Back to the Basics: Preparing for the Lord's Supper

Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:17-25

Passage: Mark 14:12-21

Intro: As many of you can tell, today we are doing something special. Something that we as a church only do, quarterly. And I would argue that we probably do not do often enough, but today we are doing the Lord’s Supper. Now for most of us we might be familiar with what the Lord’s Supper is. In fact many of us have been going to church our entire lives, so we know what the elements of the Lord’s Supper are, and why we do them. But there might be some who are new to the church and might not be familiar with the Lord’s Supper. So we are looking at the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Meaning we are going to look at the events that lead to the very first Lord’s Supper. But I want to challenge those that have partaken of the Lord’s Supper hundreds of times, and those who this might be there first time to partake, or you are seeking the truth, and not yet a believer, but want to see what we believe, I want encourage you, to look at the Lord’s Supper with fresh eyes. Look at the meaning of the events that lead to the Lord’s Supper with fresh eyes and see the Lord’s Supper as an act of worship to the all mighty God, who placed the Stars in the sky, and spoke the world into existence.

Passage Context: Today we are taking a small break from Mark chapter 4, but we are still looking at the book of Mark. Remember the book of Mark is a narrative story of Jesus’ life. Mark sets out to tell the story of Jesus the Messiah. And now we see the event of Jesus instituting the Lord’s.

READ PASSAGE HERE

Passage explanation: Remember this is happening just before Jesus is arrested, and this event happens in what we call Holy week, the week where Jesus enters into Jerusalem, is a arrested, crucified, and

Main Point: The main point of this passage is to show the events that happened in preparation for the Lord’s Supper, and the events that happened just before the installation of the Lord’s Super.

Call to Action: When we look at this passage we see two main sections that give the church two main actions that we must do when preparing for the Lord’s Supper.

Part 1: The Act of Faith. Mark 14:12-16

Point 1: Partaking of the Lord’s Supper requires faith.

Explanation: Look at how preparation for the institution of the Lord’s Supper began. Look at verse 12, “Now on the first day Of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb.” Now we need to pause here because we see that in the grand narrative of Jesus’ life, Mark is going to telling us of a certain event. So in order for the reader to know that the event took place, Mark gives specifics. Which is interesting by the way, because he typically does not give specifics, he typically keeps his information to the bare bones of the details, so Mark is telling us this information for a reason. Now remember that this takes place while Jesus is in Jerusalem. And the fact that Mark is stating that this is the first day of Unleavened Bread is telling the readers that passover is coming, and that Jesus would soon need a place to celebrate passover.

But now that next line, when they killed the Passover lamb, is very interesting. And I’m pretty sure Mark is doing this for a reason. He is calling the readers attention back to the sacrificial system, and particularly the day of the passover, when the Jews killed a lamb and placed its blood over the door way so the angel of death would passover them. But he is making this side statement about when the lamb would be slaughtered as a side statement, this is when the lamb is being slaughtered for THE LAMB. THE ONE WHO IS THE ULTIMATE LAMB WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR ALL SINS.

But after making this statement showing when these events in this story took place, and seeing that Jesus and his disciples had a problem; that problem is that they need a place to celebrate Passover, we see the disciples go up to Jesus with the problem, “His disciples said to Him (Jesus), “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover.” It is interesting that the Disciples ask where he is going to eat Passover, and not we, but still. They know that the time for passover is coming, and they are in Jerusalem. None of the 12 (that I know of) are from Jerusalem, and tradition is that you do not miss the celebration of the Passover. That would be like us not celebrating Christmas or Easter. So the natural question is where are we going to celebrate passover?

But then we Jesus response, in verse 13, “And he sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ So look at where Jesus says they will celebrate the passover at some random guys house. Mark tells us that Jesus looked at two of his disciples and sent them to the city. (Go to Illustration and come back)

Now if you can turn quickly to Luke 22:8 “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.” In Luke we see what disciples Jesus sent to prepare the food, Peter, and John. These are Jesus top two leuitinets. So because of Luke we know the two disciples that were sent out to get the upper room prepared. So Jesus sent Peter and John to the city center where they would find a man carrying a water pitcher. Now think of this as more of a water basin, a giant pot, that they would carry water too and from the house. and When they got to the city center, and they see this man they were to follow him. And then they were to go to the house he went to and ask the master of the house where the guest room is, because The “teacher” needs it. So they are to go to the master and say Hey the Teacher wants to know where the guest room is, because he wants to eat Passover with his disciples. Now Notice Jesus says tell them the teacher. In Greek it is the word didaskalos. Teacher.

