The Last Supper
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Opening ILL: Grandpa explains the Lord’s Supper
Grandma and grandpa had the grandkids staying with them one weekend. When Sunday rolled around, they took them to church with them. During the service, the Lord’s Supper was observed. This sparked the curiosity of little Johnny who usually went to children’s church during the service. Little Johnny whispered to his grandpa a little too loudly as kids often do, “What are they doing? What’s this all about?” You know how when a child, or anyone really, asks you something in church and you don’t really want to take the time to give a full response right then because you don’t want to draw attention to yourself, especially in such a reverent moment as the Lord’s Supper, and so you just give the a quick abbreviated response in hopes that it will satisfy them until you have a chance to talk more later? Well grandpa leaned over and whispered to Johnny: “It’s Jesus’s last supper.” Johnny look at Grandpa unimpressed, responding: “Boy, they didn't give Him much, did they?”
Transition:
This morning, we will discover why this meal is a really big deal.
TURN: Luke 22 (3rd in NT, btw Mark and John)
It was a Thursday night. Jesus gathered with his closest followers to enjoy the traditional Passover feast. His disciples had no idea what was going to take place over the next few hours. How He would be betrayed by one of the very men at this table and arrested that very night. How He would be declared innocent at trial but brutally beaten beyond recognition and put to death in the most publicly humiliating and shameful way imaginable: crucifixion the very next day. But the Lord Jesus knew what fate awaited Him and it was with this in mind that He led His disciple’s in this last supper before the cross.
READ:
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at 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 tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had 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 likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
PRAY
This meal was a really big deal.
This meal was a really big deal.
Luke 22:14–18 “14 And when the hour came, he reclined at 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 tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.””
Luke 22:14–18 “14 And when the hour came, he reclined at 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 tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.””
PASSOVER- The Passover meal was an annual remembrance of how God freed His people, the Israelites, who were in bondage in Egypt.
God wiped out the firstborn of the Egyptians while sparing the Jews who had applied the blood of an unblemished lamb or goat to the doorposts and lintel of their homes. The angel of death passed over their homes as he administered the 10th plague. (Exodus 12)
FERVENTLY DESIRED- This was to be an important moment, one to be remembered as it symbolized what Christ was about to do for our redemption
Paul called Jesus “our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
BEFORE I SUFFER- despite the predictions, they didn’t understand
SHARE- represents a striking departure from standard Passover
Jesus is actually sharing his own personal cup with the disciples’ present, rather than having them drink from their individual cups
Under the old covenant, individual and community obedience were called for by those seeking right standing with God. At the original Passover event, each family had to make the sacrifice and apply the blood for deliverance.
Under the new covenant, we share in the righteousness of Christ, having none of our own.
UNTIL THE KINGDOM…COMES- The was the last ceremonial feast that Jesus would celebrate with His disciples until the eschatological banquet in glory
Looks not only back to the Lord’s death but forward to his return
Transition:
Luke 22:19–20 “19 And he took bread, and when he had 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 likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:19–20 “19 And he took bread, and when he had 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 likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
BREAD- unleavened, recalling the hurried departure from Egypt
THIS IS MY BODY- though some think in literal terms this is symbolic.
Like Passover that prefigures it and like “cup is the new covenant”
GIVEN FOR YOU- am image of dying in battle for the sake of one’s people
Gives the bread a new meaning, it represents his body given in death
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
NEW COVENANT- old covenant: external righteousness of Law and sacrifices
Hebrews 10:1, 4- Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come…For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
SHED FOR YOU- Matt 26:28 adds: shed for many for the forgiveness of sins
Just as those under the blood of the Passover Lamb would be spared from the wrath of God, set free from bondage in Egypt, and given new lives, those under the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God are spared from the wrath of God and death and set free from the bondage of sin, and given new lives.
DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME- As Passover was done in remembrance of how God delivered His people in the past, the Last Supper recognizes God would deliver His people in the future through the cross and resurrection.
But it was not meant to be a one-time object lesson to His disciples, but to be continue throughout in the church in remembrance of the price that was paid for our deliverance.
And so, the Last Supper, is repeated as the Lord’s Supper
Transition:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Closing ILL: Trim the Ends
A woman was asked by her husband why she always cut the ends off her roast. She didn’t know, and began asking her mother and grandmother, neither of whom knew the reason for the practice—they had each inherited it from the previous generation. Finally, the woman asks her great-grandmother, who explains that the roast was cut down because the roasting pan she used seventy years before was too small to fit a full roast.
Over the generations, tradition often loses their meanings. Most don’t know what an elephant has to do with a Crimson Tide or an eagle has to do with an Auburn Tiger. It’s easy for a tradition such as the Lord’s Supper to become a ritual with little relevance.
In a few moments, we will observe this important ordinance. As we do, let us not lose sight of its powerful purpose: to remind is that God sent His Son, Jesus, save us from sin and hell. To suffer so that we might know mercy. To die that we might live.
Transition:
Gospel Connection: It is because of what Christ did on the cross that you and I and any who believe can be saved from death and hell by turning from our sins and trusting in the resurrected Jesus as the Lord and Savior. Would your surrender to the Savior today?
