Pinewood Easter: The Lord's Supper

Story: Anticipating Something Great

My wife and I aren’t big movie or tv people, but we watch it. We may not have a tv in our living room, but there’s one in our bedroom. Don’t play like you don’t…. don’t lie. We’re in church! :)

We’ve been anticipating a great movie coming out in April… anyone know what I’m talking about? Avengers: Endgame - April 26th. Therefore, we have a marathon of Marvel movies that we have to watch to catch up on so that we’re ready for the magnitude of the event. We started off early this past week with the epic Captain America.

Implication of Captain America: this serum magnified whatever was on the inside, so they were looking for someone humble, and pure of heart that would lead America and win the war. Steve Rogers jumps on the grenade when everyone else ran away.

“No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 CSB

Background: Text Matthew 26:17-30

The Lord’s Supper occurred on Thursday evening, the day before Jesus went to trial and was crucified. Last Sunday we examined Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Let’s take a quick glance at the days and events that led up to the resurrection of Jesus.

Sunday - Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Monday - Cleansing the temple

Tuesday - Controversies with the Jewish leaders

Wednesday - Apparently a day of rest

Thursday - Preparation for Passover/Garden of Gethsemane

Friday - Trial and Crucifixion

Saturday - Jesus in the tomb

Sunday - Jesus raised from the dead

Jesus spent several days after his triumphal entry dialoguing with the Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and Scribes. To say that they were coming AT JESUS would be a great understatement. They wanted to trap Jesus in His own words, but Jesus would not be caught off guard. Jesus responded to every attack with not only great brilliance, but great authority. He also spends some time teaching His disciples during this time period. Then we come to Thursday and Jesus tells his disciples to go and prepare for the Passover meal. The occurrences that take place are in all three of the synoptic Gospels. (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) We will expound on the details of all three, but let’s look now at the account found in Matthew 26.

Passage: Matthew 26:17-30 CSB

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 “Go into the city to a certain man,” he said, “and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time is near; I am celebrating the Passover at your place with my disciples.’”19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 20 When evening came, he was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

21 While they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 Deeply distressed, each one began to say to him, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He replied, “The one who dipped his hand with me in the bowl—he will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, his betrayer, replied, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” “You have said it,” he told him.

26 As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Title: Good Grace, Good God

Main Points: series of events

1. The Passover Prepared
   1. History On The Passover
   2. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.” - Isaiah 53:7
   3. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” - John 1:29
   4. “According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” - Hebrews 9:22
   5. “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” - John 15:13 CSB
   6. The passover looked forward to the cross, the Lord’s Supper looks back at the cross and also forward to His return again!
2. The Betrayer Exposed

   1. Jesus honored His betrayer

      1. Judas sat to the left of Jesus at the Passover meal, which is considered a place of honor. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, sat on His right.
      2. It was also a sign of honor to dip your bread in the bowl of herbs and to have the host hand it to someone at the table.

      3. For Jesus, giving the bread was hospitality, but for Judas it was treachery.

         2. Jesus washed his feet

      4. Even though Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, he still knelt down, taking on the form of a slave (servant), and washed his feet.

      5. This takes Matthew 5 to another level when Jesus said to “love your enemies” does it not?

      6. Sometimes we have a hard time loving those in the family of God, let alone our enemies.

         3. Judas was by His side, but not on His side. He was with him, but not for Him. This is the ultimate definition of hypocrisy. Judas could look the part, say the right words, even sit at the place of honor, but all the while on the inside he was betraying the Son of God.
         4. Judas is the bad guy in the story, and I can give him that, but how often do we betray Jesus for far less than 30 pieces of silver?

      7. How many of you here today would say that you are “By His side”?

         1. You know of him, you are a big fan of his work, you might even say that you believe Him to be God, but that’s about as far as it goes. 2. How many of you here today would say that you’ve turned your back on Jesus for far less than 30 pieces of silver?

         2. When He calls you to follow Him, obey Him, trust Him, and you betray Him, turn your back on Him and go your own way.

         3. Question: Are you by Jesus' side or are you on Jesus' side?
            6. Judas was greedy. Money is simply a magnifier of your heart. If you are greedy with a little, then it can often be more easily hidden, but when you are greedy with a lot then it is more easily exposed.
            7. “Money doesn’t solve the problem, it reveals the problem. A generous spirit is not fixed with wealth, it is only magnified with wealth”
            8. Jesus tells Judas “What you do, do quickly” - John 13:27
         4. The Lord’s Supper Established
            1. Established by Jesus

      8. We see Jesus establish the Lord’s Supper at the Passover meal.

      9. Definitions: It is the Lord’s Supper because it commemorates the Passover meal Jesus shared with the disciples, it is the Eucharist (thanksgiving) because in it we give thanks to Christ for the work done for us, and it is Communion because in it we commune with both God and other believers.

         2. Affirmed by Paul

      10. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

      11. Paul affirms the elements, order, and reason for the church repeating the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 10-11.

      12. Paul is writing this to a local church, he addresses that this ordinance is for when they “come together” 5 times in 1 Corinthians 11, and he addresses the issue of taking of the elements in an unworthy manner. Paul clearly teaches that a worthy manner is one who examines their heart and motivation before receiving the elements.

          3. Practiced by The Church

      13. 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

      14. The ordinance has been practiced unbroken for two thousand years since Jesus first established it and it will not stop till He comes again in glory!

Closing:

Walking Points: How to partake of the Lord’s Supper

1. Look Back - Remember

   1. In those tough seasons when you don’t feel Jesus is near, in those moments of anxiety and depression, when everyone around you seems to be bailing... remember. Remember God’s faithfulness. Remember His blood. Remember He sticks closer than a brother and He will never leave you or forsake you.
   2. “Do this in remembrance of me…”
   3. We remember, not as one walking around a monument, or one grieving, but as ones that get to thank God who died for us and is alive today! We have fellowship with a risen Savior and we get to experience His presence through faith.

   4. Look Within - Examine

   5. “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:27-28

   6. It is dangerous to partake of the Lord’s Supper with an unprepared heart or in a careless manner. This table is for believers. Baptism is not required to take it, but faith in Jesus is.

   7. Look Around - Unite

   8. “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, since all of us share the one bread.” 1 Corinthians 10:17

   9. In communion we get to commune with God and other fellow believers. This is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ.

   10. Look Ahead - Proclaim

   11. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:26

   12. Jesus is coming back. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” Revelation 1:7

Closing: A traditional song sung at the Passover meal was Psalms 113-118. I want to read a portion of that Scripture for you today with the reality of what Christ was about to experience and accomplish for you and for me.

Psalm 118:22-29 CSB

The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

23 This came from the Lord;

it is wondrous in our sight.

24 This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

25 Lord, save us!

Lord, please grant us success!

26 He who comes in the name

of the Lord is blessed.

From the house of the Lord we bless you.

27 The Lord is God and has given us light.

Bind the festival sacrifice with cords

to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks.

You are my God; I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his faithful love endures forever.