← ArchiveSunday, March 29, 2015DateMarch 29, 2015Speaker—TextJohnPassages in this sermonExodus 125:40John 136:25John 66:381 Corinthians 58:19Luke 22:1413:58TranscriptMachine transcribed. Click any line to jump there.0:00Thank you, Greg. Thank you, musicians, and thank you, praise team, for that. Luke's Gospel, chapter 22. As I prepared for today, I started thinking that we were doing the Lord's Supper, and I began to think about, you know, we really just don't want to do it at the end of just any0:28ordinary sermon. I think we need to look at the events of that upper room and the scenarios that took place in that. Passover, Pentecost, and the tabernacles were the three most important feasts on the Jewish calendar, and all the Jewish men were expected to go to Jerusalem each year to0:53celebrate. The feast of the Passover commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and it was a time for both remembering and rejoicing. The message truth in your outline is Jesus had steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, knowing full well that what would happen to him there, and knowing that1:18those events were about to occur. They were appointments, not accidents, and had been determined by the Father and written centuries, centuries before, beforehand in the Old Testament. We can't help but remember the Savior and love him more as we see him courageously enter this time of suffering and1:43eventual death. We must all remember what he did for us. Let's pray. Father God, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your word. It never returns void. Lord, I pray that as we unpack your word for the next few moments, Lord, I pray that we get a grasp, a deeper understanding, a remembrance of what2:11happened. And however, we remember how tragic it was in the events that led up, the revelation of the Passover meal, and the purpose of the supper itself. Father, we realize that we reenact that, what happened that day. But God, we celebrate because you knew it all beforehand. And God, you orchestrated it all2:39so that you would eventually go to the death, the death on the cross for the world. Because had there been no shedding of blood, there'd be no forgiveness of sin. And Lord, we thank you that you're a God of purpose in every aspect. And Lord, I pray that we today get a deeper and grasp a deeper understanding3:06understanding of what this is all about. And how important, how important that upper room scenario was for the New Testament church in the 21st century. We love you, we praise you, and we bless you in Jesus' holy name we pray. And the church said, amen. With thousands of pilgrims crowding3:32Jerusalem caused the Romans heartburn, thinking that an uprising to overthrow Rome for some would for some would be Messiah. That is, it explains why King Herod and Pontius Pilate were in Rome that day, and not in Tiberius and Caesarea respectively. They were there to keep the peace. But I want us3:59to look at this passage, not just the focal passage, but the passages of scripture that lead up to the actual supper itself. The events leading up to the Passover, first of all, the religious leaders prepared for a crime. If you'll notice in Luke's gospel chapter 22, verse 1 through 6, listen to what the word says.4:23Now the feast of the unleavened bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put him or have him put to death. For they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas, very important line, who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how they might4:51betray him, betray him to them. And they were glad and agreed to give him money. And he consented and began seeking a good opportunity to betray him to them apart from the multitude. You see, there was the religious leaders were getting together, and they were plotting to kill Jesus Christ. It's truly incredibly5:16incredible that these men perpetrated the history's greatest crime during Israel's holiest day. They were getting together, putting together the most heinous of crimes in Israel's holiest day. During the Passover, the Jews were expected to remove all the leaven from their houses in Exodus chapter 12. As a reminder of their5:40ancestors that left Egypt in haste and had eaten unleavened bread, Jesus had warned the disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. And now we see this hypocrisy at work. The religious leaders had cleansed their homes, yet they had not cleansed their hearts. The religious leaders had plotted against, to arrest Jesus Christ, yet they had not been able to work out the details6:04of for a safe arrest until Judas Iscariot came on the scene and solved their problem. Now, Judas was motivated not by the rest of the disciples. He was not motivated by Christ himself. He was motivated by Satan himself. John chapter 13 tells us that he never was a true believer and his sins were6:25never cleansed by the Lord. In John chapter 13 as well. Nor did he ever receive eternal life. In John chapter 6, if you want to look it up, look it up. Yet the others, the others did not suspect any wrongdoing from Judas Iscariot. He had been granted full access to Christ and even preached the gospel message. And even preached the gospel message. It goes to show you, my dear brothers and6:55sisters, it goes to show how close we can, a person can come to God's kingdom and still be lost, separated from the love of God. We can come into a worship gathering like this and still be lost. We can come in and perpetrate the most heinous of crimes by taking the Lord's Supper with unconfessed sin. Why Judas Iscariot? Why Judas Iscariot?7:23A few coins, 30 pieces pieces of silver. Money was not a