11/10/02

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

MATTHEW: THE KING HAS COME, WEEK 175

TITLE: THE FINAL PASSOVER, PART II

TEXT: MATTHEW 26:21b-30

INTRODUCTION: (1) PASSOVER WAS THE OLDEST OF JEWISH FESTIVALS OR FEASTS, OLDER EVEN THAN THE COVENANT WITH MOSES AT SINAI.

* IN FACT, THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION IN ISRAEL WAS ESTABLISHED BEFORE THE PRIESTHOOD, THE TABERNACLE OR THE LAW.

** IT WAS ORDAINED BY GOD WHILE ISRAEL WAS STILL ENSLAVED IN EGYPT, AND IT HAD BEEN CELEBRATED BY HIS PEOPLE FOR SOME 1500 YEARS UP TO CHRIST'S TIME ON EARTH.

*** BUT IN OUR TEXT TODAY, ALL OF THAT WILL COME TO AN END, THE PASSOVER WILL BE PHASED OUT FOR A NEW MEMORIAL.

**** FOR IN MATTHEW 26:21-29, CHRIST WILL END THE PASSOVER AND INSTITUTE A NEW MEMORIAL TO HIMSELF.

(2) AND THIS MEMORIAL WOULD NOT LOOK BACK TO A LAMB IN EGYPT AS THE SYMBOL OF GOD'S REDEEMING LOVE AND POWER AS THE PASSOVER DID.

* BUT LOOK TO THE VERY LAMB OF GOD, WHO, BY THE SACRIFICIAL SHEDDING OF HIS OWN BLOOD, WOULD TAKE AWAY THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE.

** JESUS WILL TRANSFORM THE PASSOVER OF THE OLD COVENANT INTO THE LORD'S SUPPER OF THE NEW COVENANT.

*** HE WILL FULFILL THE OLD, AND INSTITUTE THE NEW AS WE MOVE FROM THE SHADOW OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CEREMONY TO THE SUBSTANCE, THE REALITY OF HIS MEMORIAL SUPPER, REMINDING HIS PEOPLE OF HIS SACRIFICIAL DEATH, THAT PURCHASED DELIVERANCE FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN, NOT SLAVERY FROM EGYPT.

**** SO IN MATTHEW 26, AT THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER MEAL JESUS BOTH TERMINATED THE OLD AND INAUGURATED THE NEW.

(3) SO WE SEE THE LAST PASSOVER IN MATTHEW 26:21-29, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY, "THE LAST PASSOVER, PART II" AS WE CONTINUE THIS STUDY FROM LAST SUNDAY.

* YET UNDERSTAND, WHILE JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES ARE CELEBRATING THE LAST PASSOVER MEAL, JESUS PREDICTS HIS BETRAYAL BY JUDAS ISCARIOT BEFORE HE ACTUALLY INSTITUTES THE NEW MEMORIAL OF HIS SUPPER.

** AND THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT BETRAYAL WILL IN THE PLAN OF GOD, BRING ABOUT CHRIST'S PURPOSE IN COMING TO PLANET EARTH, TO DIE.

*** FOR HE WAS BORN TO DIE. AND FOR HIS NEW MEMORIAL SUPPER TO MEAN ANYTHING, HE WILL HAVE TO BE THE PASSOVER LAMB THAT SHEDS HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN FOR THOSE HE WILL SAVE.

**** NOW TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS FINAL PASSOVER WE'LL LOOK AT TWO THINGS IN OUR STUDY TODAY. NO. 1 THE BETRAYAL PREDICTED BY JESUS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT, V. 21B - V. 25; AND NO. 2 THE BEGINNING OF THIS NEW MEMORIAL SUPPER, VV. 26-30.

(4) SO WE'LL LOOK AT THE BETRAYAL AND THE BEGINNING UNDER THE TITLE, THE FINAL PASSOVER.

* AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 21 WHERE WE'LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT TODAY, THE BETRAYAL. LOOK AT MATTHEW 26:21 PLEASE.

