Matthew 26:26 - 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."
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I 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."
We’re in the series on Living Life on Purpose, further investigating the purpose driven life of Christ by observing His answers to pressing questions.
Today we’re covering one of the most important foundations for a life lived on purpose. If you care anything at all about living a life that has meaning, a life that is really headed somewhere worthwhile, then it begins by becoming and Staying Focused on Christ. This is the principle that will take you to the pinnacle of a purpose driven life. Christ must be the central figure of consideration in your heart and mind.
In a few minutes we’re going to look at some specific questions asked of Jesus just before His crucifixion but first we’re going to recognize the significance of what we just read. Our question for today comes later on in this same chapter, chapter 26 of Matthew’s Good News account, shortly after Jesus had instituted communion as an observance of the church.
Why did Jesus, the same night He was betrayed, set forth this ordinance commemorating His death?
There’s no doubt that communion is an awesome picture of the broken body and shed blood of Christ. It’s a great teaching tool about the significance of Christ’s sacrifice and how each of us needs to make the personal choice of a faith commitment to Him.
Our hearts are filled with love and appreciation as we look back to that day that Jesus gave His all for us. No greater gift has ever been given in the history of the universe.
In addition to being a teaching tool, focusing on Christ is the main thing that will keep your life on track. Communion provides a great means of focusing your attention on what’s really important. We focus on Jesus because He is the central figure, not only in all of human history, but also in each one of our lives in particular. Jesus is not just an historical figure – He’s that for sure. But He’s also a very real and central figure to each of us.
Communion helps us remember to stay focused on Christ.
Why is staying focused on Christ so significant?
Notice what happens shortly after Christ initiated communion as an ordinance of the church.
Matthew 26:57 (NLT) Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religious law and other leaders had gathered. 58Meanwhile, Peter was following far behind and eventually came to the courtyard of the high priest’s house. He went in, sat with the guards, and waited to see what was going to happen to Jesus.
59Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find witnesses who would lie about Jesus so they could put him to death. 60But even though they found many who agreed to give false witness, there was no testimony they could use. Finally, two men were found 61who declared, "This man said, `I am able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’"
(Of course Jesus did not say He would destroy the temple, He said His enemies would do so, and He said He would raise the temple back up – speaking of His body as a temple. John 2:19-22)
62Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" 63But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I demand in the name of the living God that you tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
64Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And in the future you will see me, the Son of Man (a Messianic title), sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven."
65Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror, shouting, "Blasphemy! Why do we need other witnesses? You have all heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?"
"Guilty!" they shouted. "He must die!"
What is the significance of staying focused on Christ? What does Christ’s answer to the questions of the chief priest have to say to us? High Priest to Jesus: "Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" "…tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
Christ had clearly proven He was the Messiah, the Christ. His life had already spoken volumes about who He was. He was the embodiment of fulfilled prophecies, He performed instantaneous and credible miracles, He spoke as no one but His Father had spoken before.
"Are you the Messiah?" What an incredible question to ask Jesus!
It was a question spawned by fear and hatred and bias, ignorance and evil. As we learned last week, Christ’s enemies unwittingly took part in proving by their questions that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the Lamb of God!
In all, Jesus was carted to six illegal, unjust trials - three before the Jewish authorities, and three before the Romans. This is the second trial before the Jews and we see that Jesus is patient before His accusers. The Scriptures prophesy as to why He was so patient.
Isaiah 53:7 (CEV) 7He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off.
Jesus was patient because He was the Lamb of God. He was offering Himself up as a payment for the world’s sins. It was, of course, all a part of the Divine Plan. Jesus was not condemned to die because His enemies wore Him down. He didn’t die because He couldn’t sufficiently defend Himself before His detractors. He died willingly.
John 10:18a (CEV) "No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly!"
The reason Christ didn’t defend Himself is because He was protecting you and me!
