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Sunday, October 28, 2012 am                Jesus Index

THE LIFE OF JESUS (33)
The Culmination of His Life
Instituting the Lord’s Supper

As we begin our study of the events that would lead to Jesus’ betrayal we find ourselves at the Passover meal.  This event is very significant in our lives because on this occasion, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper.  In our lesson today, we want to notice: 1) The physical aspects of the Passover meal & 2) What is the significance of the Lord’s Supper today?

 I.                    The Account – Matt. 26:17-29 – The Passover Meal – Institution of the Lord’s Supper

a.        WE are told that one the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (the Passover), the day the Passover lamb was killed, Jesus sends His disciples into the city to find the place.  They are told to go and look for a certain man.  Luke’s account tells us he would be carrying a pitcher of water.  (NOTE: This was possibly a friend of Jesus who had made arrangements.  Some had conjectured that the reason for secrecy was so that Judas could not betray Him at the Passover meal.  IF you consider the events recorded of Judas’ betrayal that is very much a possibility) At his house they were to inquire concerning the guest room, which was upstairs.  Peter and John go and find the room and begin to prepare for the Passover meal.
At evening, Jesus sits with His apostles (the twelve) to partake of the Passover meal with them.  The first thing we read that happens is Jesus announces that one of them would betray Him (Matt. 26:20-25).  They inquire as to whom it is saying, “Is it I?”  John 13:21-30, records this in more detail as Jesus identifies Judas the betrayer to Peter and John, by dipping a piece of bread into “the sop”, a prepared mixture that was a part of the Passover ceremony meal.  All the disciples ask, “Is it I?” including Judas.  Jesus says, “You have said it” (26:25).    John tells us that following this Jesus tells Judas, “What you do, do quickly.” (Jn. 13:27)  The others thought Judas was to take money (because he was the treasurer) and buy supplies for the rest of the feast or to give something to the poor.  At some point, Judas leaves to prepare to betray Jesus. 

On this occasion, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper.  Matt. 26:26-29 is straight forward.  Luke’s account (Lk. 22:14-23) is interesting in that it records details about the Passover meal that need to be addressed.   Let us also read this account!

b.       Events associated with the Passover meal – to understand Luke’s account as not contradictory, let us briefly notice how the Passover was observed in the first century (before sacrifices were taken away from them).  Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889) was a Jewish convert to the Christian faith.[1]  He documented the life of Jesus and various events in the gospel in light of Jewish customs and observances.    According to him, the Passover meal consisted of:

                                                   i.      The slaying of the lamb the day before the meal (between 3 & 5 pm).  It was then roasted and prepared for the feast.

                                                  ii.      They would recline as they partook of the meal as a symbol of their freedom from bondage.

                                                iii.      During this observance there are four cups of wine which are a part of the feast and portions of the Law (the Mishnah) would be read.

                                                iv.      The meal begins with a prayer of thanksgiving

                                                  v.      This is followed by the drinking of the FIRST cup and the washing of hands, accompanied by another short prayer.  Some believe that it was at this point that Jesus washed the disciples feet (John 13:1-17)

                                                vi.      Then the Passover meal is presented.  The Passover meal consisted of the roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and wine (fruit of the vine).  The head of the feast is first to take bitter herbs, dips them in salt water and eats them.  Then he gives to others.

                                               vii.      The second cup is filled.

                                             viii.      This is followed by the youngest son asking, “Why is this night different?  And why do we use bitter herbs?” Etc.  The head explains, the unleavened bread is a reminder of the haste of deliverance from the land, the Passover lamb was a reminder of how God spared the first born, and the bitter herbs were a reminder of how the Egyptians made their life bitter.  The account from bitterness to victory is recounted.

                                                ix.      Then they sing the first part of the “Hallel”– (Psa. 113-114) followed by a brief prayer of thanksgiving. (Hallel consists of Psalms 113-118)

                                                  x.      The meal is then eaten with its 3 elements.  They again wash their hands and say another prayer of thanksgiving.  (NOTE: Some believe it is at this point that Judas leaves – and as far as I can tell that would harmonize with all statements in the gospel.  Furthermore it would show him leaving BEFORE the institution of the Lord’s Supper, but having partaken of the meal with them.)

                                                xi.      A 3^rd cup is filled and a special blessing is spoken over it.  This cup is referred to “the cup of blessing” (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16).   It is believed this is the cup (after supper) Jesus used to institute the Lord’s Supper.