I. THE BETRAYAL, (READ V. 21)

A. NOW AS JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES WERE EATING THE PASSOVER SUPPER, HE REVEALS THAT ONE OF THE 12 IS GOING TO BETRAY HIM.

* AND THIS HAD TO BE A BOMBSHELL ANNOUNCEMENT, FOR YES ON FOUR OCCASIONS JESUS ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE MENTIONED HIS BETRAYAL.

** AND TO HEAR THAT ONE OF THE 12 WAS GOING TO BETRAY HIM HAD TO BE SHOCKING, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS SACRED TIME OF CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER.

*** NOW THE WORD BETRAY LIT. MEANS TO GIVE OVER AND WAS OFTEN USED OF DELIVERING A PRISONER OVER TO PRISON OR PUNISHMENT.

**** WELL, JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS ABOUT TO DELIVER JESUS OVER TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF ISRAEL. JUDAS WAS LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TIME AS HE HAD ALREADY BEEN PAID 30 PIECES OF SILVER TO CARRY OUT THE JOB. 1. BUT THE AUDACITY AND HARDHEARTEDNESS OF JUDAS IS INCREDIBLE AT THIS TIME.

* FOR UNDERSTAND IN THAT DAY, THE EATING OF A MEAL WITH SOMEONE WAS CONSIDERED A MARK OF FRIENDSHIP, AND THEREFORE TO EAT WITH A PERSON JUST BEFORE BETRAYING HIM WOULD BE TO COMPOUND THE TREACHERY, IT WAS UNCONSCIONABLE, A TERRIBLE ACT OF DECEIT.

** BUT JUDAS WILL PLAY THAT GAME, BUT I AM SURE THAT HE THOUGHT THAT HIS PLAN TO BETRAY CHRIST BEFORE THIS TIME WAS A SECRET, ALTHOUGH HIS IDENTITY AS THE BETRAYER HAS NOT BEEN REVEALED.

*** FOR THE 11 OTHER DISCIPLES WILL ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN V. 22. LOOK AT V. 22 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 22. NOW BEING WELL AWARE OF JESUS' MANY ENEMIES, THE DISCIPLES WERE HARDLY SURPRISED THAT HE WOULD BE BETRAYED.

* BUT IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THAT THE BETRAYER WOULD BE ONE OF THEIR OWN GROUP.

** SO UNDERSTANDABLY, 11 OF THEM WERE DEEPLY GRIEVED. THERE WAS SORROW, HEAVINESS AND SADNESS AS A RESULT OF HEARING THIS.

*** AND THIS LEADS THE 11 TO ASK A QUESTION, "SURELY NOT I, LORD?" OR "LORD, IS IT I?"

**** AND I SAY THE 11 ASK THE QUESTION, FOR JUDAS ASKS HIS QUESTION IN V. 25 AS A PART OF HIS COVER-UP, FOR THERE IS NO GRIEF IN HIS HEART.

1. BUT THE 11 ASK WITH BROKEN HEARTS. AND THEIR QUESTION IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE IMPLIES A NEGATIVE NO ANSWER.

* THE GREEK FORM OF THE QUESTION COULD BE RENDERED "IT IS NOT I, IS IT?" AGAIN IMPLYING A NEGATIVE ANSWER. "SURELY I AM NOT THE ONE?"

** AND THE QUESTION COMES UP AT THIS POINT, WHY WOULD THE 11 KNOWING THEIR OWN INNOCENCE EVEN ASK THIS QUESTION?

*** WELL, MOST LIKELY THEY WERE BROUGHT FACE TO FACE WITH THE SINFULNESS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS.

**** PROBABLY HERE FOR A MOMENT, THEY WERE WONDERING, HAVE I SAID SOMETHING OR WILL I DO SOMETHING THAT WILL LEAD TO THE LORD'S BETRAYAL?

2. I MEAN ON ONE HAND, SURELY NOT I, LORD? EXPECTING A NEGATIVE ANSWER, LORD CERTAINLY IT COULD NOT BE ME.

* BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, KNOWING THEIR OWN FAILURE UP TO THIS POINT AND THEIR LACK OF FAITH AT TIMES, BRINGS SOME DOUBT.

