The Lord's Supper

Good morning, welcome to NHCC, please open Bibles to Mark 14.

Read Mark 14:12-25- And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For 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.” And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Our text centers around the preparation for the celebration of passover with Jesus and His disciples, followed by the meal that would come to be known as the last supper, or the Lord’s supper.

There are some things in our text to which our attention ought to be drawn.

The continued plan of God and knowledge of Christ.

Mentioned this last week.

While we move forward through Jesus’ passion, it is tempting to think of Him as a person who has lost all control.

Consider what it takes for us to doubt God’s power and sovereignty.

What difference does this make for our lives?

Kent Hughes- “A God who is in control when the foundations of his own earthly existence are crumbling is a God who can be trusted to sustain us when it appears our life is tumbling in.”

The doubt of the disciples.

How does the meal begin?

Jesus is not only aware of His coming arrest, torture and death.

He is also aware that one of the disciples will betray Him.

The response to Jesus’ prediction is one of sorrow from the disciples.

Sorrowful- same word used by Mark to describe the response of the rich young ruler.

The disciples were torn up as they became aware of their own limitations.

Surely not me vs. It’s not me, is it?

Doesn’t this question strike at our hearts?

The importance of the meal.

Jesus brings up a few times the fact that the betrayer is sitting at the table with Him. That they are sharing a meal together. They are dipping their bread in the same cup.

Why does Jesus continually bring this up?

There is an intimacy with Jesus.

David Garland- “Eating bread with someone barred one from hostile acts against that person. Table fellowship had more significance for Jews than simply a social gathering. Eating together was evidence of peace, trust, forgiveness and brotherhood. To betray the one who had given you his bread was a horrendous act.”

Religious leaders- Why does he hang around with and eat with tax collectors and sinners?

Problem, not just the proximity, but also the inviting in.

Shown clearly in Psalm 41:9- Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.

In a psalm that focuses on God’s protection of His own in the worst of circumstances, betraying someone at table is given as a horrifying example.

What is the significance of the false closeness with Jesus?

Listening to Sam Alberry.

Three options. Reject Jesus, Play the part of a Christian, or reject sin.

Many seem to walk the middle road, which is truly no Christian road at all.

The misunderstood bread.

Chapter 6- Feeding of the 5000.

Jesus walks to them on the sea and they were terrified.

Mark 6:52- for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Chapter 8- Feeding of the 4000.

Disciples saw the large crowd, had the same reaction that they did with the 5000.

Send them away, we can’t feed them all. We have no bread.

Later in chapter 8- disciples have no bread to feed themselves.

Mark 8:17-18- And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

What happens in Mark’s gospel when bread is involved? Jesus communicates a MAJOR truth concerning Himself and His mission and the disciples fail to understand the significance of His statements.

They may fail to understand the significance of the bread that Jesus is giving to them, but they will remember. For thousands of years, we continue to remember.

We now turn our attention to the receiving of communion this morning.

So how might we approach Communion together this morning?

We always have a meditation, but my purpose is a tad different this morning.

What was Jesus putting into the minds of His disciples on the night in which He shared this meal with them?

Think inward.

Much like the disciples had a moment of reflection, asking the question of whether it was them who would betray Jesus, our minds are directed inwardly.

Receiving communion together is a time for us to consider a few things about ourselves that will inevitably draw us to a time of repentance.

Who are we apart from Christ?

Colossians 2:13-14- And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Who have we become thanks to Christ?

Romans 5:18- Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

How are we still sinning, even with Christ?

Romans 7:19- For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.

What is required of us due to our sin?

1 John 1:9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Why do we practice communion taken only by those who have placed faith in Jesus Christ?

Understand all of what I just went through. The mind apart from Christ understand none of it.

Think upward.

Consider what it is that God through Christ is accomplishing for mankind.

Jesus draws attention completely to what He will experience in His coming suffering and death on the cross.

The death will be violent, shown through the pouring of wine and breaking, or tearing, of bread.

The death will be necessary and atoning, as shown through the commonplace and necessary elements of food and drink.

Receiving the bread and cup must never become empty ritual.

Also consider the great love with which Christ loves us.

Jewish meals- host would stand to give the blessing- “Praise be Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who causes bread to come forth from the earth.”

Bread was broken and handed out, symbolizing a giving of the blessing to all who received the broken bread.

David Garland- “When Jesus breaks the bread and distributes it to the disciples, it means that what has happened to this bread will also happen to him. The broken bread given to the disciples also symbolizes that his Passion will benefit them and is an acted-out parable of his offering up his life for the many. These disciples can never eat another meal without thinking about what Jesus did for them on the cross.”

What is true for those disciples ought to be true of us as well.

Think outward.

We tend to be pretty individualistic, and it carries over into our worship.

We like quiet and darkness so we will not be distracted. We like space so that we can be comfortable.

But the dinner with Christ was anything but individualistic.

It is interesting that everything was done in community. Jesus didn’t pull people separately into private.

Everything He communicated was meant to draw the disciples not only closer to Jesus, but also to one another.

If we were truly thinking biblically about this meal of bread and wine, and if Covid was not allowing closeness, our time for communion would be accomplished in community with one another.

Jesus didn’t only die for me, He died for us.

He doesn’t only call me to holiness and righteousness, He calls all of us to them.

He does not only command evangelism of me as an individual, He commands us to make disciples in all the world, and often this evangelism is accomplished in community.

Receive communion together.

Take the bread- break it- Remember the words of Christ- “Take, this is my body.”

Take the cup- Remember the words of Christ- “Take, this is the blood of my covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Pray.

Invitation.