                                               xii.      This is followed by a 4^th cup and the second portion of the “Hallel” is sung (Psa. 115-118) and concluded with 2 brief prayers.

c.        Matthew 26:30 says, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

 II.                  The Lord’s Supper

a.        Obviously, this occasion is the foundation of our partaking of the Lord’s Supper.  We have 4 accounts of what happened on that occasion as well as its significance.  Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Cor. 11:23-26.

b.       We seek to follow the example of the elements Jesus used, the example we have in the Bible and understand its purpose. That is why we use unleavened bread (which was necessary for the Passover meal) and fruit of the vine.  Before each element was offered Jesus gave thanks (Matt. 26:26, 27)

c.        It is done on the 1^st day of the week – Acts 20:7, the ONLY passage which indicates when it was done.  To offer it at other times is without adequate authority. 

III.                The Purpose of the Lord’s Supper

a.        It is a memorial –– This is the first thing we consider as we partake.

                                                   i.      When Jesus presented this He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19)

                                                  ii.       As Paul addressed this in presented this 1 Cor. 11:23-25 he was addressing abuses concerning the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34).  He notes that Jesus said it in reference to each of the 2 elements.

                                                iii.      We are remembering what Jesus went through in the torture of His body which resulted in His blood being shed.  AS I partake, I seek to remember that what Jesus endured, He did it willingly for me.

                                                iv.      I also remember the reason Jesus died – for the remission of my (and yours) sins! (Matt. 26:28).   Eph. 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

                                                  v.      WHEN memorials are observed, there are ceremonies and rituals that are designed to help us remember the event.  When we start changing the rituals, we often loose the meaning. 

b.       It is a proclamation –

                                                   i.      1 Cor. 11:26 says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.”

                                                  ii.      As we partake (and make it a priority to do so) we declare to others that what Jesus did for us is at the foundation of our lives.    We proclaim to all present, and our friends and neighbors who KNOW what we are doing at this time each week, that our hope of heaven is based upon His sacrifice.

                                                iii.      We proclaim that He has not yet returned, but He will.  And until He does, we are going to remember Him!

c.        It is a time of reflection –

                                                   i.      1 Cor. 11:27-28 – after Paul explains what occurred and what we are to do in partaking of the Lord’s Supper, he issues a warning in which men are called upon to examine themselves.

                                                  ii.      According to the text, as we partake we consider our standing before God.  We consider what He did for us and we use that to examine how we have been living and what we ought to do for Him (cf. Rom. 6:1-11).  2 Cor. 5:14-15 speaks of His death and how we ought to live for Him who died for us.

d.       It is a communion

                                                   i.      1 Cor. 10:16-17 - Paul is dealing with idolatry and how we ought to “flee from idolatry.” (vs. 14).   He then makes reference to the Lord’s Supper and calls it “communion.”

                                                  ii.      The word “communion” is the same Greek work (κοινωνία, koinonia) for fellowship and involves a spiritual sharing in scripture.

                                                iii.      Communion with Christ’s death (and Him) – as we partake we have already noted we consider the elements and what they represent.  
BUT, we also realize that in so doing, we are in fellowship WITH our Lord who died for us.

                                                iv.      Communion with one another – the other consideration is that as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are in communion with those we partake with.  Vs. 17 says, “For we, though man, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.”
That is why this is a “church action” – to be done when we assemble together.
Acts 20:7, the disciples “came together to break bread.”
1 Cor. 11:18-20  – when the brethren in Corinth we addressed, Paul noted their abuse and describes what they did as NOT being the Lord’s Supper.  The implication of the text was that they OUGHT TO come together to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
1 Cor. 11:33, as Paul concludes this discourse he says, “Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, WAIT for one another.  But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment.”
As we partake of the Lord’s Supper, let us be reminded that we ARE brethren and as this act brings us together, let us resolve to act like brethren in all things.

e.  Do we take this memorial seriously? 1 Cor. 11:27-29 is very blunt in warning us to partake in a worthy manner.  Some contend that this is reference to being pure when we partake.  If so, many of us could NOT partake at all.  However, the context deals with the WAY it is partaken of.  Our mind needs to be focused on the death of our Lord and we need to respect the pattern He established.

The Lord’s Supper was a significant event as Jesus prepared to die.  He made provisions for us to regularly remember what He did for us.  In dying on the cross, Jesus became “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29)    Paul described Jesus as “our Passover”.   He said, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7)  As you partake of the Lord’s Supper each week, may we keep these things in mind.