And then look at verse 15 “Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”

Now put yourself in Peter and John’s shoes. I would think that Jesus had gone crazy. He wants us to go follow a random guy, go up to the master of the house and say, “hey the teacher, not Jesus, Not the Messiah, But Teacher wants to know where the guest room is, because we are going to use that room. And then we will just go to the room and it will already be set up for us. I tell you what, I probably wouldnt have gone. But lets give me the benefit of the doubt, and say that Jesus told me to do this, and I did. On the way up there I tell you what, I would be making fun of Jesus the entire way. Hey Peter, Jesus has lost his mind. Now we are going, is this real?

But look at what happens in verse 16. “So the Disciple went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.” So we see that Peter and John did as Jesus told them.

Illustration: Now remember; He has already entered the city for what he knew would be his last time. And when he did so, He rode in on a donkey. Now I want us to remember Mark 11. There we see that Jesus does something similar. He tells his disciples to go and get a colt, and tells them exactly where to find this colt. Now we do not know who these two were that were sent, but similarly they had to trust Jesus.

Application: I want you to think of the faith that it took for Peter and John to do what Jesus said. To go into the city and find this guy, and follow him, then to tell him that the “Teacher” not Jesus, but the “Teacher” is coming in the spare room that was prepared for the feast. Yet they did.

I want you to realize that it also takes faith to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Yes. You can say it is just eating and drinking a cracker and juice. I guess maybe. Maybe to the unbeliever. But to the believer the partaking of the Lord’s Supper is so much more. It is proclaiming the death, burrial and ressurection of Jesus. It is declaring to the world that You know Jesus, that you have tasted of his goodness, and you have surrendered your life, even if that means dying, for the Gospel. And that takes faith. So when we partake of the Lord’s Supper in a little bit, if you do not have faith, I ask that you do not partake. But examine yourself. Do you know him, and if not, today you have the oppurtunity to proclaim the Christ as your Savior. And begin a relationship with him.

Transition: Just as the institution of the Lord’s Supper took faith, when we partake of the Lord’s Supper it also requires self examination.

Part 2:The betrayal. Mark 14: 17-21

Point 2: Partaking of the Lord’s Supper requires self examination.

Explanation: Look at what happens in verse 17. “In the evening He (Jesus) came with the twelve.” So now we see that Jesus and his disciples came to the upper room that day. and Look at what they did in the in the upper room in verse 18. “Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.” Now I want you to realize what happens. In a time that would be festive, and the people are celebrating what God did for them. Jesus stops and looks at the 12, the people who have been his closests friends, those that he loves and he says, one of you will betray me.

You know I often wonder what Judas Iscariot did at this time. He already had put his betrayal in motion. So he knew whom Jesus was speaking of. Yet we see what happens in verse 19, “And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “is it I?” Now we see that the mood had changed. The people went from festive to sorrowful. But not has just the mood changed, but now one by one the disciples are asking Jesus if it is they that will betray Jesus.

See I think this says something about the human heart, that we don’t understand these days, but that the disciples knew, no one knows what they are capable of until they are placed in that situation. (Go to illustration and come back)

Then in verse 20 we see Jesus answer them, “He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish.” He stops the speculation and he says, it is one of you. One who dips with me. One who dines with me. One who has heard the parables explained. One who I have taught, one who I have walked, and one of you, who has seen the miracles up close and personal. One of you will betray me.

But that is not all that Jesus said, Look at verse 21, “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” So now Jesus says his betrayal will happen because it was foretold. But then he states that there is woe to the one who betrays him. That it is would be better of him to not be born. I wonder, if Jesus is giving Judas one more warming, asking Judas to rethink his decision. Yet we know the truth, that what was put in play was already done. That Judas would betray Jesus.

Illustration: We will often play Monday morning quarterback in situations. We like to say what we would have done if we were placed in those situations. Yet we do not know. Until we find ourselves in a similar situation we do not know. and this is what the disciples are asking. “Am I capable of doing this.”

Application: During this time, the disciples are examining their hearts. Asking if they are capable of doing such a thing. During the preparation of the Lord’s Supper we too need to be examine our hearts, and seeking if there is sin in our hearts that we must confess. And if so do not confess them to me, but confess them to the savior.

Conclusion:

Just as we said earlier when we partake of the Lord’s Supper we must examine our hearts. 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 states “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

Let us during this time of the invitation examine our hearts. Is there any reason why you should not partake of the Lord’s Supper? Here are a few questions you need to ask your self in order to answer that question:

Do you know Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior?

Have you partaken in believers baptism?

Are you a member in good standings of church with similar beliefs and practices as FBC Murchison?

Is there any unconfessed sin in your life?

Is there any relationship inside the church or outside the church that causing any division?

If any of your answers to any of these questions hinder you from partaking of the Lord’s Supper, now is the time to correct that. Come confess your sins to Christ. Come seek membership of FBC Murchison. Come seeking how you can know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Come asking how you can be baptized as a believer in Jesus Christ. The altar is open. I am up front. Do not wait for tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.