** FOR IN MANY OF OUR LIVES, WE CAN LOOK BACK ON THINGS WE HAVE DONE, WHICH AT A PREVIOUS TIME WE THOUGHT WE WOULD NEVER DO.

*** WHICH REMINDS US OF JEREMIAH 17:9 (READ IT). ALSO READ I CORINTHIANS 10:12, PROVERBS 16:18, PROVERBS 28:26.

**** AND BELOVED THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, DON'T GET PUFFED UP AND SAY, "I NEVER WILL DO THAT", SAY "BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I WILL NEVER DO THAT."

- I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF, BUT ONLY IN THE LORD. I DON'T TRUST MYSELF AND YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, RAY, YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM. WELL, MY CONFIDENCE IS IN THE LORD AND I CAN DO ALL THINGS HE WANTS ME TO DO BY HIS GRACE, PHIL. 4:13, PROVERBS 3:26, ROMANS 7:18.

3. AND THE DISCIPLES ASK THIS QUESTIONS IN V. 22 WITH A NEGATIVE RESPONSE IMPLIED, BUT WITH SOME UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT KNOWING THE FLESH.

* NOW IN V. 23, JESUS GIVES AN ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION. LOOK AT V. 23 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 23. NOW JESUS GIVES THEM AN ANSWER IN V. 23, BUT I'M SURE IT WAS NOT THE ONE THEY WANTED TO HEAR.

* FOR CHRIST'S RESPONSE DID NOTHING TO ALLEVIATE THEIR ANXIETY. IN FACT IT RE-EMPHASIZED THAT THE BETRAYAL WAS ONE OF THEM.

** YOU SAY RAY, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

*** WELL, BECAUSE EVERYONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE DIPPED HIS HAND IN THE BOWL, SO THE DISCIPLES HAD NO BETTER IDEA OF THE BETRAYER'S IDENTITY THAN BEFORE. **** FOR YOU SEE DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION THERE WOULD BE A BOWL FILLED WITH A BROTH OR A SAUCE MADE WITH NUTS, RAISINS, DATES AND FIGS INTO WHICH PIECES OF BREAD WERE DIPPED.

1. AND NORMALLY EVERYONE WOULD HAVE DIPPED FROM THAT BOWL, SO THAT WOULDN'T IDENTIFY THE BETRAYER.

* BUT WHAT IT DID WAS COMMUNICATE THE HEINOUSNESS OF WHAT WAS ABOUT TO BE DONE.

** FOR IN THAT DAY, TO DINE WITH SOMEONE SHOWED FRIENDSHIP, IT SHOWED COMPASSION FOR THE ONES THAT WERE BEING FED AS AN ACT OF HOSPITALITY.

*** AND CHRIST'S POINT BY THE EXPRESSION "HE THAT DIPPED HIS HAND WITH ME IN THE BOWL" SHOWS THAT THE ONE DOING THIS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A FRIEND.

**** HIS BETRAYER WAS A FRIEND, SOMEONE CLOSE, SOMEONE SHARING THE COMMON DISH. AND CHRIST'S WORDS SHOWED THE TREACHERY OF THE BETRAYAL, FOR TO EAT WITH A FRIEND AND THEN TURN AROUND AND BETRAY HIM WAS TREACHERY AT IT'S WORST.

2. ACCEPTING ONE'S HOSPITALITY, AND THEN HURTING THEM, WAS CONSIDERED REPREHENSIBLE. * WHICH REMINDS US OF WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID IN PSALM 41:9 - "EVEN MY CLOSE FRIEND, IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHO ATE MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME."

** AND THIS VERSE TIES INTO WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 13:18, WHERE JESUS SAID, "I DO NOT SPEAK OF ALL OF YOU. I KNOW THE ONES I HAVE CHOSEN; BUT IT IS THAT THE SCRIPTURE MAY BE FULFILLED, HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME."

