGAN CAPTORS IN EGYPT, THE ISRAELITES WERE NOT TO TAKE WITH THEM ANY REMNANTS OF LEAVENED BREAD THEY HAD PREPARED IN EGYPT.

*** AND FROM THAT TIME ON, AS A PART OF THE MEMORIAL OF THAT FEAST EACH YEAR, THEY WERE TO REMOVE ALL LEAVEN FROM THEIR HOUSES AND EAT ONLY UNLEAVENED BREAD FOR 7 DAYS.

**** FOR EXODUS 12:14&15 SAYS: "NOW THIS DAY WILL BE A MEMORIAL TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL CELEBRATE IT AS A FEAST TO THE LORD; THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS YOU ARE TO CELEBRATE IT AS A PERMANENT ORDINANCE."

V. 15 - "SEVEN DAYS YOU SHALL EAT UNLEAVENED BREAD, BUT ON THE FIRST DAY YOU SHALL REMOVE LEAVEN FROM YOUR HOUSES; FOR WHOEVER EATS ANYTHING LEAVENED FROM THE FIRST DAY UNTIL THE SEVENTH DAYS, THAT PERSON SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM ISRAEL."

2. NOW YOU CAN SEE THIS FEAST WAS A MEMORIAL, A REMINDER, A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE OF GOD'S DELIVERANCE FROM EGYPT.

* NOW WITH THAT IN MIND AS WE GO BACK TO MATTHEW 26:17, YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT UNLEAVENED BREAD WAS ALL ABOUT.

** AND HERE IN V. 17, MATTHEW TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD. NOW REMEMBER THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION BEGAN THE DAY BEFORE THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD, ALTHOUGH TRADITIONALLY IT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE FIRST DAY OF THE COMBINED FESTIVAL.

*** FOR AGAIN THE TWO FEASTS WERE ROLLED INTO ONE IN THE JEWISH MIND.

**** NOW IF YOU RECALL FROM LAST WEEK'S STUDY, ON THE PASSOVER, A MULTITUDE OF LAMBS WERE KILLED IN ISRAEL AS A MEMORIAL OF THE LAMBS THAT WERE KILLED IN EGYPT.

3. FOR THE SACRIFICE OF A LAMB AND THE SPILLING OF IT'S BLOOD COMMEMORATED ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE FROM SLAVERY WHEN THE BLOOD OF A LAMB PAINTED OVER THEIR DOORPOSTS SAVED THEIR FIRSTBORN SONS FROM DEATH.

* AND THIS EVENT FORESHADOWED JESUS' WORK ON THE CROSS.

** NOW GET THIS, JOSEPHUS THE JEWISH HISTORIAN ACTUALLY MENTIONS THE NUMBER OF LAMBS SLAIN ON ONE OCCASION NEAR JESUS' DAY AS 256,500.

*** AND THOSE LAMBS HAD TO BE SLAUGHTERED WITHIN A TWO HOUR PERIOD, FROM 3 TO 5 P.M. ON THE PASSOVER.

**** NOW AS A RESULT OF THAT SHORT TIME WITH WHICH TO KILL SO MANY LAMBS, AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF BLOOD POURED FROM THE ALTAR SITE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

4. AND IT EVENTUALLY DRAINED INTO THE KIDRON VALLEY, JUST EAST OF THE TEMPLE, AND FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER PASSOVER MADE THAT BROOK RUN BRIGHT CRIMSON.

* THEREFORE, THE BROOK KIDRON BECAME STILL ANOTHER SYMBOL TO JEWS, REMINDING THEM OF THE NECESSITY OF THE SACRIFICIAL SHEDDING OF BLOOD FOR THE ATONING OF SIN.

** YET THE BLOOD OF ALL THOSE LAMBS TOGETHER COULD NOT CLEANSE A SINGLE SIN, JUST AS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS TO TAKE AWAY SINS, FOR AS HEBREWS 10:4 SAYS: (READ IT).

*** AND THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS AND THOUSANDS OF LAMBS WERE BUT PICTURES OF THE ONE PERFECT SACRIFICE THAT THE SON OF GOD HIMSELF WAS ABOUT TO MAKE ON CALVARY, AS THE SINLESS, UNBLEMISHED LAMB OF GOD, OFFERING ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR ALL TIME, READ HEBREWS 10:10, 12-14.

