March 6, 2022
Morning Service

We have been on a yearlong journey with Jesus through the writings of Matthew.  In the next seven weeks we will experience what the last three days of His life here on earth were like.  Victory lies ahead on Resurrection Sunday, but we must endure all that happens on Thursday and Friday along with the Sabbath Day to get there.  Last week we read of Mary’s gift to Jesus.  She gave her best because she knew who He was and what He had already done for her.  Her best is what He deserved and she gave it willingly, humbly and from the heart.  Today we begin with Judas’ decision to betray our Lord.

Mat 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests (15) and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver.  (16)  So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.

            We had a glimpse of Judas’ heart last week as John informed us that he was the keeper of the money box and had been stealing from it.  In reality Judas is used of God to complete His will in this plan of salvation.  He is the Potter and we all are the clay; in His Sovereignty God chose Judas to play this part.

 

Mat 26:17-19Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"  (18)  And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples." ' "  (19)  So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

            The Feast of the Unleavened Bread was a week-long memorial celebration of God’s rescue of Israel from the enslavement by the Egyptians through Moses.  During this time, they removed yeast from their homes to commemorate the quick exit they took from Egypt where they did not have time to let the bread rise.  The celebration peeked with the Passover meal which was done as a reminder of the final of the ten plagues that God brought upon Egypt.  The children of Israel were instructed to kill a lamb and place its blood above the door post of their home.  That night the death angel came through the land of Egypt to kill the firstborn in each home EXCEPT he would “Passover” the home with the blood of the lamb on it.  The fact that they were saved because of the blood of the lamb is a shadow of Jesus’ blood saving us.  He is the true Passover Lamb.  It is by design that Jesus chooses this time to establish for us this memorial to remember Him and His sacrifice.

 

Mat 26:20-25 When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.  (21)  Now as they were eating, He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me."  (22)  And they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, "Lord, is it I?"  (23)  He answered and said, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.  (24)  The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."  (25)  Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, "Rabbi, is it I?" He said to him, "You have said it."

            Though Jesus knew it was Judas who would betray Him, he was given the seat of honor next to the Lord for this final meal.  Jesus never treated Judas differently of ever let on to the others what his future held.  That is an act of patience and long suffering we all can learn from.  Notice upon the announcement of the betrayal, each of them became sorrowful and asked; “Is it I?”  Their initial reaction was to look at themselves not the men around them that they had grown to know so well.  This shows me they had ownership of their faith realizing their own weaknesses not looking to blame someone else.  Each of us need to realize the thin line that lies between us and yielding to temptation.  At the moment we feel we are above failing, or blame someone else that is exactly when we fall.  Always be mindful of the path you are walking and own up to your failures when they come.  As long we wear this flesh, we are vulnerable to sin. 

            To be invited and share a meal with someone is sign of relationship.  There is an intimacy and closeness that comes from eating together and the fellowship that goes along with that. This meal was important to Jesus as He knew it was the calm before the storm.  He knew what was ahead for Him and also for each of these men He had chosen to follow Him.  In his gospel John writes of Jesus before the meal washing each, even Judas’, feet as an example of how to be great by humbly serving.  That set the tone for the intimacy of this evening.

 

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

            Jesus, in the other gospels, adds to this “do this in remembrance of Me.”  He is instituting a time of remembrance of the cost of our salvation for us to partake in. Jesus states that “this is My body and this is My blood.”  The bread and the juice are symbolic elements which spiritually should be viewed exactly as He states here; “My body and blood.”  This event has been given many names and each one has a meaning and I think by looking at them we can gain an understanding of it.  Each of these should be running through our minds as we partake each week here at the Lord’s Table.  It is commonly called the Lord’s Supper reflecting upon it as the Passover meal.  They were commemorating the faithfulness of God to save them, but now is to be done is remembrance of God’s faithfulness to give His Son to save us from sin and death.  As I partake of the Lord’s Supper, remember the cost of my salvation.  It is called the Eucharist which means “thanksgiving.”  I partake of it in thankfulness for He offers to me a way to atone for my sins through the blood of Jesus; redemption with My Creator.  I am also thankful that His blood established the new covenant that is based on “grace and mercy” and the giving of the Holy Spirit.  It allows me to fail, as long as I sincerely seek repentance for that failure and get up and continue following.  In partaking of the Eucharist, I will be thankful for God’s love and the new covenant I am blessed to be under.  We typically call this the Communion. As I partake, it is a time of communing with my Lord in an intimate, personal way. It is a time I can reflect on the journey He has shared with me to bring me to this point of faith in my life. Jesus proclaimed that “unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood you have no life in you.”  Partaking demonstrates that I have fellowship with Jesus and have been given eternal life.  It is also done in community with other believers unifying us as we reflect together the sacrifice of the One we have all chosen to follow.  I eat and drink individually, but also unified as a family of believers who acknowledge that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”  In partaking of the Communion, I celebrate the relationship I have been invited to enjoy with my Lord, Savior and Friend of which I am not worthy.

            The early church partook every first day of the week and we have chosen to follow that pattern.  Many feel by doing it every week, we minimize the impact and makes it too routine.  I disagree!  This time of communing with the Lord should be precious to you each and every time.  If you take it in a routine manner, then your outlook needs to be adjusted.  As it was an honor for the disciples to be invited to dine with their Master, we should be honored to be invited to commune with Him each week.  It is to cause us to remember, make us thankful, and to intimately commune with the One who gave His all for us.