*** NOW AS YOU PUT THOSE TWO VERSES TOGETHER, JESUS IN JOHN 13:18 IS QUOTING FROM PSALM 41:9 AND IS MAKING AN APPLICATION TO JUDAS AS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL.

**** ONE WHO COULD SIT AND DINE WITH JESUS AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT BETRAY HIM.

3. NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 24 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 24. NOW IN V. 24, JESUS WILL PUT THIS BETRAYAL BY ONE OF HIS OWN IN IT'S DIVINE PERSPECTIVE BY ASSURING THE DISCIPLES THAT THIS HEINOUS ACT WOULD WORK TO THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD'S SOVEREIGN PLAN.

* FOR YOU SEE, JESUS DID NOT FALL INTO JUDAS' TRAP, BUT RATHER JUDAS, BY HIS WICKED REJECTION OF CHRIST, BECAME AN INSTRUMENT IN GOD'S PLAN.

** GOD WOULD USE EVEN THAT TERRIBLE SCHEME OF JUDAS TO BRING GLORY TO HIMSELF. FOR YOU SEE THAT JESUS WOULD HAVE TO DIE FOR SINNERS WAS NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT WITH GOD.

*** FOR ACTS 2:23 SAYS: THAT JESUS CHRIST WAS "DELIVERED UP BY THE PREDETERMINED PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD."

**** SO JUDAS ISCARIOT'S MALICIOUS DECISION TO REJECT AND BETRAY CHRIST WAS USED BY GOD IN FULFILLING CHRIST'S GRACIOUS MISSION OF REDEMPTION.

1. JOHN MACARTHUR IN HIS COMMENTARY IN MATTHEW SAID AT THIS POINT, "AN UNHOLY MAN IN THE HANDS OF A HOLY GOD WAS USED TO ACCOMPLISH A HOLY PURPOSE." (END QUOTE)

* AND JOHN'S POINT IS MAN'S WRATH GLORIFIES GOD. JUDAS FREELY REJECTED CHRIST AND FULFILLED HIS OWN DESIRE THROUGH HIS DEPRAVITY TO BETRAY CHRIST. GOD DID NOT MAKE HIM SIN, JUDAS DID WHAT HE WANTED TO.

** AND WHAT GOD SOVEREIGNLY DECREES IN ETERNITY, MAN WILL ALWAYS DEMAND IN TIME.

*** AS JAMES REISINGER SAYS IN HIS LITTLE BOOKLET TITLED "THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD IN PROVIDENCE", "MAN'S "FREE WILL" WILL ALWAYS FREELY CHOOSE THE VERY THING THAT GOD HAS SOVEREIGNLY ORDAINED AND GOD'S PURPOSE WILL BE FULFILLED; JUST AS SURELY MAN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS EVERY ACT OF SIN." (END QUOTE)

**** AND BELOVED THAT'S HOW GREAT OUR HOLY GOD IS. FOR MAN FREELY SINS AND WILL ALWAYS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HE DOES.

2. AND JUDAS IS HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACT, JUDAS IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN MAKING EVIL GOOD.

* FOR GOD SOVEREIGNLY TURNING EVIL TO HIS OWN RIGHTEOUS PURPOSE DOES NOT MAKE SIN ANY LESS SINFUL OR THE SINNER ANY LESS GUILTY.

** JUDAS WILL BE JUDGED FOR HIS UNHOLY ACTIONS. FOR JESUS SAID IN THE REST OF V. 24, "WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE SON OF GOD IS BETRAYED. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR THAT MAN IF HE HAD NOT BEEN BORN." *** AND BELOVED, JUDAS ISCARIOT'S FUTURE IN HELL WAS SO TERRIFYING THAT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN INFINITELY BETTER OFF HAD HE NOT BEEN BORN!

**** AGAIN JUDAS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS ACTIONS AND WOULD PAY A TERRIBLE PRICE. IN FACT HIS WILLFUL DECEIT IS FURTHER REVEALED IN V. 25, LOOK AT V. 25 PLEASE.

