THE MESSAGE IN THE MEAL

Intro: For 2,000 years, the church of Jesus has been celebrating the Lord’s Supper service. In some churches, it is an elaborate and ornate affair that dominates the entire service. In other churches, it is observed at the end of a worship service. Some churches observe it every Lord’s day. Others like us observe it at random intervals.

However it is observed, the important thing is for those involved to remember why they are doing what they are doing. We need to take the time to look at the meal and the message it preaches. This evening affords us such an opportunity, Therefore, I would like to take a few minutes to preach to you about The Message In The Meal.

You see, every time we gather together and partake of the Lord’s Supper, we see and participate in a living illustration of the Gospel message. This observance contains a message for every person in this room. Let’s look into these verses together today and hear The Message In The Meal.

I. A Message About The Pain

Luke 22:19-20,

He is referring to the pain He was destined to suffer when He was on the cross. You see, the salvation we enjoy in Jesus Christ today is free for the taking, but it certainly was not cheap. It cost the Lord Jesus Christ His life on the cross!

Think for a moment about the death Jesus suffered for us at Calvary.

1. He was Beaten - Luke 22:63-64 2. He Was Scourged - Matt. 27:6 3. He was Spit Upon - Matt. 27:30 4. He was Mocked - Matt. 27:26-29

5. His beard was Plucked Out - Isa. 50:6 6. He was Stripped Naked - Matt. 27:35 7. He was Nailed to the Cross and Crucified - Matt. 27:38

(Ill. We cannot even begin to understand the horrors of this kind of death.) Still, His body was broken for us at Calvary - Isa. 53:4-7 He came to this world for that very reason, John 18:37 Isa. 50:7

Isaiah 53:4–7 KJV 1900

Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

John 18:37 KJV 1900

Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Isaiah 50:7 KJV 1900

For the Lord God will help me; Therefore shall I not be confounded: Therefore have I set my face like a flint, And I know that I shall not be ashamed.

B. The very fact that God clothed Himself in flesh is evidence of His love for us, Phil. 2:5-8.

The fact that He willingly gave that body on the cross “for us” says everything that needs to be said about His love for sinner, Rom. 5:6-8!

What kind of message does the cross send to us? It is THE supreme message that God loves sinners and gave Himself for them on the cross. It is the message of a Friend, John 15:13! That is what we are to remember this evening as we take an eat of this bread.

II. A Message About The Payment

Was it not enough for Jesus to have just died? Absolutely not! Jesus had to die through the shedding of His blood.

The whole purpose of His death was to provide and atonement for sin. The word “atonement” means “a covering”.

For atonement to take place, blood had to be shed, Heb. 9:22 (Ill. Jesus did not come to just cover sin, He came to take sin away - John 1:29

Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

John 1:29 KJV 1900

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

In God’s economy, it had always been that way. He, Himself, had set the example for man, Gen. 3:21. Blood sacrifice has been God’s Law for Israel, Lev. 17:11. Through the years literally millions of animals had been offered as sacrifices, but not a single sin had been paid for, Heb. 10:4. Christ, by His once for all sacrifice, accomplished that very thing, Heb. 10:10-14; Heb. 9:7-14; Heb. 9:28.

The Expense of the Payment

What Jesus did when He died was to provide a perfect avenue of salvation for all who would come to Him by faith. He gave His blood, which is the only way sin could ever be paid for and sinners could ever be saved, 1 Pet. 1:18-19 Rev. 1:5

1 Peter 1:18–19 KJV 1900

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 1:5 KJV 1900

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

The Extent of The Payment

Hear again the words of Luke 22:19.

Jesus said that what He was about to do on the cross was “for you”.

What He did was to forever satisfy the just demands of God for sin, Rom. 6:23, 1 John 2:2; ***Rom. 3:25***.

Jesus didn’t die to pay off the devil, He died to satisfy God! He gave Himself in our place so that we might go free from the penalty of our sins, 2 Cor. 5:21 He suffered, the Innocent for the guilty, so that the guilty might go free! He took our place!

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

As you raise that cup of juice to your lips this evening all you are doing is drinking grape juice. But, as you take that juice in your hand and raise it to your mouth, take the time to remember that it is a reminder of the blood Jesus shed to save you from Hell.

That is to be in our thoughts as we take the Lord’s supper today!

III. A Message About The Promise

A. There Are Promises To His Saints

1. The Promise Of His Resurrection

- Jesus is said to be One Who died, but Who was also returning. If this is true, then He must be alive! Thank God He is! This is what the bible says about Jesus Christ,

Matt. 28:1-6 John 10:18 Heb. 7:25

Matthew 28:1–6 KJV 1900

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

John 10:18 KJV 1900

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Hebrews 7:25 KJV 1900

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

We are to remember that this Savior Who died for us on the cross is alive and well today!

2. The Promise Of His Return

- We are also to remember His promise that He is returning to this world someday to receive His people unto Himself,

John 14:1-3 1 Thes. 4:13-18 1 Cor. 15:51-52

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 KJV 1900

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 KJV 1900

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

and He is also returning to reign on this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

B. There are Promises Given To The Sinner

- Implied in the message of the Lord’s Supper is an invitation for lost people to turn from their sins to embrace the Savior. After all, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His second coming are all for the purpose of accomplishing redemption for lost sinners.

Lost friend, the cross was for you! The empty tomb is for you! God’s invitation to you is to come to Him by faith and be saved,

Matt. 11:28 John 6:47 Acts 16:31

Matthew 11:28 (KJV 1900)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 6:47 (KJV 1900)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Acts 16:31 KJV 1900

And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

If you are lost and need a Savior, I invite you to come to Jesus Christ today. The door is open and the way clear is you want to come to Jesus. You need not fear that He will turn you away, John 6:37

John 6:37 KJV 1900

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

(Illustration: Salvation is free, but it must be received!

Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of robbing the U.S. Mail and was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but he refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. "A pardon is a slip of paper," wrote Marshall, "the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged."For some, the pardon comes too late. For others, the pardon is not accepted.)

Conclusion

We have heard The Message In The Meal, now it is time to heed that message and respond to it.

For the Lord’s people, it is time to examine our hearts to be sure we have dealt with our sins and failures. It is time for us to bow before the Lord in repentance and humility as we ask Him to prepare us to meet Him at His table.

For any lost people who might be here today, it is time for you to consider your destiny. Do you want to go to Heaven when you die, or do you want to go to Hell?

If you have never been saved, you can receive forgiveness and salvation through the blood of Jesus today if you will come to him by faith!

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