**** AND BELOVED, AS PAUL SAID IN I COR. 5:7B, "FOR CHRIST OUR PASSOVER ALSO HAS BEEN SACRIFICED."

5. NOW AS WE GO BACK TO MATTHEW 26:17, IN PREPARATION FOR THE PASSOVER, IT WAS PROBABLY ON THURSDAY MORNING THAT THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS SAYING, "WHEN DO YOU WANT US TO PREPARE FOR YOU TO EAT THE PASSOVER?"

* THEY KNEW THAT JESUS WOULD WANT TO CELEBRATE THE PASSOVER WITH THEM, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF PREPARATIONS FOR IT THAT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE PLACE DURING THE DAY.

** AND ALONG WITH BUYING HERBS, FRUITS, NUTS, UNLEAVENED BREAD AND WINE, AND HAVING A LAMB SLAUGHTERED AT THE TEMPLE BETWEEN 3-5 AND THEN ROASTING IT AFTERWARDS, ONE OTHER MAIN PREPARATION WAS WHERE TO OBSERVE, THEY WOULD NEED A PLACE LARGE ENOUGH FOR 13 PEOPLE, JESUS AND THE 12.

*** AND THE PASSOVER WAS TO BE CELEBRATED IN JERUSALEM PROPER. SO THEY NEEDED A ROOM, A PLACE IN JERUSALEM.

**** AND MOST LIKELY THE INSTRUCTION JESUS GAVE TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD OBSERVE THE PASSOVER HAD TO BE PERPLEXING, FOR IT WAS SHROUDED IN A SENSE WITH SOME SECRECY.

- LOOK AT V. 18 PLEASE WHERE WE'LL SEE OUR 2'D POINT TODAY, THE SECRECY.

II. THE SECRECY, (READ V. 18)

A. NOW THIS IS PRETTY GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS BY JESUS, FOR FIRST OF ALL THEY WERE TO GO INTO THE CITY SPEAKING OF JERUSALEM AND FIND A CERTAIN MAN, OBVIOUSLY SOMEONE THEY DID NOT KNOW.

* AND THE OTHER TWO PARALLEL COMPANION TEXTS IN MARK 14:10-16 AND LUKE 22:3-13 TO MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT GIVE US SOME MORE DETAILS.

** NO. 1 PETER AND JOHN WERE ASSIGNED TO PREPARE FOR THE PASSOVER AND THEY ASK THE QUESTION IN RESPONSE TO CHRIST'S INSTRUCTION, "WHERE DO YOU WANT US TO PREPARE IT".

*** SO PETER AND JOHN ARE IDENTIFIED AS THE DISCIPLES GIVEN THE INSTRUCTION TO PREPARE FOR THE PASSOVER.

**** AND THEY ARE TOLD THAT THE MAN THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR WOULD BE CARRYING A PITCHER OF WATER, ACCORDING TO MARK 14:13 AND LUKE 22:10.

1. NOW THAT INSTRUCTION WOULD HAVE SET THIS MAN APART IN A CLEAR WAY FOR IDENTIFICATION, BECAUSE IT WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A MAN IN THAT DAY TO CARRY SUCH A DOMESTIC ARTICLE. THE CUSTOM OF THAT DAY WAS THAT A WOMAN WOULD BE DOING THAT.

* NOW THE MAN CARRYING THE WATER PITCHER WAS PROBABLY A SERVANT IN THE HOUSE WHERE THE PASSOVER MEAL WAS TO BE EATEN.

** THEREFORE, WHEN PETER AND JOHN FOLLOWED THE SERVANT HOME, THEY REPEATED JESUS' WORDS RECORDED FOR US IN V. 18 TO THE OWNER, WHO THEN SHOWED THEM "A LARGE UPPER ROOM FURNISHED AND READY" ACCORDING TO MARK 14:14&15.

