Broken and Poured Out

Introduction:

What are your favorite holidays? We are about to be celebrating the 4th of July and this year is a special celebration as we celebrate 250 years of America’s Independence.

You may have certain traditions that you follow and certain foods that you throw on the grill. You may find a pool to gather around and have family and friends get together or go and watch the fireworks late in the evening.

There are several holidays spread throughout the year and most of us have a few that we love to celebrate for different reasons, and it was no different for the people of Israel.

The only difference with their holidays was that the holidays were religious holidays and not secular ones. They had meaning for the life of the nation as well as for them each spiritually.

This morning, we are going to take a look at two of them that were intertwined together and see how they pointed to Jesus as the one that was broken and poured out for our sins.

Let’s turn this morning to Matthew 26 and begin at verse 17.

Matthew 26:17–25 ESV

17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Pray

Explanation of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Passover then Unleavened Bread

Feast of Unleavened Bread became synonymous with all of the festival, not just the part after Passover

1 of 3 required feasts every man was expected to attend each year

Part of the Old Covenant

1. The Preparation of the Savior’s Death (vv.17-24)

It Was Foretold in the Scriptures

The Prophets Pointed to It

The Festivals and Sacrifices Revealed It

It Was Directed by the Savior

This was not the result of tragic circumstances

The timing, place, and participants were sovereignly chosen by the Savior.

2. The Revelation of the Savior’s Death (vv. 20-25)

Jesus Knows (Details, Betrayer, Everything)

He knew the details of what was about to happen

He knew exactly who would betray Him

He knew what the outcome of His death would be

Jesus Gives An Opportunity for Heart Examination

Jesus doesn’t immediately reveal who the betrayer is

All of the Disciples had dipped their bread in the cup with Jesus, so it could have been any one of them

What is the real difference between the Disciples and Judas? (Judas was not repentant of His sins)

Jesus Will Not Hold Us Guiltless Who Deny Him

The Scripture had foretold who would betray Jesus

God had sovereignly orchestrated the opportunity

Judas was still held responsible for the actions that he willingly took

3. Your Response to the Savior’s Death

As you think about what happened, don’t gloss over a familiar account in the Bible.

Do you trust Jesus with the details of your life?

If Jesus was in control of all of history leading up to HIs death and has been in charge of all of history ever since, and will be in charge of history into the future for all of eternity, why can you not trust him with the details of your little life?

Jesus’s death was far more critical than what job you get, or who you marry, or anything that you or I might have to figure out. These are not trivial decisions, but the point is that if Jesus could be trusted with the greater details of his death, burial, and resurrection, surely you and I can trust Him to direct the path of our lives.

Will you take a moment to examine your heart?

Any one of us could have been like Judas. Even Peter betrayed Jesus and denied Him 3 times. All the rest of the Disciples ran away into hiding.

You cannot hide from Jesus’s piercing eyes. He sees all you do and knows all you think. This knowledge is too great for us to comprehend, yet we still try to hide from Him like Adam and Eve in the Garden.

Don’t hide from Jesus today. He knows! You say, “He knows what?”

He knows! That is the answer. He knows it all, and yet he still offers to you the sop of bread to be His friend and accept Him as your Lord.

You will not be held guiltless.

Judas may have been ordained to betray Jesus, but it was not without his own free choice.

Everyone chooses rebellion against God. We are responsible for our choices.

What choice will you make today? Will you