The Lord’s Supper – Luke 22:14-20

In this supper we see the compassion of Christ as he prepares himself and his disciples for the cross. Jesus, as the host of the Passover, would have greeted each disciple with a kiss, even Judas Iscariot.

Demonstrating his compassion for his disciples.

He would warn them of the soon unfolding events that would lead to his death.

He told Peter that Satan had desired a chance to destroy him, and that he had prayed for Peter to overcome and when he returned that he would be an encouragement to his brothers.

Jesus also washed his disciple’s feet as a demonstration of the cleansing that can only come through himself.

He was compassionately preparing them for the cleansing that he was about to accomplish, so that they could believe on him. He gave them promises of the future, that the kingdom of God would be fulfilled in their presence. He gave them warning that he would not drink of the fruit of the vine until he drank with them in his Father’s kingdom.

Jesus prepared his disciples because of his love for them.

It took allot to prepare for the Passover meal, especially since they had:

To borrow a room to celebrate in.

The lamb had to be sacrificed at the temple, · The room secured, the table set, and the food prepared in the proper manner.

Jesus knew the danger in being in town:

He knew that the Jews were looking for him. · He knew he had a traitor in his midst.

He knew that his disciples would all flee in fear.

He knew that he would be denied before men.

He knew that he would be mocked and beaten and scourged.

He knew that the crown of thorns would pierce his head.

He knew that his own people that he loved would reject him and have him condemned to death.

He knew what awaited on the cross.

Still his concern was with his disciples. But how does this relate to us today in our celebration of the Lord’s Supper? When we join to the Lord’s Supper what should be our attitude? What do we take away from the remembrance of Calvary? What is the compassion of Christ in the Lord’s supper for us? What are we missing if we do not pay attention?

We partake in as living beings

We physically partake of a ceremony to honor Jesus

We are intimately involved

We consume the bread and the fruit of the vine

It becomes a part of us

This is something that every individual believer is told to participate in 1.

It is not just something done by worldly priests, or clergy

It is done by you, the believer. “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

Reminds us we depend on God for wherewithal

Psalm 73:26 - My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

The supper is given to us from Jesus

One of our 2 sacraments of the church (Baptism, Lord’s Supper) i.

God is the provider of the physical bread and grapes ii.

God is the one who causes the life to grow in the vine and in us iii.

We are dependent upon God for our life (physical and spiritual) Acts 17:28 – For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Acts 17:28 KJV 1900

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

The presence of Christ

Jesus told his twelve, “with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you”

Desire here means a strong longing for (to set ones heart on) same word used twice in this sentence… with desire I have desired… a compassionate longing.

Jesus desired to have this specific meal with his disciples

Jesus knew that his sacrifice would save us from the penalty of sin = death

Jesus knew that his blood would make a new covenant of peace between God and man.

He knew that this sacrifice would forever change our relationship with God and ensure our eternal destiny to be with God.

Jesus desires to have this specific meal with you today.. “For where two of three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Matthew 18:20 KJV 1900

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This promise is for those who believe on Jesus Christ as both Lord and Savior

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21, KJV

Jesus desires that you would believe and come to his table to be blessed by his death, burial and resurrection.

“For thus says the high and lofty One Who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and the revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isaiah 57:15)

“This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29)

“For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” (John 6:33)

“I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Reminder of the sacrifice

Reminder that we have eternal life through the death of Jesus Christ

Read parts of American Journal of Medicine on Death of Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth underwent Jewish and Roman trials, was flogged, and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. The scourging produced deep stripelike lacerations and appreciable blood loss, and it probably set the stage for hypovolemic shock as evidenced by the fact that Jesus was too weakened to carry the crossbar (patibulum) to Golgotha. At the site of crucifixion his wrists were nailed to the patibulum, and after the patibulum was lifted onto the upright post, (stipes) his feet were nailed to the stipes. The major pathophysiologic effect of crucifixion was an interference with normal respirations. Accordingly, death resulted primarily from hypovolemic shock and exhaustion asphyxia. Jesus’ death was ensured by the thrust of a soldier’s spear into his side. Modern medical interpretation of the historical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead when taken down from the cross. (JAMA 1986; 255:1455-1463)

Gethsemane, Jesus, apparently knowing that the time of his death was near, suffered great mental anguish, and, as described by the physician Luke, his sweat became like blood. Although this is a very rare phenomenon, bloody sweat (hematidrosis or hemohidrosis) may occur in highly emotional states…

Flogging was a legal preliminary to every Roman execution,28 and only women and Roman senators or soldiers (except in cases of desertion) were exempt.11 The usual instrument was a short whip (flagellum or flagellum) with several single or braided leather thongs of variable lengths, in which small iron balls or sharp pieces of sheep bones were tied at intervals

As the Roman soldiers repeatedly struck the victim’s back with full force, the iron balls would cause deep contusions, and the leather thongs and sheep bones would cut into the skin and subcutaneous tissues.7 Then, as the flogging continued, the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh.2,7,25 Pain and blood loss generally set the stage for circulatory shock.

Crucifixion = Latin from excruciatus meaning “out of the cross” – describe crucifixion

Jesus’ death after only three to six hours on the cross surprised even Pontius Pilate. 1 The fact that Jesus cried out in a loud voice and then bowed his head and died suggests the possibility of a catastrophic terminal event.

Assures us of Pardon

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9 KJV 1900

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Romans 8:1 - [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 8:1 KJV 1900

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Gives us reason to reflect

Gives us reason to reflect on our own lives before we participate in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. As the musicians come forward, let us bow our heads and prepare our hearts for the Lord’s Supper. If you need to come to the alter to pray, come now