Preparation and Sacrifice

Reading of the Word

Luke 22:7–27 NASB 2020

Now the first day of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. And so Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it.” They said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare it?” And He said to them, “When you have entered the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you; follow him into the house that he enters. 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?” ’ “And he will show you a large, furnished upstairs room; prepare it there.” And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When the hour came, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” 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 being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 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. But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” And they began to debate among themselves which one of them it was who was going to do this. And a dispute also developed among them as to which one of them was regarded as being the greatest. And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles domineer over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way for you; rather, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant. 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.

Prayer of Illumination

Holy Spirit, open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Let it guide, challenge, and transform us, so we may serve You with humility and love. Amen.

Introduction

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’s 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 on the tradition of Communion and

what it means when we celebrate the sacrament together.

1. God Equips the Called

a. When God calls us to do something, God goes ahead of us to help prepare our way.

He will give us all we need in order to do His work. He will go ahead of us to prepare the way so that our work may be fruitful.

b. 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).

Jesus does the setting up for us and we just obey what He has called us to do, trusting in His work.

We must trust God’s direction as He leads us.

c. 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.

d. 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.

A few years into my ministry as a chaplain at a large nursing home, God nudged me in a direction that completely surprised me. I felt Him calling me to serve as a chaplain in the Alzheimer’s unit. The thought overwhelmed me—I felt so inadequate and far outside my comfort zone. Before accepting the position, I met with the head of nursing, armed with a long list of questions. Although she patiently answered each one, my discomfort lingered.

As we toured the unit, I met some of the residents. One gentleman, once a devoted church leader and man of God, was swearing with almost every word. Another woman seemed to have retreated into her childhood, lost in the fog of her memories. I left that meeting uncertain but deeply aware that this was no ordinary call.

Despite my reservations, I accepted the position, and that’s when God began to work in ways I never imagined. He provided everything I needed to minister effectively to this extraordinary group of people. What began as a challenge became a profound blessing. These residents, though unable to remember my name—or even their own—could still recite the 23rd Psalm flawlessly, sing the cherished hymns of faith, and pray the Lord’s Prayer without hesitation.

Through them, God taught me to extend compassion, grace, and love, even when my actions went unrecognized. I witnessed firsthand the power of His Word, alive in hearts that seemed otherwise lost. Isaiah’s promise came to life before my eyes: “God’s Word will not return void.”

What I initially saw as an insurmountable challenge turned into an incredible opportunity to help people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. And in the process, I was the one blessed beyond measure.

2. Our Preparation Also Matters

a. Preparation for Passover included removing any trace of yeast (which was symbolic of sin).

Lent is a time where God is asking us to search our hearts and remove sin from our lives. If we are not willing, He is not able.

b. We need to take Communion with prepared hearts. We must ask God to reveal any sin that is in our hearts and lives.

Preparation before transformation.

We must do our part before God can do His.

c. If we find any trace of sin in our lives, we need to repent of it and receive God’s grace. God wants to do amazing things in our lives that we cannot do for ourselves.

Psalm 51:1–3 NASB 2020

Be gracious to me, God, according to Your faithfulness; According to the greatness of Your compassion, wipe out my wrongdoings. Wash me thoroughly from my guilt And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my wrongdoings, And my sin is constantly before me.

Celebrate God’s faithfulness

Recognize our wrongdoing

Ask God to remove sin and help us to walk with Him daily.

d. When we’ve done these things, our hearts are ready for Communion with God and the church.

Communion is one of the most important things we do when we gather as the church.

It is much more than just a symbol. It is a sacrament.

It is external evidence of the internal work that God has done within us.

It is the nourishment for life’s journey, providing strength and unity to all who partake, drawing us together in shared faith—not only with one another, but most profoundly with Christ through this sacred sacrament.

Christ is present by the power of the Holy Spirit in a powerful and unique way as we come to His table. This is what we call the Real Presence.

3. The Greatest in God’s Kingdom

a. While Jesus was preparing to lay down his life for everyone, the disciples were discussing among themselves which of them was the greatest.

This was no ordinary passover.

He transformed the Passover into a new celebration, marking His own sacrifice as the ultimate and final offering.

They were also commemorating a far greater deliverance than God provided for the Israelites.

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.

b. Jesus told the disciples that the one who serves is the one who is the greatest (vv. 26–27).

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.

Nursing home employees in our congregation embody Christlike humility daily. They care for residents who often cannot serve themselves, meeting their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs with compassion. Their service reflects the values of God’s church—selfless, patient, and rooted in love. Through their work, they remind us of the beauty of serving others as Christ served.

To Sum It Up: Through His ultimate sacrifice, Christ shows us that true greatness in God’s kingdom is found in humble service to others.

Conclusion

During this last meal, Jesus instituted the sacrament of Communion. The bread and the cup are things we receive with thanksgiving (eucharist). 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.

Prayer Following Message

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word and for the example of Jesus, who humbled Himself to serve and sacrifice for us. Help us to follow in His footsteps, laying aside pride and striving to serve others with love and compassion. Equip us to be Your hands and feet in the world, bringing hope and grace to those in need. May our lives reflect Your light and draw others closer to You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Blessing & Sending

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself to serve and save us, fill your hearts with faith, hope, and love. As you walk through this Lenten season, may the Spirit guide you in repentance and renewal, and may the love of the Father strengthen you to serve others in humility and compassion. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord and one another. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.