*** NOW WHETHER JESUS MADE THIS ARRANGEMENT WITH THIS OWNER AHEAD OF TIME OR THIS WAS SUPERNATURALLY WORKED OUT, WE DO NOT KNOW, FOR IT DOES NOT SAY, BUT WE SEE THAT EVERYTHING IS READY.

**** AND MOST LIKELY THIS MAN WAS A BELIEVER, FOR JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF AS THE TEACHER OR THE MASTER AND THIS PERSON OBVIOUSLY KNOWS WHO PETER AND JOHN WERE TALKING ABOUT.

***** NOW THE QUESTIONS COMES UP AT THIS POINT, WHY IS EVERYTHING SO GENERAL HERE, WHY THE SECRECY, WHY WILL ONLY TWO OF THE DISCIPLES KNOW WHERE THIS UPPER ROOM WILL BE AT?

2. WELL, A SECRET MEETING PLACE WAS NECESSARY TO PREVENT JESUS' PREMATURE BETRAYAL BY JUDAS.

* FOR REMEMBER FROM OUR STUDY LAST WEEK THAT AFTER JUDAS WENT TO THE HIGH PRIEST AND SOLD OUT THE LORD FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER, FROM THAT TIME ON, JUDAS BEGAN LOOKING FOR A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO BETRAY JESUS.

** AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE A PRIVATE PLACE, NOT A PUBLIC PLACE, FOR THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT A RIOT.

*** SO HAD THE LORD ANNOUNCED TO ALL THE DISCIPLES THE LOCATION OF THIS UPPER ROOM, JUDAS MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE TOLD THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS AND JESUS WOULD HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AT THAT TIME.

**** BUT IN THE PLAN OF GOD IT WAS NECESSARY FOR JESUS TO KEEP THE PASSOVER WITH HIS DISCIPLES.

3. IN FACT IT WOULD BE HIS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH THEM BEFORE HIS DEATH, AND HIS TEACHING TO THEM IS FOUND IN JOHN CHAPTER 13-17 WHICH IS CALLED THE UPPER ROOM DISCOURSE.

* AND IT IS A RICH, RICH PORTION OF SCRIPTURE AND EVEN HERE IN MATTHEW 26, WE WILL SEE SOME RICH TRUTH THAT DURING THIS TIME JESUS WILL TRANSFORM THE PASSOVER SUPPER OF THE OLD COVENANT MARKED BY THE SHEDDING OF LAMB'S BLOOD, INTO THE LORD'S SUPPER OF THE NEW COVENANT, WHICH WOULD BE MARKED BY THE SHEDDING OF HIS OWN BLOOD.

** AND ALL THIS WAS NECESSARY TO HAPPEN BEFORE CHRIST'S BETRAYAL. SO JESUS MAKES THE STATEMENTS, "MY TIME IS AT HAND" IN V. 18 AND "I AM TO KEEP THE PASSOVER".

*** AND BOTH OF THESE STATEMENTS IN MY MIND MAKE REFERENCE TO OUR LORD'S BEING ON A DIVINE MISSION SET IN A DIVINE TIMETABLE, BOTH OF WHICH WERE UNALTERABLE.

**** FOR JESUS NOT ONLY WAS ORDAINED TO CELEBRATE THE LAST PASSOVER HIMSELF, BUT TO CELEBRATE IT WITH HIS DISCIPLES.

4. AND THIS PARTICULAR PASSOVER WAS FIXED AND ORDAINED IN THE SOVEREIGN PLAN OF GOD, AND THIS LAST PASSOVER SUPPER WOULD SET IN MOTION THE FINAL IRREVERSIBLE COUNTDOWN AS IT WERE FOR CRUCIFIXION.

* AND RATHER THAN JESUS BEING A VICTIM OF BAD CIRCUMSTANCES, HE WAS THE VICTOR FULFILLING THE PLAN AND DOING THE WILL OF HIS FATHER.

** AND JUDAS COULD ONLY BETRAY JESUS AT THE PROPER TIME WHEN THE SCRIPTURES WOULD BE FULFILLED. AND JESUS KNOWING THAT PLAN HANDLED THE PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD MEET WITH SOME SECRECY.

*** NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 19 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 19. NOW PETER AND JOHN DID WHAT THE LORD TOLD THEM TO DO. AND SURPRISINGLY THERE IS NO ARGUMENT FROM PETER, THERE IS OBEDIENCE, AND PETER AND JOHN MAKE THE PROPER PREPARATIONS FOR THE PASSOVER.

* THEY GO INTO JERUSALEM, FIND THE UPPER ROOM, AND TAKE CARE OF THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS AND PURCHASES FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER SUPPER.

** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE SUPPER. LOOK AT V. 20 PLEASE.

III. THE SUPPER, (READ V. 20)

A. NOW MATTHEW IN V. 20 TAKES US TO THE EVENING OF THE DAY WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SO FAR.

* SO IT WAS SOMETIME AFTER 6 O'CLOCK ON THURSDAY EVENING.

** AND ALTHOUGH THE ORIGINAL PASSOVER MEAL IN EGYPT WAS EATEN IN HASTE WHILE STANDING, WITH LOINS GIRDED, SANDALS ON THE FEET, AND STAFF IN HAND IN EXODUS 12:11, THE CEREMONY HAD CHANGED THROUGH THE YEARS AND HAD BECOME LEISURELY.

*** THEREFORE, RATHER THAN STANDING, JESUS WAS RECLINING AT THE TABLE WITH THE 12 DISCIPLES.

**** AND WHEN YOU NORMALLY SEE PICTURES OF THE LAST SUPPER JESUS IS SITTING IN A CHAIR NOT RECLINING, AS YOU SEE IN THIS PICTURE.

1. BUT IN REALITY JESUS WAS RECLINING ON A COUCH TYPE PIECE OF FURNITURE, WITH THE 12 DISCIPLES. NOW LOOK AT 21A PLEASE.

B. READ V. 21A. NOW THE EATING OF THE PASSOVER SUPPER INVOLVED A STRICTLY DEFINED SEQUENCE, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW OF, AND THEN CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF APPLICATIONS.

* AND FIRST, THE INITIAL CUP OF RED WINE MIXED WITH WATER WAS SERVED. AND WINE WAS ALWAYS MIXED WITH WATER BEFORE DRINKING, BUT DURING PASSOVER IT WAS DILUTED WITH A DOUBLE AMOUNT OF WATER, LEST ANYONE SHOULD DESECRATE THE MOST SACRED OCCASION BY THE SIN OF DRUNKENNESS.

** AND PARTAKING OF THE FIRST CUP WAS PRECEDED BY THE GIVING OF THANKS TO GOD, LUKE 22:17.

*** SECOND, THE CEREMONIAL WASHING OF HANDS PRECEDED THE MAIN PART OF THE MEAL, SIGNIFYING THE NEED FOR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CLEANSING AND HOLINESS OF HEART.

**** FOR YOU SEE, BECAUSE THEY WERE CELEBRATING GOD'S DELIVERANCE FROM SPIRITUAL BONDAGE TO SIN AS THEY REMEMBERED HIS DELIVERANCE FROM PHYSICAL BONDAGE TO EGYPT, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE COME TO THE TABLE CLEANSED.

2. AND LET ME ADD AT THIS POINT, IT WAS NEAR THIS TIME THAT THE DISCIPLES STARTED A DISPUTE AMONG THEMSELVES AS "TO WHICH ONE OF THEM WAS REGARDED TO BE GREATEST" ACCORDING TO LUKE 22:24.

* CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT? FRANKLY I CAN KNOWING THE POWER OF THE FLESH. WELL, AFTER CLEANSING THEIR HANDS, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THEIR HEARTS WERE STILL PROUD, SELF SERVING AND AMBITIOUS AS EVER.

** AND IT MAY HAVE BEEN AT THIS TIME THAT JESUS "ROSE FROM SUPPER AND LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS: AND TAKING A TOWEL…BEGAN TO WASH THE DISCIPLES FEET" IN JOHN 13:4&5.

*** THE SOVEREIGN BECAME A SERVANT, THE DISCIPLES HAD PROUD HEARTS AND DIRTY FEET, BUT IN THEIR PRIDE THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO STOOP LOW AND WASH EACH OTHER'S FEET. BUT JESUS THEIR CREATOR DID.

