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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
February 24, 2019
The Final Passover, Part 2
John 13:31-38; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 31-38; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Introduction
Turn to John 13:31 as we continue in our study of Jesus’ final Passover before His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus and His disciples are eating the Passover meal in an upper room in Jerusalem. From Luke’s account we know the disciples had once again been arguing about who was the greatest among them. Jesus rebuked them for it again teaching that greatness in God’s kingdom is not determined by power and position but by faithfulness in trusting and serving God and one another. The first part of John 13 records Jesus’ humble example of servanthood in washing the feet of the disciples. This was the practical example of how He wanted them to treat each other, and it is that applies to us as well.
Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2:3-4 is directly to this point, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not [merely] look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” He continues on to explain that Jesus set aside His glory in heaven in order to take the form of a bond-servant as a man and willingly pay for our sins on the cross (vs. 5-8). We are to develop that same humble attitude in ourselves.
John 13:18-30 and the parallel passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke all record that Jesus then predicted that one of them would betray Him. By telling them in advance, Jesus would eliminate any idea that He was a victim in the tragedy that was about to play out. By displaying His omniscience, Jesus assures them of His sovereignty so that they would still believe His promises without reservation. (See: The Final Passover, Part 1)
The announcement that there was a traitor among them came as a great shock, and eleven of them humbly ask Jesus, “Surely not I, Lord?” Judas hypocritically asked, “surely it is not I, Rabbi?” and Jesus told him it was as he said. Judas now knew that Jesus had identified him as the traitor, but the others did not hear that. Even after discussing it among themselves who it could be, Judas was the last on the list of possible suspects and so they also missed the clues Jesus gave about him. When Jesus told Judas to do quickly what he must do and Judas left, the others thought it was to either get something they had forgotten for Passover or to give something to the poor since he was their treasurer.
Judas is the most tragic person in all of human history because as one of the twelve he had been so close to Jesus, the light of the world, yet he betrayed Jesus for the paltry sum of an injured slave, 30 pieces of silver, and walked out into night and into a darkness that will envelope his soul forever.
There are many that are similar to Judas in feigning belief and service to the Lord, but their souls are committed to their own selfishness. They are tares among the wheat that will only be revealed over the course of time and the true fruit of their lives is seen. It seems like it always comes as a shock when the truth is finally evident about such an individual, but we should not be surprised when it happens. It is also a reason the Scriptures are clear that we should be slow in choosing church leaders (2 Timothy 3).
The Son’s Glorification – John 13:31-33
Judas’ departure now frees up Jesus to have a very deep and personal ministry to His disciples that starts here and will continue on until the end of John 17.
31 When therefore he had gone out, Jesus ^said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32 if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33 “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You shall seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, I now say to you also, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’”
Jesus reminds them again of what is soon to come. He will be with them only for a little while longer and then He would go where they could not follow, in reference to His coming death. But Jesus’ stress here is that this is all part of God’s plan to glorify Him, and in turn, God Himself would be glorified by the Son. This was to happen “immediately” and not far off in the future. Gethsemane, Gabbatha (the trial & judgment) and Golgotha were now only hours away. Judas’ departure would set the final events in motion.
The New Commandment – John 13:34-35
Back in verse 20 Jesus spoke about those He would send and that those receiving them would be receiving Jesus. Now He tells them how the people who belong to Christ would be identified. 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
This is an incredible statement. Some have wondered how this could be “new” since God had already commanded His followers to “love their neighbors as themselves” (Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:39). But this was new, for the standard would no longer be a person’s own innate selfishness, but the example of Jesus Himself. The love they were to have for one another was to follow the example of Jesus’ love for them. It would be that demonstration of love that would proclaim to all that they were true followers of Jesus Christ. Without it, their claim would be suspect.
What was Jesus’ example of love so far? It was far beyond the kind of love that humans normally show one another. Jesus’ love was different in scope, depth, patience, commitment, and length.
Scope – In Matthew 5:46 Jesus describes the normal love of humans – 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? 47 “And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more [than others]? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? People love the people that love them. They are friendly to the people that are friendly to them. We have all experienced this and must also admit that given our preferences, we would rather be with people that we know like us.
Jesus’ love was greater in scope. It extends to the unlovely, the downtrodden, the weak, and the despised as described in 1 Corinthians 1:26-28. It extends to sinners as Paul points this out in Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The love of God is not based in anything attractive in us or anything we could possible give Him. God is self sufficient. Jesus did not become a man, live a sinless life and then willingly die in our place because we loved God or were even friendly toward Him. Man loves himself and is in rebellion against God. We do not give Him the honor that He is due and we disobey His commands. Even now, any love a person has for God is in response for what God has done first. We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:9). Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), and He spent so much time with them that He was called the friend of tax-gatherers and sinners (Luke 7:34).
Jesus’ love is greater in scope because it even extended to His personal enemies. While on the cross, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him because they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34).