E. READ V. 25. NOW JUDAS' HARD HEART MUST CERTAINLY BE SEEN IN THIS HYPOCRITICAL RESPONSE.

* FOR ALREADY HAVING BARGAINED FOR THE BETRAYAL OF CHRIST FOR 30 PIECES OF SILVER, HE ALREADY HAD THE MONEY IN HIS POSSESSION.

** AND ONLY ONE DEPRAVED OF ANY SENSE OF CONSCIENCE COULD LOOK THE LORD IN THE FACE AND ASK THIS QUESTION, "SURELY IT IS NOT I, RABBI."

*** AND HE KNEW THAT HE WAS THE ONE, BUT TO NOT REVEAL HIMSELF TO THE 11 HE NEEDS TO PLAY THE GAME.

**** BUT MATTHEW REVEALS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN HIS QUESTION.

1. FOR JUDAS USES THE WORD RABBI OR TEACHER WHEN HE ASKS THE QUESTION IN DECEIT, WHEREAS WHEN THE OTHER 11 ASK IT THEY SAY, "IS IT I, LORD?"

* AND I DON'T THINK THIS DIFFERENCE SHOULD BE DEPRECIATED, FOR IT REVEALS THAT JESUS IS NOT JUDAS' LORD. HE DOESN'T TRULY KNOW THE LORD, HE IS NOT A CHRISTIAN, NEVER WAS AND WILL NOT GENUINELY REPENT AND WILL BE DAMNED.

** AND IN VV. 21-25, THE TRAITOR IS REVEALED AT THE SOLEMN OCCASION OF THE PASSOVER. AND ACCORDING TO JOHN'S ACCOUNT IN JOHN 13:27-30, JUDAS IS SENT AWAY AND SATAN WILL ENTER JUDAS, AND JUDAS WILL BETRAY JESUS.

*** BUT THE SUPPER GOES ON WITHOUT JUDAS, FOR JESUS WILL TURN THIS SUPPER INTO A NEW MEMORIAL FOR TRUE CHRISTIANS TO REMEMBER HIM BY.

**** AND HOW APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TO TAKE PLACE WITHOUT JUDAS, FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER IS ONLY FOR BELIEVERS.

2. AND THE BEGINNING OF THIS SUPPER STARTS IN V. 26, WHERE WE'LL SEE OUR 2'D POINT TODAY, THE BEGINNING. LOOK AT V. 26 PLEASE.

II. THE BEGINNING, (READ V. 26)

A. NOW AFTER JUDAS LEFT AND JESUS WAS ALONE WITH THE 11, HE TRANSFORMED THE PASSOVER OF THE OLD COVENANT INTO THE LORD'S SUPPER OF THE NEW COVENANT.

* AND OBVIOUSLY THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION WAS NOT COMPLETELY FINISHED, IT WAS STILL IN PROGRESS, AND JESUS INSTITUTES THIS NEW MEMORIAL IN THE MIDST OF THE OLD.

** JESUS CONNECTS THE PASSOVER MEAL WITH UPCOMING EVENTS OF HIS DEATH.

*** AND FIRST, HE TOOK THE BREAD, WHICH IN THE PASSOVER MEAL WOULD BE UNLEAVENED BREAD AND USED IT AS A SYMBOL OF HIS BODY.

**** AND AFTER BLESSING IT, LIT. GIVING THANKS FOR IT, HE BROKE IT. AND THIS KIND OF BREAD WOULD BE BROKEN AND NOT CUT WITH A KNIFE.

1. FOR THIS KIND OF BREAD THAT WAS USED IN THE PASSOVER WAS BAKED IN THIN SHEETS MUCH LIKE CRACKERS AND WAS BROKEN OR TORN WHEN DISTRIBUTED.

* AND CERTAINLY THERE IS SOME SYMBOLISM HERE HOW HIS BODY WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, ALTHOUGH NOT A BONE OF HIS BODY WAS BROKEN.

