Preparing for the Lord’s Supper
Notes
Transcript
Intro
VBS, tornado warning. We had a rain plan, but not a tornado plan. We were working diligently to figure out the plan. We’ve talked much about God’s plans in the book of Luke as it is a key theme continuously brought to the forefront.
Need: However, we can still struggle with believing that God is sovereign and in control of all things. Even when we get to the passion narrative, it involves Satan and men trying to destroy him, yet it is the plan. If God’s plan led to the sacrifice of his only son, then you better believe he has a plan for your life.
Main Idea: God’s plan cannot be thwarted
Jesus has been continuously teaching in the temple. We are going to see major pushback on God’s plan.
Luke 22:1-23
Truth #1: Others plot against Him (1-6, 21-23)
Exp. Jesus continued to teach and the plan is getting ready to reach it’s culmination. Verse 1-2. Very holy season. Reflecting on what God did in Egypt. Priests and scribes should be preparing, but are plotting. Again proof of wayward living. Verse 3. We see not only priests and scribes plot, but Satan is making his move. Verse 4-5. Throughout Luke, Satan has been on defensive. Now, he is taking the offensive. Because of their fear of the people, they decided to do this in private. Satan and the priests have to work together.
Arg. Satan’s been scheming and plotting since the Garden. Tempting Adam and Eve. Job, trying to take away his righteousness by cursing God through suffering. Jesus in the wilderness. Tempting Jesus. I’ve done it before, I can do it again.
Ill. That’s how we build confidence. If I have done it before…Christian and I play baseball in the house. Always asks how I am so good. Well, I’ve done this before. When he strikes me out, it is epic.
Arg. Satan attempting to foil God’s plan has been his aim from the beginning and he won’t stop now. Those who plot against Jesus don’t understand that this was a part of the plan. Verse 21-23. Christ must be betrayed to fulfill the words of the psalmist.
9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
Christ - Satan had to enter Judas. Unlike Satan, Jesus sends the HS to enter into us and seals us from evil. His sending of the HS doesn’t lead us to evil, but grows us in sanctification.
App. What do we do?
Resist Satan. Satan will tempt you with your desires. Resist them.
Follow the Holy Spirit. Not only protection from Satan, but provides conviction of sin.
Truth #2: Disciples prepare for Him (7-13)
Exp. Now that the time of the Passover has come, they must prepare. Verse 7. 10th Plague, passover lamb. Verse 8-13. Jesus knew where they would meet. Must be a large house to have a large guest room. Luke begins with there being no guest room for Mary and Joseph, and now there’s one for his passover. This was more prep than you think. They didn’t just set the table. Plan:
Joining one of the three lines to have the animal slaughtered.
Waiting for the blood to be drained.
Waiting for the entrails to be taken out.
Go and roast the animal.
Prepare the room with bread, wine, and dishes of herbs.
Ill. This isn’t a fast food meal. He’s asking them to spend the day preparing everything. It’s worth it. I remember my grandmother at Thanksgiving. She would prepare the cooking days ahead of time so that everything was ready at the meal time. For her, it was worth the effort. To the disciples, this is worth celebrating what God has done.
Christ - The Passover feast ultimately points to Christ as the lamb. For the many years they’ve practiced this tradition, it points directly to the ultimate lamb of God. It is the blood of the lamb that brings salvation. The son of God to be sacrificed. JB presents him as the lamb of God.
App. What do we do?
Obey his calling. He told them to go prepare, and they obeyed. Do you earnestly obey his calling?
Prepare your life for his purposes. Take the time to investigate every part of your life to see if it’s ready to be used for his purposes.
Truth #3: Jesus presents Himself (14-20)
Exp. We finally come to the last supper, passover meal. Verse 14-15. Normal to recline at the table. This scene is framed around his suffering. He wanted to eat with his disciples, as their last meal, and it’s the Passover meal. Verse 16. This is his last passover meal until the marriage supper of the lamb. Sit at his table. Verse 17-18. As it is his last meal, it is his last drink. The cup he will partake of next is the cup of suffering. Verse 19-20. Things to notice:
Given. Multiple times do we see his sacrifice as being “given.” Both he and the Father willingly gave him as a sacrifice.
We understand this as memorial. The bread and wine are not his actual body and blood as his body has not been broken and blood not spilled. Theological fallacy.
Exp. When we walk through communion, we are reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice for us. He is presenting himself as the sacrifice once and for all.
Ill. Hollywood award show. Acknowledge a lifetime achievement award. Presented by someone else. That’s how the Passover usually is. Presenting this lamb as the lamb from before. Jesus, instead is presenting himself as the true lamb who dies in our place.
Christ - Christ’s body was broken and blood shed for us. So that we wouldn’t have to die and face the wrath of God. He will also go and prepare the marriage supper of the lamb. Then, he will invite us to his table and we will feast in victory!
App. What do we do?
Partake of the Lord’s Supper. For those in Christ, we partake.
Remember Christ and his sacrifice. Communion shouldn’t be the only time we reflect.
Conclusion
This was the plan, and it could not be thwarted.
