Preparation & Sacrifice
My Cup Runneth Over • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 44:28
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· 77 viewsThis series is based on the 2025 Lenten season curriculum by Foundry Publishing, My Cup Runneth Over. In the second week of Lent, we are going to look at how JESUS' sacrifice can serve as an example for us.
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Notes
Transcript
Handout
Greeting
Announce text: Luke 22:7-27
Key Text: Luke 22:7-27
Review
Last week, Bill Colson preached
technical issues - no recording
going from notes in the curriculum
topic was the call to discipleship
Luke 9:18-26 was the text
Bill used Mark 8, as well for a fuller context & better understanding
A question is asked in the introduction:
What does it look like when a person gives themselves completely to GOD, no matter the cost?
In the text from last week, JESUS asked the disciples a question:
who do people say that I am?
He followed it up with another question:
who do you say that I am?
As we know from previous studies, the disciples (& others) were expecting a warrior king
JESUS surprised them by informing them
(again) that HE was about to suffer & die
and the cost for them following HIM would be the same
this shocked them because their expectations were misguided
There were three Elements of Discipleship in last week’s message:
Three Elements of Discipleship
Denying Self & Taking Up Our Cross Daily
Difference between casually following & full commitment (all in)
JESUS calls us to deeper level of commitment
Not playing it safe
Saving or Losing Life
JESUS whoever wishes to save his life would lose
But whoever loses life for CHRIST will save it
If we’re desperately grasping the wrong things, we’ll lose them
power, money, security, etc.
short-sided view
Instead, we store up treasures in heaven
Following JESUS is life and death
physical perhaps
spiritual for sure
GOD’s Economy
Different than the world’s economy.
JESUS reminded his disciples it does no good to gain the whole world, if it means losing your soul
Instead, we live by faith with an eye toward seeking GOD & HIS will above all else
In conclusion, I like this quote:
Picking up your cross and following Christ isn’t about a one-time act of valor. It’s about daily doing the thing God has called you to do.
It also means that when the time comes, you’re willing to follow Jesus into the unknown—even if it costs you your life.
Bill might provide an update on something he wanted to share?
Announce text again: Luke 22:7-27
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
9 They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?”
10 And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters.
11 “And you shall say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’
12 “And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there.”
13 And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And when He had taken some bread 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.”
20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.
22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
23 And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.
24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’
26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Message
Message
In Jewish tradition, the Passover festival has many elaborate parts to remind the people of their need for GOD and their deliverance from Egypt. On the evening of Passover, the Passover lamb is slaughtered and eaten with bitter herbs and matzo.
In Luke’s Gospel, the correlation between JESUS and the Passover lamb becomes clearer after reading today’s passage. In this part of JESUS’ journey, HE asked HIS disciples to prepare for the Passover meal.
Once the meal was prepared, JESUS sat and ate with HIS disciples one last time before HE was betrayed and killed. We see in this story that not only were they walking through the traditions of Passover, but they were also sitting at dinner with a truly innocent sacrificial LAMB—JESUS.
Today we’re going to focus on the sacrifice CHRIST made and how that serves as an example for us. We will also spend a little time reflecting again on the tradition of Communion and what it means when we celebrate the sacrament together.
This morning, we’re going to explore three facts from our text about serving in the Kingdom of GOD.
Serving in GOD’s KINGdom:
GOD Equips the Called
7 Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.
8 And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.”
Here we see it is the time of Passover, and the irony of JESUS as the Passover Lamb begins to take shape.
JESUS sends the two most prominent disciples
Gives them a command: Go and prepare ...
When GOD calls us to do something, GOD goes ahead of us to help prepare our way.
There are many examples in Scripture where GOD both goes ahead & walks with those HE’s called.
There’s something about this command, “Go,” that we might need to look at further some day.
Abraham
“Go” often seems to be a part of the command ...
For example, we have talked a bit about Abraham and this verse before ...
1 Now the Lord said to Abram,
“Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
Moses
GOD led the children of Israel out of Egypt by a pillar of fire and a cloud.
21 The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
While Abraham was just given the command to “Go” with the promise that YHWH would show Abraham where to go, Moses and the children of Israel were led by things they could see. In both cases, we see that YHWH provides direction for us in every circumstance of life.
Moses kept reminding the children of Israel before they entered the Promised Land that GOD would go before them.
30 ‘The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,
We’ve talked a bit about this, also. GOD goes before us to fight our battles for us.
8 “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
There is nothing to fear, because GOD goes before us and walks with us, even when we can’t see it. HE will never leave or forsake us.
Isaiah
GOD told the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah:
2 “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.
GOD tells us HE can make the rough places in our lives smooth.
Jesus told the disciples exactly where to go and whom to talk to in order to find a space for the Passover meal. They would still have a lot of work to set up and prepare the meal, but Jesus handled the biggest unknown (where to set up).
God doesn’t send us out into the world without any guidance or providence. The saints in this room could probably share story after story about times when God provided exactly what was needed when it was needed. Remembering those stories helps shore up our faith when we encounter new trials.