** BUT SURELY ISAIAH 52:14 AND ISAIAH 53:5&10 CAN BE APPLIED HERE WHERE IT SAYS (READ IT).

*** AND THE BREAD THAT JESUS BREAKS INTO PIECES AT THIS TIME REPRESENTS HIS BODY.

**** FOR HERE AT THE END OF V. 26, HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES TO EAT THE BREAD THAT HE HAD GIVEN THEM, THAT THIS IS HIS BODY.

2. NOW CONTEXTUALLY IT IS OBVIOUS THAT JESUS WAS NOT GIVING OUT PIECES OF HIS BODY AT THIS TIME BUT PIECES OF BREAD THAT IN THIS NEW MEMORIAL WOULD REPRESENT HIS BODY.

* BELOVED JESUS WAS SPEAKING FIGURATIVELY HERE IN VIEW OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF HIS BODY IN A SHORT TIME, THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH.

** AND WE BELIEVE IN TAKING THE SCRIPTURES LITERALLY UNTIL THE CONTEXT TELLS US OTHERWISE, AND THE CONTEXT TELLS US OTHERWISE.

*** FOR JESUS' STATEMENT ABOUT EATING HIS BODY WAS NO MORE LITERAL THAN HIS SAYING THAT HE WAS THE DOOR, THAT HE WAS A LITERAL DOOR, OR THAT HE WAS THE VINE AND WE ARE THE BRANCHES.

**** THESE ARE FIGURES THAT ARE USED TO COMMUNICATE TRUTH.

3. AND THE DOCTRINE OF TRANSUBSTANTIATION HAS NO BIBLICAL BASIS, THAT THE BREAD AND THE CUP LIT. BECOME CHRIST'S BODY AND BLOOD THROUGH THE PRAYER OF A PRIEST HAS NO BIBLICAL VALIDATION, AND THAT THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST IS REPEATED.

* JESUS WAS INSTITUTING A MEMORIAL WITH SYMBOLS TO REMEMBER HIM BY. HE WAS NOT LIT. GIVING CHUNKS OF HIS BODY AND DROPS OF BLOOD IN CUPS AT THAT TIME TO HIS DISCIPLES.

** IN FACT IN LUKE 22:19 IN THE PARALLEL ACCOUNT TO THE ONE HERE IN MATTHEW, LUKE QUOTES JESUS BY SAYING: "AND HAVING TAKEN SOME BREAD, WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."

*** AND LUKE CLEARLY COMMUNICATES THIS IS SOMETHING TO REMEMBER JESUS BY, NOT A RITUAL TO RECEIVE CHRIST OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND TO REPEAT THE ONCE FOR ALL SACRIFICE OF JESUS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

**** AND THAT BELIEF IS A SUBSTITUTE OF A RITUAL THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF CHRIST. (NO MORE THAN THE PASSOVER SAVING A JEW.)

4. AND ONLY A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST SAVES, NOT A RITUAL!! NOW WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 27 PLEASE AS THE NEW MEMORIAL CONTINUES TO BE INSTITUTED.

B. READ V. 27. NOW NEXT JESUS TOOK A CUP, WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE THIRD CUP IN THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION CALLED THE CUP OF BLESSING.

* AND HE TAKES THIS CUP AND GIVES THANKS. AND THE GREEK WORD FOR THANKS HERE IS YOO-KHAR-IS-TEH-O WHICH CAN BE SEEN ON THE SCREEN AND IT IS FROM THIS TERM THAT WE GET EUCHARIST, AS THE LORD'S SUPPER IS SOMETIMES CALLED.

** AND THIS GREEK WORD LIT. MEANS TO BE GRATEFUL, TO FEEL THANKFUL, TO GIVE THANKS. *** AND JESUS DID THAT, HE GAVE THANKS FOR THE CUP, WHICH WE SHOULD DO NOW, KNOWING THE MEANING OF THE CUP CLEARLY NOW, AND THEN HE GAVE IT TO ALL OF HIS DISCIPLES SAYING, NOT "DRINK YE ALL OF IT" AS THE KJV SAYS BUT, "DRINK FROM IT, ALL OF YOU", AS THE NKJV, THE NAS AND NIV TRANSLATE IT.

