March 30, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 22:1-23;

 

As Jesus continues His journey to Calvary, Luke tells us of the desires of the chief priests, and scribes.  They seek to find a way to kill Jesus, that will not upset the people.  This morning we will see two important events happen, Judas agrees to betray the Lord, and the institution of the communion service.

 

Luk 22:1-23  Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 

·         Now this is a very important event in the life of a Jew.  They would kill the Passover lamb, prepare it the way they were told to, and then the next 7 days were the feast of Unleavened bread.

Pass'over. The first of the three great annual festivals of the Israelites, celebrated in the month Nisan, (March-April) from the 14th to the 21st. (Strictly speaking the Passover only applied to the Paschal Supper, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed, which was celebrated to the 21st). The following are the principal passages, in the Pentateuch, relating to the Passover : Exo_12:1-51; Exo_13:3-10; Exo_23:14-19; Exo_34:18-26; Lev_23:4-14; Num_9:1-14; Num_28:16-25; Deu_16:1-6.

(2)  And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.  (3)  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.  (4)  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.  (5)  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.  (6)  And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude. 

·         It is very easy to speculate why Judas did what he did, but it wouldn’t change the fact that he betrays the Lord.

·         The thing we must understand is Jesus knows everything that is going on, and that will happen.  However, this will not lighten the pain of His torture, nor the hurt in His heart of what is about to happen.  He knew, and dreaded Calvary, as is witnessed in His prayer in the garden. “Father if it be Thy will let this cup pass from me.”

(7)  Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the assover must be killed.  (8)  And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.  (9)  And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?  (10)  And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.  (11)  And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?  (12)  And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.  (13)  And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the Passover. 

·         Again, another example of our Lord knowing all things.

(14)  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.  (15)  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:  (16)  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  (17)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:  (18)  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.  (19)  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (20)  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 

·         Mat 26:26-29  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  (27)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  (28)  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  (29)  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

·         Mar 14:22-25  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.  (23)  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.  (24)  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.  (25)  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

·         This portion of Scripture for John’s gospel, is found in chapter 13.  John chose to elaborate on Judas’s betrayal, and teaching the disciples a lesson on humility, by washing their feet. 

It was the duty of a servant to wash the feet of guests. It became a matter of necessity where they traveled without shoes.  This was done by Jesus to show His servitude to man, and for them to learn that they should never consider themselves to good to do this for someone else.

 

Jesus made the statement;  Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

 

So how do we build our faith that Jesus became our Passover Lamb, and fulfilled the laws demands?

When Paul was writing to the church at Corinth he addressed the problem of open fornication in the church, and he said this:

1.       1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

2.      Paul recognized that Jesus fulfilled the demand of the law for a blood sacrifice.  If we recall the story of Cain, and Abel, we will remember that God showed these two men what He expected as a sacrifice.  Blood.

3.      The Hebrew writer makes it very clear concerning the blood sacrifice.  Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

4.      Heb 9:11-14  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (13)  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  (14)  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The letter to the Hebrews is an excellent description of the superiority of the work of Jesus, (New Testament), in comparison to the law, and what He purchased for mankind.    

 

One of the very clear pictures of Jesus as the Lamb of God is found in the Book of Revelations;

Rev 5:1-6  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.  (2)  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  (3)  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  (4)  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  (5)  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.  (6)  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

·         It was prophesied in the Book of Genesis chapter 49 that the Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah.

·         This was when Israel was pronouncing blessings on his sons;  Gen 49:10  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.  Shiloh, referring to the Messiah.

While instituting the New Testament communion service, Luke gives us this;  THIS DO, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

·         God entrusted further explanation of this service to the Apostle Paul.  I Cor. 10-11.

·         As we study church history we find that the church understood the order, and teaching.

·         It was one of the primary reasons they came together.

·         Jesus had made it very clear to John in chapter six of his gospel, that unless we eat the body, and drink His blood, we would have no life in us.  It was a hard saying for some, but with all the revelation that has been given, we now understand what He meant, and how it could be done.

We finish this morning with Jesus saying this;

(21)  But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.  (22)  And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!  (23)  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

·         Goes as it was determined.  Sam brought a very good study on predestination, and foreknowledge of God, a while back on Wednesday evening.  You can rest assured, when you put Jesus in control of your life, nothing just happens, He directs, and controls all things.            Kenny’s testimony.

 

Almighty God, give to us the proper understanding, and true meaning of our communion service, and help us not to wear the cloak of betrayal as did Judas.