Places of the Passion: The Upper Room based on Matthew 26:17-29

I. If you only knew!

II. We all carry our scars.

III. Things change as we get older.

IV. We walk to the Upper Room with Jesus.

V. Bad news and good news. Jesus knows. Matthew 9:4, “Knowing their thoughts.” Matthew 12:24, “Knowing their thoughts.” Matthew 22:18, “Aware of their malice, (that is, evil thoughts).” “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” (Psalm 139:1-2). “You are acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalm 139:3) “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” (Psalm 139:4) “In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

VI. What is the good news? A place at the table.

VII. Read Matthew 26:21-24 and Zechariah 11:12. Matthew informs us, “As they were eating, He said, ‘Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.’ And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, ‘Is it I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him.’” (Matthew 26:21–24) Where is this written that Judas will betray Jesus? Zechariah 11:12, “And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.” Jesus knew!

VIII. Read Matthew 26:31 and Zechariah 13:7. Jesus knew about the other eleven disciples as well. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” (Matthew 26:31) Where is this written that the disciples will be scattered? Zechariah 13:7, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”

IX. What takes place at the table? Read Matthew 26:26-28. Why is a place at the table so important? As they were eating, “Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26–28)

X. Ordinary can be extraordinary. Susan Boyle.

XI. The Lord’s Supper is like that. When the words of Jesus are spoken “Take, eat, this is my body. Take, drink, this is my blood” than the bread and wine are no longer ordinary bread and wine.

XII. What is so extraordinary?

XIII. Jesus continues with these words in Matthew 26:29. “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)

XIV. Jesus invites us as individuals to the table—with His wounded hands.

XV. Jesus knows us and Matthew 26:28. He knows us in love. How do we know that? “This is the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) You and I have a place at this table for all the days of our lives. Amen.