**** AND ALL THE DISCIPLES WERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEMORIAL SUPPER, AS ALL DISCIPLES OF JESUS SHOULD TODAY! NOW LOOK AT V. 28 PLEASE.

C. READ V. 28. NOW JESUS REVEALS THE MEANING OF THE CUP HERE IN V. 28. FOR THE DILUTED WINE IN THE CUP REPRESENTED HIS BLOOD, AS THE BREAD REPRESENTED HIS BODY, AS A SYMBOL.

* AND FROM LUKE 22:20 WE LEARN THAT THE LORD SPECIFIED "NEW COVENANT", CLEARLY DISTINGUISHING IT FROM ALL PREVIOUS COVENANTS INCLUDING THE MOSAIC COVENANT.

** A COVENANT BEING A PROMISE, A COMPACT, A TESTAMENT, A KIND OF WILL AS AN OFFICIAL TESTAMENT OF WHAT IS TO BE DONE.

*** AND WHEN GOD MADE COVENANTS WITH NOAH AND ABRAHAM, THOSE COVENANTS WERE RATIFIED WITH BLOOD IN GENESIS 8:20 AND GENESIS 15:9&10.

**** AND WHEN GOD BROUGHT RECONCILIATION WITH HIMSELF, THE PRICE WAS ALWAYS BLOOD, FOR ACCORDING TO HEBREWS 9:22 IT SAYS: (READ IT).

1. AND BELOVED, A SACRIFICIAL ANIMAL NOT ONLY HAD TO BE KILLED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT, BUT IT'S BLOOD HAD TO BE SHED. WHY? FOR LEVITICUS 17:11 SAYS: (READ IT).

* SO LIFE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH BLOOD, WE SEE THAT ALSO IN GENESIS 9:6 WHERE IT SAYS: (READ IT).

** AND MY POINT IS, BLOOD IS LIFE, AND WHEN AN ANIMAL'S BLOOD WAS SHED ITS LIFE WAS GIVEN.

** AND JESUS SHED HIS BLOOD, HE GAVE HIS LIFE, AND IN SHEDDING HIS BLOOD IT PICTURED ATONING DEATH, THE GIVING OF HIS UNBLEMISHED, PURE, WHOLLY RIGHTEOUS LIFE FOR THE CORRUPT, DEPRAVED AND WHOLLY SINFUL LIVES OF UNREGENERATE PEOPLE.

*** AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GIVING OF THAT SINLESS LIFE WAS THE POURING OUT OF THAT PRECIOUS BLOOD FOR MAN FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

2. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST WAS FOR THOSE HE WOULD FORGIVE AND SAVE BY HIS SOVEREIGN GRACE.

* IN OTHER WORDS, JESUS' BLOOD MADE AN ACTUAL ATONEMENT FOR TRANSGRESSIONS, NOT POTENTIALLY, BUT ACTUALLY.

** AND FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED, HE WILL FORGIVE. AND I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ISSUE OUT OF THAT TODAY, BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR HERE THAT JESUS POURED OUT HIS BLOOD FOR MANY, NOT ALL, FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

*** AND WHAT A JOY TO KNOW THAT "MANY" WILL BE SAVED BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST IN ITS DESIGN.

**** AND SO THE CUP REPRESENTED THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, IN THIS NEW CELEBRATION, THAT WOULD REMIND US OF HIS ATONING DEATH FOR OUR SINS AS BELIEVERS, TO ALL THAT COME TO HIM BY FAITH. NOW LOOK AT V. 29 PLEASE.

D. READ V. 29. NOW THE LORD'S PROMISE IN V. 29, TO DRINK WITH HIS DISCIPLES AT A FUTURE TIME, LOOKED FORWARD IN ASSURANCE TO THEM OF HIS RETURN.

