The Last Supper

INTRO: New series - walking towards holy week.

Today we start in the upper room - Jesus just finished washing their feet, the Lord’s supper had been instituted - and then Jesus began to make a sobering statement...

John 13:18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

TROUBLED IN HIS SPIRIT

There was a party going on - wine had been shared - the lamb had been passed around - bread had been broken.

the din of the room was probably high from many convos.

but something off - the text tells us - he was deeply troubled in his spirit...

Judas - Jesus always knew who he was....

and knew what was about to happen..

knew the deal - knew the details - knew alll of it.

and there Judas was - more than likely - enjoying the party with everyone else.

imagine going to a dinner party with someone who had deeply wronged you, even unto death, and they sit down right next to you like nothing is wrong.

deeply troubled.

and in this - he makes the announcement.

ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME

one of you - who healed, intimate relationship, ministered with,

shared meals with - a sign of relationship, intimacy.

sales pitch illus.

one of YOU

Who is it???

nobody knew who it was… so they asked.

implied here - is the deep need for self-examination. WHO IS IT? Really - is it me?

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Think about this in light of JUDAS

he cast out demons - he helped feed the 5000 - the spirit worked through him… right?

God does work through individuals - but he also works through his church.

In other words - Judas was experiencing grace - but not because of who he was… because of who he was ATTACHED to.

which means - it is foolish for us to look at blessings in our lives and assume they are an indicator of our right standing with God.

is the grace / blessing I’m experiencing a result of my life? Or is it because I’m married to this solid Christian spouse? Or attached to this church?

Am I a tare or a wheat? A fruitless branch among the fruitful ones?

Matt 7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

APPLICATION

when you read this - we should all think - we have this possible betrayal within us. All of us do.

Peter denied the Lord

Peter was even led astray by Satan (get thee behind me!)

Judas stuck around w/ Jesus for a while - even after other disciples left!

the scriptures even say that Judas was a close friend of Jesus!

Judas cast out demons - performed miracles

and ultimately - Judas was greatly grieved over his sin - but still didn’t repent.

you can be sad about your sin - and never confess - never repent.

2 Cor 7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

THEREFORE - Throw off your hypocrisy

if you are living an outwardly religious life - church, comm group - but all the while nursing that secret sin…

believing the truth on the inside but not living it out in real life because of what it will cost you.

Judas was the opposite - fake on the outside, but on the inside he had turned.

“I DON”T WANNA BE JUDAS”

well then lets look at Peter

denied Christ 3x - “if you deny me before men ...”

but then he returned - repented - ripped off his clothes and swam to shore the moment he saw Jesus.

JUDAS? - Returned the money, but not to Jesus or to his church.

went to the priest, but not to Jesus.

no public confession - still keeping the secret - still preserving his reputation.

eventually it drove him mad - and he killed himself.

in his mind suicide was better than exposing his secret shame

NOW when we hear that we think - aw that’s terrible. BUT THINK LONGER

are there secrets in your life you’d rather take to the grave than to the cross? to Jesus’ church?

See? - Our Judas potential isn’t that far away. WE NEED GRACE

Take full responsibility. Confess. Repent. Peter did, Judas didn’t.

BUT - Judas was just a guide. He didn’t kill jesus.

but he was an accomplice - and therefore - guilty.

Play this out. - are you enabling your children’s sin? Accomplice. Your friends? Accomplice.

JUDAS’ END

After betrayal - filled with regret - tried to pay back - but still to no avail - priests didn’t even offer counsel of how to be restored.

just let him die.

and now? lives in hell.

LUKE 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Jesus calls this “woe”.

Judas - did miracles, saw miracles, heard the teachings daily, witnessed God incarnate for years… had direct access.

imagine the judgement.

Now - think on our nation.

we’re under a far greater jdugement than Sodom...

Now - let us think on ourselves.

we have heard much from the Bible proclaimed. but is it being lived?

Don’t take the silver. Repent. Restore.

and celebrate the Gospel.

Jesus comes to you the same way he came to Peter.

Don’t stay away like Judas did.