lot of money for such a great crime. Maybe it was that he saw salvation in the Jewish nation and the Jewish nation and wanted to hold office in this new kingdom. Keep in mind, the 12 disciples argued over position. You know that throughout scripture. They argued over it often. They wanted this ranking area, a place in, in, in this new kingdom. And I'm sure Judas Iscariot participated in7:48those discussions as well. They were arguing over it. Judas understood that Jesus was not setting up a kingdom on earth. He turned on him and sold him out. When he realized, when he realized that this was not a brick and mortar kingdom, that it was a kingdom to come, that he turned on him. Paul writes the leaven in his8:12life grew out of grew and produced malice and wickedness in first Corinthians chapter five. Folks, let me tell you something. When you cooperate with Satan, you will pay dearly. And Judas Iscariot paid dearly. So the religious leaders prepared for a crime. Well, Jesus Christ prepared for the Passover. Pick it up in verse seven.8:41Then, then, then came the first day of the unleavened bread, which is the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And he sent Peter and John saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us that they may eat and what that we may eat it." And they said to him, "Where do you want us to prepare it?" And he said to them, "Behold, you will enter into the, when you have entered the city, a certain man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water." Very important line there. A pitcher of water.9:09"Follow him into the house that he enters." And you shall say to the owner of the house, "The teacher says to you, where is the guest room in which we may eat the Passover with my disciples?" And he will show you a large room. "Furnished upper room. Prepare it there." And they departed. And they found everything just as he told them. And they prepared9:31the Passover. Jesus was prepared for the Passover feast indicates that he knew there were plots against him. Until the disciples arrived. Only Jesus, Peter, and John knew that where it was going to be held. And indicating that if Judas Ascariot had known ahead of time, he would have sold him out sooner than that. John, Peter and John would have no trouble10:00finding the place. Because a man holding a pitcher of water. Now you say, "Well, why is that such a, a big deal? Why is that such a, an event leading up to this Passover?" Well, let me just tell you. Men in biblical days did not tote water. Men didn't carry water. And so when these guys came into the city, they saw this man standing there with a pitcher of water. Carrying water10:25was women's work. Young men that are not married, if you want to find a wonderful young lady, see how much water she can tote. Amen. You will know then she is a worthy of your consideration. Amen. Thank you very much. He said, "Notice where the young man, he's carrying water." Because men rarely carried water as a task of a10:55woman. Just the men who owned the donkey and the coat. These no-named men were disciples of Jesus Christ, and they made their house available to the master for his last Passover. Peter and John would purchase the lamb and take it to the temple to be slain and return to the house where they were meat for the feast. The table would be set and the wine and the unleavened bread and the herbs reminded them of the long and11:21bitter suffering of bondage from Egypt in Egypt. There is a chronological issue here. And I know you Bible scholars have discussed this among yourselves as well. There is a chronological question here. It must be addressed Jewish leaders had not eaten their Passover and the day that Jesus was tried and condemned the preparation of the Passover, but the Lord had already eaten Passover. In the harmony of the gospel suggests11:49a possible solution. Jewish time was indicated in one of two manners: sunset to sunrise or sunrise to sunrise. Matthew, Mark, and Luke used Jewish tradition and John used the Roman time. However, there is no contradiction here. There was an accepted overlap by the Roman guards, by the Roman Empire. Form of time,12:17while Jesus always and the disciples followed the Jewish time form. Our Lord was crucified on Passover at the time when the lambs were being slain, becoming a fulfillment of the Old Testament type. You see folks, Jesus prepared for the Passover. The religious leaders prepared for the Passover12:41by preparing for a heinous crime. So that is the events that lead up to the Passover. But I want you to notice there is a revelation during the Passover. As we study in Scripture today, the disciples did not know what to expect or fully understand what was about to happen with this painful revelation. Jesus, the host of13:06the supper, met them with a traditional kiss. Now, we don't do that much here anymore, do we? We don't greet each other with a traditional kiss. Some of us would get slapped in the face if we did that, right? Or punched in the mouth. If you go kissing on my bride, it's probably gonna... somebody's gonna get hurt. But we did. That's the way they did back in biblical days, a traditional kiss. And he even kissed13:34Judas. And then they all reclined at a table for the feast. Judas at his left and John at his right. You see, Jesus revealed his love towards them and to the world. If you'll pick it up in John, Luke chapter 22, verse 14. And when the hour had come, he reclined at the table and the apostles with13:58him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you, I shall never eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And when he had taken a cup and given thanks