**** I MEAN THINK OF IT, GOD WASHED THE FEET OF HIS CREATION. WOW!!

3. NOW MOVING ON, THE THIRD PART OF THE PASSOVER MEAL WAS THE EATING OF BITTER HERBS, SYMBOLIC OF THE BITTER BONDAGE THEIR FOREFATHERS HAD ENDURED IN EGYPT.

* AND THEN THE FOURTH PART OF THE MEAL WAS THE TAKING OF THE SECOND CUP OF WINE. AND AT THIS POINT, THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD TOOK THAT 2'D CUP, HE WOULD EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE PASSOVER, PROMPTED IN A FAMILY GATHERING BY THE YOUNGEST SON AT SOME POINT ASKING WHY THIS NIGHT WAS DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHERS.

** AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT WOULD BE SINGING FROM THE HALLEL, WHICH MEANS "PRAISE" AND IS THE TERM FROM WHICH HALLELUJAH IS DERIVED.

*** AND THE HALLEL OF PSALM 113-118, AND AT THIS POINT THE FIRST TWO WERE NORMALLY SONGS, PSALMS 113&114.

**** NOW AFTER THE SINGING, THE ROASTED LAMB WOULD BE BROUGHT OUT. THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD WOULD AGAIN WASH HIS HANDS AND THEN BREAK PIECES OF THE UNLEAVENED BREAD AND HAND THEM OUT TO BE EATEN WITH THE LAMB.

4. THEN AT THE END OF THE MEAL, THE FATHER WOULD BLESS A THIRD CUP OF WINE, WHICH WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY SINGING THE SECOND PART OF THE HALLEL FROM PSALMS 115-118.

* AND THEN A FOURTH CUP OF WINE WOULD CONCLUDE THE MEAL.

AND IN CLOSING: (1) LET ME SAY THAT THIS MEAL WAS ORGANIZED AROUND DRINKING FOUR DILUTED CUPS OF RED WINE, SYMBOLIZING THE FOUR PART PROMISE OF REDEMPTION FOUND IN EXODUS 6:6&7. (1) "I WILL BRING YOU OUT" (2) "I WILL RESCUE YOU FROM THEIR BONDAGE" (3) "I WILL REDEEM YOU" AND (4) "I WILL TAKE YOU AS MY PEOPLE AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD".

* NOW THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. AND WHAT A TIME OF REMEMBRANCE IT WAS.

** AND IN APPLICATION, REMEMBERING THINGS IS A VITAL PART OF THE VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN WALK.

*** IN FACT, THE WORD REMEMBER IS USED 167 TIMES IN MY BIBLE THE N.A.S.

**** AND IT SAYS IN DEUT. 6:12 (READ IT).

(2) AND WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, OUR GREAT GOD INSTITUTED ALL THESE ELABORATE FEASTS AND FESTIVALS IN THE O.T. TO REMIND HIS PEOPLE OF HIS GREAT WORK AND TO REMIND THEM OF HIS DELIVERANCE.

* AND WE ARE TOLD TO REMEMBER A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE N.T. WHICH I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO ELABORATE ON TODAY.

** BUT ONE REMINDER THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN GREATER DETAIL NEXT SUNDAY, IS THE REMINDER OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND HIS COMING THAT IS GIVEN TO US IN THE LORD'S SUPPER, WHICH HE WILL INSTITUTE IN MATTHEW 26:26-29.

*** AND THAT FORGET ME NOT FEAST OF THE SOUL IS A HOLY REMINDER OF THE COST OF OUR REDEMPTION AND OUR FREEDOM FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN.

**** AND THAT TELLS ME, BELIEVER, THAT CHRIST'S DEATH ON OUR BEHALF SHOULD BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF OUR MINDS OFTEN, LET ME SAY DAILY.

(3) AND THAT HE IS COMING BACK ALSO. AND THOSE TWO REMINDERS SHOULD BE A HOLY CALL TO GET THE LEAVEN OF SIN OUT OF OUR LIVES AND LIVE LIVES DEDICATED TO LOVING AND SERVING HIM FIRST.

* I CLOSE WITH I COR. 11:26-28, HEBREWS 12:1-3.