Share a story about a time when God called you to do something. Reflect on how God delivered exactly what you needed to fulfill that calling.
Serving in GOD’s KINGdom:
GOD Equips the Called
Our Preparation Also Matters
14 When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him.
15 And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
When the hour had come … the time of the Passover observance
Bill, I want you to notice something … there’s that word again … earnestly
He desired it, both for the sake of his disciples, to whom he desired to manifest himself farther, at this solemn parting: and for the sake of his whole church, that he might institute the grand memorial of his death.
— John Wesley
JESUS is referencing the messianic banquet
6 The Lord of hosts will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
7 And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples,
Even the veil which is stretched over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
Preparation for Passover included removing any trace of yeast (which was symbolic of sin).
We need to take Communion with prepared hearts. We must ask God to reveal any sin that is in our hearts and lives.
27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
The participation in Communion is a sacred thing, and we must not take it lightly.
Another way to translate the word guilty could be
responsible for
answerable for
When we participate in Communion
We affirm we understand what is represented
On the cross, JESUS ...
died for our sins AND
HIS BLOOD was shed for our redemption
From that moment on
we are accountable for what we know
we are answerable for it
The word for judge could be translated discern or discerning
It is the same root word used in the gift of discerning of spirits
10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
Means
to see below the surface
to see the inner spiritual condition
Why is this important?
30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
Demonstrates the seriousness of our actions
It is a solemn act
If we participate incorrectly
Can be a cause of sickness & premature death
Some denominations think Communion is a means of salvation
It can actually be a means of judgement
The church of Corinth was abusing the LORD’s Supper, and the result was sickness and, in some cases, premature death.
Communion is a serious matter - it is a sacrament. JESUS is always with us, but HE is somehow present with us in a more unique and special way with an extra measure of the dispensation of HIS Grace in this observance.
If we find any trace of sin in our lives, we need to repent of it and receive God’s grace.
When we’ve done these things, our hearts are ready for Communion with God and the church.
Serving in GOD’s KINGdom:
GOD Equips the Called
Our Preparation Also Matters
True Greatness is Found in Serving Others
After re-instituting the LORD’s Supper, JESUS reveals HE is about to be betrayed, and HIS betrayer is in the room!
21 “But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table.
22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”
Immediately, the disciples begin to sleuth out who the betrayer is
Can you imagine this conversation - what they were feeling?
Did they start accusing one another?
What was Judas’ involvement in this, I wonder? Did he participate in the conversations?
I imagine they were denying it could be them
which steered the conversation in another direction … leading to an argument ...
24 And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest.
Division sets in ...
While Jesus was preparing to lay down his life for everyone, the disciples were discussing among themselves which of them was the greatest.
They knew something was going to happen. Although Jesus spoke about what was coming in plain language, they still didn’t understand. They weren’t preparing for Jesus to sacrifice himself but instead for a triumphant victory (although, in the end, as we know, it would be both).
The disciples were grasping for power and position. All too often, that’s what we do today. We fight to get the most influence we can, often not noticing the movement of God’s Spirit while we’re busy arguing over who’s the best.
Jesus told the disciples that the one who serves is the one who is the greatest (vv. 26–27).
26 “But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.
27 “For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Jesus knew he was about to suffer, and he washed the feet of his disciples (see John 13). He didn’t concern himself with worry over what was ahead. He did not refuse to wash Judas’s feet. Instead, he knelt and washed the dirty, stinky feet of all of his disciples.
Jesus demonstrated by example that true greatness is found in serving others, even when that requires doing an unpleasant task.
The disciples’ lack of humility in Luke stands in sharp contrast with Jesus’s humility in John. He was preparing to offer himself up as a sacrifice while they argued about who was better. Even so, he knelt and served them by washing their feet.
We are supposed to follow Jesus’s example.
Share an example of how someone in your congregation has recently served with humility. This is a great opportunity to appreciate them and to show others what is valued in God’s church.
Todd
So, pj … What’s the point?
Conclusion
Conclusion
During this last meal, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Communion. The bread and the cup are things we receive with thanksgiving. They’re a free gift, given to us by Christ, though we don’t deserve them. They aren’t merely a gift to nourish us for the moment; they offer us new life in Christ. We receive this new life by faith, finding release from the grip of sin and death.
When we take Communion, we’re called to humble ourselves as a reminder that when we approach the Table with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we’re not meant to see one another as competition but as teammates in God’s kingdom. We serve alongside, not against.
You have a choice today. Will you humble yourself to go where God is leading? Will you stoop down to the floor, pick up a rag, and wash the feet (whether literally or metaphorically) of someone else? Or will you, like the disciples that day, puff yourself up and jockey for position?
Jesus is clear in his example of what we’re supposed to do and who we’re supposed to be. Let us be faithful in imitating him.
Closing prayer & introspection
Let us examine ourselves as we prepare for the LORD’s Supper.
Call ushers forward for communion
Luke 22:19 “19 And when He had taken some bread 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.””
Luke 22:20 “20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
Benediction
24 The Lord bless you, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
Scripture records the following words in v.27:
27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”
So, receive and go with the blessings of YAHWEH!
