A Journey to Calvary; His Passion our Deliverance Part 2
The Revelation of the Last Supper
Am Service March 29th 2009
Matthew 26:17-30
Introduction
If you knew that you were going to die tomorrow what would you want to do? Would you want to go somewhere that you’ve never been before, or see something that you’ve never seen before?
If you knew that you only had a few hours to live who would you want to talk to? Who would you want to spend time with? Would you want to talk to the President or go see an old friend that you haven’t seen in a while? Or maybe you would just like to spend a relaxing evening at home with your family.
This morning we will see how Jesus chose to spend the last few hours of his life. You see, Jesus realized that His life on earth was quickly coming to an end. He didn’t choose to do something that He had never done before, or talk to someone that He had never met. Instead He chose to do something that He had done several times. He chose observe the Passover with His Disciples. One more fellowship with his closest friends, but this supper was more than just another Passover celebration, or another meal together, it was so much more than that.
Jesus in this passage of scripture will reveal to us four things about the last supper, that teaches us about ourselves and God’s plan for salvation.
Read Scriptures: Matthew 26:17-30
I. The Last Supper Reveals that God is always in Control.
Vs. 17-19 “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ’The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ "So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.”
Jesus is now living the last hours of his life on earth, He knows what is ahead in the hours, and here we find Him, not frantic, not worried, not rushing through trying to settle up old matters. He is in complete control, he sends His disciples ahead already knowing that this certain man had a room for them to celebrate this Passover meal together. He is in complete control.
Church, when you begin to understand that God is in complete control of this world and everything in it, your life will change forever. God is sovereign.
1. He is omniscient-He can answer your most trying questions.
2. He is omnipotent-He is strong enough to overcome your biggest obstacle.
3. He is omnipresent-wherever you may go; He will be there with you.
No matter what pain, trial, or tragedy comes your way, rejoice that your Father will be there to work it out for your good, no matter what. Because there is never a point when God is not in control, and the last supper reveals that to us today.
II. The Last Supper Reveals that my sin is not hidden from God
Vs. 21-25 “And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?" Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."”
I can imagine that Judas never mentioned any of this publicly, about his betrayal of Jesus. I am quite confident that he thought all of this is a secret; he would get the thirty pieces of silver and still be able to fellowship with Jesus.
What Judas didn’t understand is who in fact Jesus is. Jesus is almighty God, Jesus saw Judas’ heart and mind, He already knew what his intentions were.
There are many things that we do that we think is secret from everybody. We may have thoughts that aren’t clean, we may gossip about someone, we may use some language that a Christian shouldn’t use, or we may pull a "fast one" on someone and cheat them out of money or something, and think that "no one will ever know about this but me." But as the Last supper reveals, nothing is hidden from God.
Judas thought he could get away with what he was doing, but he soon realized he wasn’t getting away with anything. You want to no something this morning, neither are you, He sees, He knows, stop it today and confess it to Him, and let Him forgive you, and you can move on, that hidden sin is really burdening you, and you can’t take it anymore, just stop before like Judas it destroys you.
III. The Last Supper Reveals the true purpose for Jesus coming to Earth.
Vs. 26-28 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Jesus didn’t come to just teach us some good moral things about life, He came for a purpose and a reason. He came for the purpose of “giving his life as a ransom for many”.
He came to be our blood sacrifice, so that in this new covenant my sins would be forgiven, so that those who place there faith and trust in Him would be righteous before God. He came to die in my place. He came to suffer in my place, He came to shed His innocent blood in the place of my guilty sin stained life. He came so that I may have life, eternal life.
He came to give me what I could never earn, pay for, or borrow, He came to give me salvation full and free, free for me, but cost Him is life on the cross.
Let me ask you “Are you washed in the blood of the lamb?” The last supper reveals to us the purpose for Jesus coming to earth.
IV. The Last Supper Reveals the promise of my eternal future.
Vs. 29-30 “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
This is a promise from Jesus to us. Jesus promised to celebrate the Supper with His followers in the future. Who says there is no eternal security?
This is a great promise from Jesus to all of His genuine follower’s, they will sit with Christ and the great marriage feast of the Lamb. It is a promise of perfection and of being part of the new heavens and the new earth, and sitting with Christ in the kingdom of God.
The promise is mine, and it can be for you if you give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. The last supper reveals the promise of my eternal future.
Conclusion
The last supper reveals that God is truly in control, that my sin is never hidden from Him, it reveals Jesus purpose for coming to earth, and it reveals the promise of my eternal future.
Let me ask you this morning, is your life out of control, maybe you need to let God bring control and order to your life you can come today and bring Him your burdens, your cares, your worries, your addictions, maybe you have been convicted of some hidden sin that you thought you were getting away with, but you’re not, God sees, and He wants to forgive you this morning if you come to Him in repentance, maybe you are thinking that you are going to heaven because your not a bad person, you’ve never killed anyone, and that may be true, you still sin, you have still broken God’s law and you need Jesus’ blood to cover your sin, you can come humbly in repentance and receive the Lord Jesus Christ for your very own today, and you can have the last revelation of the Last Supper which the eternal promise of heaven. This altar will be open for you today.
(Thanks sermoncentral contributor, Preacher’s outline and sermon bible)