Without credible witnesses His accusers knew that Jesus would have to condemn Himself with His own words. So they asked Him these questions of identity: "Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" "…tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God."
Sometimes Jesus would answer the questions of His accusers and sometimes He wouldn’t. His determination not to answer at times and to answer briefly when He did answer was in order to intentionally bring about His appointed death.
Which gives us the first answer as to why we should stay focused on Christ.
1. Staying focused on Christ is the best way to show Him the love He deserves.
1 John 4:19 (KJV) We love Him because He first loved us.
An enemy king captured a prince and his family. When brought before the enemy king, the prince was asked, "What will you give me if I release you?" "Half of my wealth," was the reply of the prince. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, for her I would give myself," said the prince.
The king was so moved by the prince’s devotion to his family that he freed them all.
As they returned home the prince said to his wife, "Wasn’t the king a bighearted man?"
With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn’t notice. I could keep my eyes only on the one who was willing to give himself for my sake."
When you stay focused on Christ’s sacrifice of Himself you begin to increase your awareness of how much He deserves your love and loyalty. You sense something of the magnitude of His grace and mercy. Your heart swells with appreciation, with thanksgiving.
In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality, Donald Miller writes:
"A guy I know named Alan went around the country asking ministry leaders questions. He went to successful churches and asked the pastors what they were doing, why what they were doing was working.
...one visit he made to a man named Bill Bright, the president of a big ministry. Alan said he was a big man, full of life, who listened without shifting his eyes. Alan asked a few questions. I don’t know what they were, but as a final question he asked Dr. Bright what Jesus meant to him.
Alan said Dr. Bright could not answer the question. He said Dr. Bright just started to cry. He sat there in his big chair behind his big desk and wept."
When is the last time you told Jesus with tears or with words how much you love Him and appreciate His great sacrifice for you?
1. Focusing on Christ is the best way to show Him the love He deserves.
2. Staying focused on Christ is the only way to have eternal life.
One of the best illustrations of this truth is a biblical one.
In the Old Testament the people of God began to grow impatient with God and with their God-appointed leader, Moses, as they traveled in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. They complained about the shortage of water and the lack of variety in their food. They detested the manna, the "angel’s food" (Ps. 78:25) that they ate every day. In so doing they were scorning God Himself, for that manna was a type of Christ. (John 6)
Numbers 21:6 (NLT) So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among them, and many of them were bitten and died. 7Then the people came to Moses and cried out, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes." So Moses prayed for the people.
8Then the LORD told him, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" 9So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered!
In the New Testament Christ applies this principle of God’s grace to Himself.
John 3:14 (NLT) And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, 15so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life.
God instructed Moses to place a replica of the very thing that was killing the people in the wilderness – poisonous snakes. And Jesus was lifted up on a cross to become the very thing that is killing us all – sin! Sin kills. Christ became the world’s sin offering.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
R. Albert Mohler recently wrote, "Most Americans assume themselves to be good and decent persons. They are amused at the notion that they are sinners against God.
"We assume our need for therapy. The Gospel insists on our need of salvation. We want to work it out ourselves. The Gospel argues that this leads to death. We want to look within. The Gospel points us to Christ. We want to do our part. The Gospel insists that Jesus paid it all. We demand to get what we deserve. The Gospel warns that this is exactly what we will receive, unless we turn to Christ in faith.
Grace is an alien concept in American culture. Sin is almost outlawed as a category."
When they asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, Jesus told His detractors, "Yes, it is as you say," (v.64) In other words, "Yes, I am the Anointed One of the Father, I am the Messiah, the Christ, I am the One sent to take away the sins of the world and there is no other way for people to be saved from the consequences of their actions. You must look to Me!"