and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves." For I say to you that I14:22will not drink from the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes." And when he had taken some bread and gave and 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 in the same way, he took the cup after he had eaten14:45and said, "This is the cup which is poured out for you is a new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of the hand of the one betraying me is with me on this table. For indeed the Son of Man is going as has been determined. But woe to that man who is betrayed." And they began discussing among15:07themselves which one of them it might be. Who was going to do this thing? You see, Jesus revealed his love. He said to them that he what it said it showed to him and what he did to them he showed his love to them. Speaking to them he took out a towel and he took out a basin and some water. Now we don't have15:36water and I they asked me if if I wanted it but I'm glad because this I'd probably spill it on this beautiful carpet and I don't want to do that. But he he took the water and he took a brag and he got it wet and what did he do? He reached down in beautiful humility. He wiped the feet of the disciples15:56showing his humility, showing how much he loved them, showing how they must be clothed in humility as well. He said there will be no more Passover on God's calendar. His next feast would be a greater kingdom feast.16:18And when he returns to establish his rule on earth, he saw beyond the suffering to the glory, beyond the cross to the crown. In his love he reached out and included his beloved friends. Brothers and sisters, I declare to you by showing us that moment of humility, Christ is pointing us to be16:40as well. That humble. Loving one another. So Jesus revealed his love to his disciples. He revealed his love to us as well. Jesus also revealed the presence of the treachery that was about to take place. Did he not? Look at verse 22 says, "For indeed the Son of Man is going as has been determined, but woe to that man17:06by whom he is betrayed." And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. You see, not only did Jesus reveal his love by stooping down in humility and wiping the feet of those disciples,17:30those followers, even Judas Iscariot. He wiped the feet of those men. But then he also revealed that there's some treachery taking place. And they got together and hinting that they got together that he began to hint that someone would betray him.17:54And by now he'd been be hinting, hinting it. And by now he had said it out loud, you know, there's things that we think and it's some one thing and we kind of hint it. But then you say it out loud. It becomes a thing, doesn't it? Well, Jesus Christ said it point blank and out loud. However, saying it out loud gave Judas another opportunity to repent and get saved.18:20But he didn't. God in his sovereignty had determined that he would be betrayed by a friend, not a foe. He would be betrayed by somebody that he had had in the inner circle. But divine foreknowledge does not destroy human responsibility or accountability. Judas made his decision freely and would be judged accordingly.18:51When Jesus Christ stood up and said, this is what's about to happen. Somebody in this room is going to betray me. Judas Iscariot could stood up and said, that's me. I confess, but he did not. And he never received Jesus Christ. So Jesus revealed his love. Jesus revealed the presence of the treachery.19:19And thirdly, Jesus revealed the disciples' worldliness and also even Peter's denial. Pick it up in verse 24. And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greater. Just like a bunch of disciples, right? I'm better than you are. No, no, I'm supposed to be in higher rank than you are.19:47We want to get into this positioning. Positioning ourselves in a higher rank goes on down in verse 25. And he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles, Lord, over them. And those who have authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. But let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest. And the leader as the servant. For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves?20:16Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. And you are those who have stood by me in my trials. And just as my father has granted me a kingdom, I grant to you that you may eat, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom.20:43And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. He goes on to say, Simon, Simon, Satan, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you and that your faith may not fail. And you, once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. And Simon said yes to him, Lord, with you I am ready to go to prison and to death.21:13And he said, I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied me. Once? No. Three times, Peter, that you even know me. And he said to them, when I sent you out without a purse and a bag and sandals,21:41you did not lack anything, did you? And they said, no, nothing. And he said to them, but now let him who has a purse take a long, likewise also a bag. Let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one. For I tell you that this which is written must be fulfilled and that he has numbered with transgressions for that which refers to me as its fulfillment.22:10And they said, Lord, look here, we have two swords. And he said to them, it is enough. Folks, let me tell you something. When we start pushing ourselves in a higher rank than we ought, Jesus will reveal that to us. As he did his most inner circle, this is not the