* FOR JESUS, THAT HE WOULD NOT CELEBRATE THIS MEMORIAL SUPPER AGAIN, DRINKING THE FRUIT OF THE VINE, SPEAKING OF THE CUP OF WINE HE HAD JUST GIVEN THEM THAT SYMBOLIZED HIS BLOOD, UNTIL, A FUTURE DAY WHEN HE WOULD DRINK IT WITH THEM IN HIS FATHER'S KINGDOM.

** SO WE HAVE A PROPHETIC PROMISE TO THE DISCIPLES THAT THIS IS NOT THE LAST TIME HE WILL CELEBRATE THIS NEW MEMORIAL SUPPER WITH THEM, BUT WILL DO IT AT A FUTURE TIME, IN HIS FATHER'S KINGDOM.

*** AND THIS COMMUNICATES TWO ASSURANCES TO HIS DISCIPLES, HE WILL DIE TOMORROW BUT WILL RISE AGAIN AND HE WILL COME BACK AGAIN.

**** HE WILL LIVE AGAIN AND COME BACK AGAIN. AND THE RESURRECTION IS IMPLIED HERE AND HIS COMING AGAIN WHICH WILL START THE NEW KINGDOM IS COMMUNICATED, WHEN THEY CAN CELEBRATE THIS MEMORIAL SUPPER AGAIN.

1. AND BELOVED THE NEXT FEW HOURS AND DAYS WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DISCIPLES, BUT VICTORY WOULD COME. JESUS WILL RISE AGAIN AND HE WILL COME AGAIN.

* AND WHAT A VICTORY NOTE HERE AT THE END OF INSTITUTING THIS NEW MEMORIAL SUPPER. BUT THEY WOULD DO ONE LAST THING TO CONCLUDE THIS MEAL, THEY WOULD SING. LOOK AT V. 30 PLEASE.

E. READ V. 30. NOW THEY WOULD CONCLUDE THIS TIME WITH A HYMN AND THEY WOULD GO TO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, AND JESUS THEN WOULD TAKE 3 OF THE DISCIPLES WITH HIM TO GETHSEMANE AND PRAY, THEN BE BETRAYED.

* BUT GETTING BACK TO CLOSING THIS TIME WITH SINGING A HYMN, IT WAS PROBABLY PSALM 118, THE LAST PSALM OF THE HALLEL WHICH WAS SUNG DURING THE PASSOVER CELEBRATION.

** THE WORD HALLEL MEANING "PRAISE", THE TERM FROM WHICH OUR WORD HALLELUJAH IS DERIVED. THEY ENDED THIS TIME WITH PRAISE.

AND IN CLOSING: (1) WE WANT TO END OUR TIME TOGETHER TODAY BY CELEBRATING THE VERY INSTITUTION THAT CHRIST BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE IN OUR STUDY TODAY.

* AND WE WANT TO DO IT IN OBEDIENCE AND IN REMEMBRANCE, BUT ALSO AS AN OBJECT LESSON OF THE TRUTHS WE STUDIED.

** SO WE WANT TO CELEBRATE CHRIST'S DEATH, WE THAT ARE CHRISTIANS, AND REMEMBER HE IS OUR RISEN SAVIOR AND IS COMING BACK.

*** AND WE INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE WITH US TODAY IF YOU ARE A TRUE BELIEVER, TO DRINK FROM THE CUP, ALL OF YOU AS BELIEVERS.

**** FOR AS JUDAS ISCARIOT WAS DISMISSED FROM CHRIST'S PASSOVER, THE LORD'S SUPPER IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO KNOW HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR. AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM, TALK WITH US AT THE END AND WE WOULD LOVE TO DIRECT YOU TO CHRIST.

(2) BUT ALSO THIS SUPPER IS FOR BELIEVERS WHO EXAMINE THEMSELVES, READ I COR. 11:26&27.

* SO BELIEVER CONFESS ANY SIN THAT'S IN YOUR LIFE, AND FORSAKE IT. AND THEN JOYFULLY REMEMBER CHRIST TODAY. TO DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF HIM, TO CELEBRATE HIM AND OUR SALVATION ONLY THROUGH HIM. (LET'S PRAY).