Thursday Evening--In the Upper Room

 THURSDAY EVENING: IN THE UPPER ROOM Spring Valley Mennonite; March 26, 2023; Matthew 26:17-30; Luke 22:7-30; Mark 14:12-26; John 13:1-30 As we continue our journey with Jesus to the Empty Tomb, today we find ourselves on Thursday in the Upper Room with Jesus and His disciples. On Monday and Tuesday Jesus confronted the Jewish Leaders and taught in the Temple. Wednesday we find Judas making a pact with these Leaders to betray Jesus. It seems to be a day of rest for the Lord, preparing for the events soon to come. Various aspects of these crucial Thursday events are found in each of the Gospels, and a composite picture can be drawn by putting all of them together. The first three Gospels, called the synoptic gospels, describe the events in the upper room and the institution of the Lord Supper while John concentrates on the Lord's love for His disciples demonstrated through the washing of the disciples' feet, as well as recording the Upper Room Discourse in John chapters 14-17. John also focuses on Jesus' interaction with His betrayer. As we read these upper room accounts, it is possible to become confused as to the order of things. Putting all these records together, we find that the order of events is: * The Passover meal * Washing of disciples' feet * Judas identified * Judas leaves * Lord's Supper instituted * Upper Room Discourse (John 14-17) some of which may have been delivered on the way to the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane. Another point of possible confusion can be resolved as we realize the use of different calendars determining when Passover should be observed: The Galileans and Pharisees celebrated the Passover meal on Thursday evening, while the Sadducees and southern Israelites observed the meal on Friday evening. This had a practical result in that the Passover lambs could be slaughtered on two successive afternoons instead of trying to accommodate all the observant Jews at once. This also explains how Jesus and His disciples could eat the Passover meal on Thursday evening, and how Jesus died on Friday afternoon at the very hour lambs were slain at the Temple. This dual observance harmonizes the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke with that of John. If you accustomed to follow the scriptures I use, it might be easier this morning for you to mark each of the four passages I will be referring to: Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 13. I don't want to lose any of you as we go back and forth in these four gospels. (Matt. 26, Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 13. First, look with me at the preparations for the meal. We will begin in the Gospel of Mark, the 14th chapter. I. THE PASSOVER MEAL PREPARATIONS Mark 14:12 "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare that you may eat the Passover?" The Passover and the following week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread were so closely associated that both terms were used interchangeably. The Passover lambs were selected and purchased four days previous, (that year it would have been on Sunday). These lambs were observed to see if they were defective in any fashion. In the days after Palm Sunday, Jesus openly presented Himself to everyone for inspection in the Temple. He performed miracles of healing, and taught clearly about sin and righteousness. The Apostle John most clearly presents Jesus as the Lamb of God, and it is in his gospel record of our Lord's last week that we hear Jesus saying (chapter 12:27-30), "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, 'Father save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, Glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven: I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.'" Jesus told those following Him, "This voice has not come for my sake, but for your sakes." I believe the significance of this word from heaven was to affirm that Jesus was the unblemished Lamb approved by God, the Father Himself, to be the sacrifice for the sin of the world. On Thursday between 3 and 5 in the afternoon, the inspected and approved lambs were slaughtered. This also happened the next day Friday, as previously explained. At 3 P.M. on Friday, The Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God died. Returning to the events of Thursday... (Read Mk 14:13-16). Peter and John were the two disciples sent, and they made the proper arrangements. The man carrying a water pot would stand out because it was unusual for men to carry water. Why the element of secrecy? As Judas had already made plans to betray Jesus away from the crowds, Jesus kept the location of the upper room secret. Possibly He had made arrangements earlier to use the room. He did not want the upper room gathering interrupted. Jesus and the 12 disciples arrived at the upper room, a larger room on the second story of the dwelling, usually accessible by a set of outside stairs. It is assumed that this was the same room in which Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection and the room where believers gathered on the Day of Pentecost. We turn now to Luke's gospel, chapter 22. II. THE PASSOVER AND THE FOOT WASHING Read Luke 22:14-17. The Lord and His disciples reclined around the table, which traditionally was U-shaped. Leonardo de Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper reflects 15th century Italian dining, not first century Palestine. Reclining on their left side, they ate with their right hands. At one end of the table, called the head of the table, was John, then Jesus then curiously enough, Judas. The only other place we are sure of was Peter, who was on the other end of the table, across from John. The cup mentioned here was not the cup of the New Covenant, but simply a cup associated with the normal Passover Feast. Now turn to John chapter 13. Read John 13:1-5 After an introductory statement, John notes that Jesus and the 12 ate the traditional Passover meal, then expressing His love for them, Jesus gave an amazing object lesson to them about servanthood. I have few doubts that this was in response to a dispute (recorded in Luke 22:24-30) as to which of them should be considered the greatest! It is appalling to realize that this holy gathering, just previous to Jesus' arrest, trial and crucifixion, would be the scene of petty arguments over who was the greatest! Yet, understand that the disciples did not know this was their last meal with Jesus. This arguing points out the very human desire we all have to be recognized and honored among our peers. We love to be first and for people to recognize our accomplishments. We love to be honored and we strive, not only to be the best, but for people to know it! Jesus is teaching us that in the fellowship of believers, the ones who serve are considered greatest in the Kingdom of God. We are be servants of one another. We can imagine that Peter was leading the arguments, trying to snag the seat of honor! As we read, Judas got that seat. After the meal, or perhaps during the meal itself, Jesus set aside His outer garment and began washing their feet. This was the usual job of the servant with the lowest standing. And here was Jesus doing the absolute lowest task! The disciples were embarrassed by their Lord stooping so low, and perhaps Peter was expressing their collective indignation in his words seen in vv. 6 and 8. Jesus answered about the necessity of cleansing, His point being that spiritual cleansing was necessary to be His follower (v. 8b). Unless the blood of the Lamb of God cleanses a person from their sin, that person will not be forgiven. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. A further lesson is taught about the need for periodic cleansing (v. 10). Just as a person just bathed can get his feet dirty and need them washed, so we as believers, who have been cleansed of our sin, need to confess and receive cleansing from any daily sins we commit. I John 1:9 is speaking of this type of cleansing to maintain close fellowship with God. Judas figures prominently in each of the accounts of the Upper Room. Questions we ask are: "When did Judas leave the gathering" and "Did anyone else other than Jesus figure out that Judas was the betrayer?" Go back to Matthew chapter 26. III. JUDAS IDENTIFIED AS THE BETRAYER (PRIVATELY) Read Matthew 26:20-25 After Jesus announced the coming betrayal, each of the disciples said "Lord, is it I?" with the exception of Judas, who said "Rabbi-teacher-is it I?" Both Luke and John observe that Satan had entered into Judas. Satan will never acknowledge Jesus is Lord until that final judgment day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Judas could only say, "Rabbi, is it I?" "Teacher" not "Lord." Satan's world system will acknowledge Jesus as a great moral teacher, but the difference between teacher and Lord is the distance between heaven and hell! Read John 13:21-30 When Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, Peter asked John, who was closest to Jesus, who it would be. Jesus indicated it was the one to whom He would give the special piece of bread. At such feasts, it was customary for the host to offer one of the guests a morsel of bread as a gesture of special friendship. Judas, who was in the place of honor at Jesus' back, was given the soaked piece of bread. Apparently, Judas was so respected among the disciples that even after this, none of the disciples suspected him. At this last moment, Jesus was still reaching out to Judas in compassion. Jesus then gave Judas leave to go with the words "What you do, do quickly." Judas went out immediately, and "it was night". Judas went out into darkness, as does anyone who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus had said earlier in His ministry, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." Judas had heard this, but only with his ears; not with his heart. Judas having left, Jesus takes the cup and the bread and introduces a ceremony that replaced the Passover. It is a new sacrament for the Church. IV. THE NEW CEREMONY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER The Passover meal commemorated the liberation of Israel from Egypt; it was in the context of the Passover memorial meal that Jesus introduced a new memorial meal that replaced the Passover. The True Passover Lamb, the one pre-figured in the original Passover, is about to be slain and Jesus initiates the replacement memorial of His coming mighty work of redemption. Note that the Passover meal was completed when the new memorial meal was instituted. The work on the Cross of Calvary is not just for Israel, not just liberation from the bondage to men, but it is a universal work for all men; it is liberation from the death-dealing bondage of sin! One author puts it like this: "On that night the Jewish dispensation came to an end. The Passover, its great institution, had fulfilled its purpose; the Passover Lamb it prepared for and prefigured was the next day to be slain. The same night saw the inauguration of a new feast which embodies the fundamental truth of Christianity, as the Passover embodied the fundamental truth of Judaism." Like the Passover, the Lord's Supper is a memorial; the Lord Himself said "Do this in remembrance of Me." The simple meal of wine and bread commemorates His body that was broken and His blood that was shed. Back in Luke, in 22:19: "And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." The unleavened bread of Passover symbolized the separation of the nation from the old bondage of Egypt, a separation from their old life as slaves. The bread of Communion symbolizes Christ's body, unblemished by sin, given for us. His sacrifice frees us from our enslavement to sin and eternal spiritual death. Luke 22:20: "Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." The shedding of blood of a sacrifice was always required in the establishment of any covenant. The old covenant of the Law was ratified by blood: Listen to Exodus 24:8: And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, this is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words." This New Covenant is spoken of in Hebrews 9:12, as it speaks of Christ's entrance into the heavenly Temple, it was: "not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, he entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" V. 15: For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant..." Just as the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies every year on the Day of Atonement with the blood of the sacrifice, Jesus entered the heavenly temple once for all, securing our eternal redemption. When we receive the bread and the cup of communion, what are we remembering? We are remembering that because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we are under the New Covenant. The old covenant of the Law has been done away with. While the Passover of the Jews looked forward to the sacrifice of the Messiah, the Lord's Supper looks back at the sacrifice of Messiah Jesus. Mark 14:25: "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." The Kingdom of which He speaks is the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus was not only declaring that this was His last Passover, and that this was His last meal, but that He would return and establish His earthly millennial kingdom and we will enjoy fellowship with Him as we remember what He has done for us. The Upper Room was also the scene of most of the teaching of John 14-17, appropriately called the Upper Room Discourse. As the Apostle John is the only Gospel writer that records this teaching, it is easy for us to overlook that this teaching happened in the context of the Last Supper. After the teaching recorded in John's Gospel, Jesus led His disciples out to a garden on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that one of the most profound battles in the history of the world took place. I close with this thought: Judas had walked with Jesus for three years. He had the rest of the disciples fooled into believing he was a true follower of Jesus. He was a great actor, but he was lost. But Judas knew in his heart that he was not really a believer. I am convinced that many in the church have others fooled. They are faithful in coming to church; they may even be in places of service. Others consider them followers of Jesus, just as did the disciples of Judas. Perhaps today there is someone here who is unsure if you have just been putting on an act of being a Christian. But unlike Judas, you want to know for sure that you have forgiveness of your sins before God. You can have that assurance of Salvation; the assurance that you will be in heaven when you die. I John 5:13... "And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life and this life is in His Son; He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son does not have the life. These things I have written unto you that you many KNOW that you have eternal life." 5