first time that they had done this kind of stuff.22:37They'd had this kind of conversations before, but in light of what they had witnessed, they had been told this was inexcusable. This was completely inexcusable. Perhaps it came from the argument who would betray the Lord. Regardless, it is still inexcusable. When we are interested in promoting ourselves in kingdom work,23:04it doesn't take much to start an argument, does it not? Just start rewriting the bylaws and see if we don't start an argument. By the way, Brad's going to talk to you about that at the end of our worship gathering. I'm going to lay it off on him. Folks, let me tell you something. When we start promoting ourselves in kingdom work, it's going to start an argument. And God is going to reveal that to us.23:34He's going to reveal the worldliness in us. Now, Peter, we can all relate to him, can we not? How many of us in this room can't relate to Peter? Peter had what I called foot and mouth disease. Peter was constantly putting his foot in his mouth, was he not? He was constantly saying things he really didn't mean to say, but they got out there. And then Jesus had to put him in his place. He said, Peter, before the cock crows, you're going to deny me three times below before you get on old Peter.24:02Before you start beating up old Peter. He says, upon Jesus, says, declaring Peter upon this rock, I shall build my church. I've had the privilege of being in Rome several times. And I have a team next year going to Rome, a musical group that's going over to Rome and do ministry, not just a choir tour.24:26Thank God. I love choir tours, but we're going to do ministry if you go with me. We're going to do some witnessing and stuff. But we go to Rome, to Italy, to work with our IMB missionaries there. We have the privilege of touring some of the beautiful art places. And one of the prettiest facilities in the whole country is the Vatican. It's the home of the Catholic Church. Yes, we go to the Vatican because the Sistine Chapel is there.24:54And Michelangelo's art is just spectacular. You've got to see that if you ever have a chance to go to Rome. Then we go to the Forum and we go to Paul's prison and all of those neat things, Trace Fountain and all of those wonderful, the Spedding Steps and all of those incredible places. I was there in Rome several years ago on a personal trip teaching at Rome Baptist Church. And they let me have a day, a half a day off.25:24So I went back to the Vatican and I was going to go through Sistine Chapel again. And I wanted to see because there's so much, it's overwhelming. It's breathtaking. It's almost, you can't, it's all overwhelming. You just can't gather at all. And so I found myself wandering around in the Vatican and this largest worship facility on the planet. And I'm wandering around and on the flooring, there is gold inlaid names of cathedrals all over the world.25:50You see the New York cathedrals there, the Barcelona cathedrals there, the cathedral in other parts of the world. And then you see the New York cathedral and they tell you to stand there and turn around and look towards the platform area, the altar area. And you still see this massive facility still out there.26:16That's the distance between the New York cathedral and where the pope delivers his messages. And so there's all these little offshoot worship areas off there. And there's a hall back there that's called the Hall of Popes. And it has a listing of all the popes in order by the date. And the head pope is Simon Peter. And they say that Peter's bones are buried there and all this kind of stuff.26:46So they have this up there. And I always wonder why they have Simon Peter as the head of the church. I always wonder why can we not just chisel out some more marble and stick it up there, the real head of the New Testament church. And that is Jesus Christ. Jesus says, upon this rock, I will build my church, Simon Peter. You can deny me, but I have a greater plan for you.27:13Even though we have the worldliness, we understand that Jesus always has a purpose for everything that we do. Not only do we see the events that led up to the Passover. Not only do we see the revelation of the Passover. But we see the purpose of the supper itself. When the Passover supper was coming at a close,27:43this is when Jesus instituted what we call the ordinance of the Lord's Supper or the communion. Or in the Greek, the Eucharist, meaning to give thanks. That's what this Passover meal, that's what the Lord's Supper meal actually represents. Is that we can give thanks. We can remember and rejoice.28:12Jesus stated in one of the purposes of the supper was in remembrance of him. In remembrance of me. The memorial feast reminds us that Jesus Christ gave his body and his blood for the redemption of the world. There is no suggestion that this, there's no suggestion for this account of this supper is any kind of miraculous deal. The bread remains bread and the juice remains juice.28:40It's not flesh that we're eating and it's not blood that we're drinking. It is a symbol of what he did for us. So the first is in remembrance. The second purpose is to proclaim his death until he returns. The supper encourages us to look back for what he did. Look forward to what is coming soon.29:08And look within our hearts and confess our sins. And thirdly, the purpose was to remind us of the unity of the New Testament church. One loaf, one people, one church for his glory and his glory alone.29:29Paul gives us a beautiful portrait of how we should take the Lord's Supper. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the New Testament church.29:59youMore sermons on John →