"Moses didn’t stick the pole inside the tabernacle or even in the tabernacle court, because nobody is ever saved by keeping the law. The uplifted serpent was the only cure in the camp, just as Jesus is the only Savior of sinners in the world. Nobody could look at the bronze serpent for another person; each dying sinner had to look for himself or herself. The salvation Christ offers is personal and individual, and each of us must look to Christ by faith. No matter how hard they tried, no dying Jew could save himself or herself. The only salvation available was what God had graciously provided, and if you rejected it, you died." (Warren Wiersbe)
John 3:36 (Msg) That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that."
1. Staying focused on Christ is the best way to show Him the love He deserves.
2. Staying focused on Christ is the only way to have eternal life.
3. Staying focused on Christ is the only sure way to stay hopeful about the future!
64Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as you say. And IN THE FUTURE you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand in the place of power and coming back on the clouds of heaven."
Jesus was using a well-known Old Testament reference to the Messiah. "The Son of Man" was a term that indicated that the Son of God would be human. He would be God and man at the same time. Jesus was saying, "Yes, I’m God. Some of you don’t get it that I’m God, because I came to this earth as a human. But God has been predicting this for centuries! But even if you didn’t get it at my first coming – you will see it at my second coming!"
The Old Testament prophets foretold this.
Daniel 7:13 (NIV) "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel was amazed to see someone coming from heaven in human form – but that’s exactly what Jesus did at His first coming and what He will do at His second coming! Faithful Daniel saw what the faithless religious leaders of Christ’s day would not see. Jesus is the Messiah! Jesus is the Savior and He is also the Lord!
He came the first time as a baby in a manger. That’s a fact of history. But He’s coming a second time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords – that’s a fact of prophecy! And just as surely as all of the prophecies concerning His first coming have been fulfilled – just as certainly all of the prophecies concerning His second coming will be fulfilled!
If you do the math you will find there are twice as many prophecies about Christ’s second coming as there were about His first coming! The prophecies of Christ’s return are literal prophecies to be taken literally just as the prophecies of Christ’s first coming are to be taken literally!
Satan attacks the prophecies concerning the second coming of Christ just as he did the prophecies of Christ’s first coming. The return of Christ is one of man’s greatest hopes!
The contrasts between the first and second coming are dramatic. Left Behind series co-author Tim LaHaye describes it in "Are We in the End Times?" (Tyndale, 1999, pp 229-231).
"During his first coming our Lord endured persecution, mockery, rejection, and physical abuse, leading up to his crucifixion. He purposely humbled himself and made himself a human servant so that he could taste death for all human beings. In his first coming he made himself "lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:7). Even so, he was more than a mere man, for he was God in human flesh. And though he had supernatural powers, he permitted himself to be persecuted, rejected, abused, and finally crucified, so he could become "the sin bearer" of God and thus save the world.
His Glorious Appearing will be much different story, for then he will come in "power and great glory." He will never come in weakness again! All men will bow before him; he will be "King of kings" and "Lord of lords," and "every tongue will confess that he is Lord" (see Philippians 2:11)! All the angels and even Satan himself will be subject to his authority.
The Bible gives many incredible details of that Glorious Appearing — and all 318 predictions must be analyzed to fully understand this awesome event…
The world will never be the same after Jesus’ glorious appearing! After he destroys the armies of the Antichrist on the mountains of Israel, he will chain Satan in the bottomless pit for the duration of the Millennium, judge the nations of the world according to the way they have treated his chosen people (Matthew 25), and finally usher in a time of peace that men and women of goodwill have yearned for throughout the centuries."
Titus 2:13 (CEV) We are filled with hope, as we wait for the glorious return of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Do you personally know that hope? Have you placed your focus on Jesus as the only One who can cancel the debt you’ve run up with God because of your sins? If not, make a simple faith commitment to Him today. Thank Him for making the loving sacrifice for your sins on the cross. Look to Him and be saved from the poison and penalty of sin just as the wilderness wanderers looked at the replica of the poisonous snakes biting and killing them and were saved.
If you are already a follower of Christ, renew your focus on Him today. Show Christ your love by deeper dedication, praise and worship. Be filled with hope as you wait for His return!