Jesus wants us to have the same scope in our love. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you 45 in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
This example has been followed by countless Christians, so you are not exempt from it because you think it is too hard. It is too hard for you, but it is not too hard for God to do it through you. Consider the thousands of missionaries that have given their lives for the people they were striving to reach with the gospel. I think specifically of those whose family members were martyred, yet they went back with the gospel to those who did the murdering. A case in point is Elizabeth Elliot and Rachel Saint who lived among the Auca Indians and whose children played with the children of those that had killed their fathers. That testimony of love eventually played a role in those who had murdered Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Flemming and Roger Youderian becoming believers and eventually church leaders. Years later they were the same ones that baptized Nate Saint’s son and daughter. That is the scope of love we are to have.
Depth. The depth of Jesus’ love is also greater. It is one thing to tolerate other people. It is another to actually care for them. It is still another to sacrifice yourself for them. The depth of Jesus’ love is seen in His sacrifice of Himself on our behalf. As I already referred to Philippians 2 which describes Jesus setting aside His glory in heaven in order to become a man and take the form of a slave. He then willingly died in our place. Jesus Himself said, “greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Again, the example of countless martyrs, many of whom died in trying to protect others, sets the example for us that this command can be followed. What is the depth of your love?
Greater in Patience. Jesus’ commitment also meant His love was superior in patience. How many relationships have you had that ended because it was just too frustrating to deal with the other person, or vica versa? People could get on Jesus’ nerves at time. He lamented to His disciples about “how long” He would have to “put up” with an unbelieving and perverted generation (Luke 9:41). He also lamented about the “little faith” (Matt. 8:26) and slowness of heart (Luke 24:25) of even His disciples. Yet, Jesus continued to love them to the end (John 13:1). Even after Jesus’ physical departure, He has kept His promise to “never leave them or forsake them” (Hebrews 13:5) through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 16:7).
That is the love we are to have for one another. We are to forbear with one another (Ephesians 4:2). We must learn to put up with one another’s idiosyncracies for love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). And when there is sin that needs to be dealt with, we speak the truth in love, bearing one another’s burden in helping them out of their sin (Galatians 6:1-4). We never give up on someone who continues to work at following Christ, and even for those that do leave us, we keep the door open for them to come back and work at it again.
Greater in Length. Jesus’ love is also superior in length for it is never ending. Human love varies greatly in how long it will last. Tragically, in our society, committed love is under severe attack by selfishness. Friendships are nearly as disposable as grocery sacks. You keep them as long as you can get something out of them, but once they are empty, you throw it away. This selfish mindset is at the heart of the large percentage of couples that live together instead of getting married. There is a fear about saying, “I do.” What if it is for worse instead of better, or sickness instead of health, or poorer instead of richer? And for many that do get married, divorce is in the back of their mind as their option out if it becomes too much work. Then there are those that stay married for whatever reasons, but the love died long ago.
That is not how the Lord wants our marriages or our love for our Christian brothers and sisters to be. God commands the husband to love the wife “as Christ loved the church.” It is to be sacrificial and enduring in seeking out her best interests in helping her to become like Christ. She likewise is to love him by showing him respect and willingly submitting to his leadership. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus’ example of superior love is the example and the standard of love for all Christians.
How are you doing at loving others? Where do you lack? What do you need to do to change things? Perhaps there is someone you need to get things right with so that you can love in this manner. Today is the day to do it, don’t put it off any longer.
Warning Against Arrogance – John 13:36-38; Luke 22:31-38
Peter seems to have missed what Jesus just taught about loving one another and instead has fixated on Jesus’ statement that where He was going they could not come for that is the subject of Peter’s question in verse 36. 36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
Luke 22:31-38 covers this same incident. Jesus is direct in His first prediction of Peter’s future denial, but Peter remains boastful and will bring this up again when they are going out to the Mount of Olives, so I will cover this in more depth then. Today I only want to point out this principle from Jesus’ rebuke of Peter. Do not be arrogant and boast about what you are going to do including fulfilling this commandment and love like Jesus did. Like Peter, you will find that despite your desire and best efforts, you cannot live for Christ in your own strength. There is only one way you can love others in this way. It must be the love of Jesus Christ flowing through you to others. You are to be His hands, His feet and His voice of love to the world. How do you do that? In faith, you obey Him.
It really is as simple as that. Jesus’ love was not born out of warm feelings of affection, but out of a commitment to do the Father’s will. He gave Himself for the best interest of those He served. That is what Jesus is asking us to do. Will you commit yourself to loving one another in this manner. If you do, then all men will know that you are His disciple. If you do not, then people will have a legitimate reason to wonder about the hypocrisy of your claim.
R. Kent Hughes briefly tells about the struggle of the Belgian Evangelical Mission. They had little success and it seemed the people were impervious to the gospel until their leader, Johanne Lukasse devised a plan based on the command here in John 13. He rented a house and gathered a mixed group of Belgian, Dutch and American Christians to live together for seven months. There were of course the natural frictions of people living together, plus the additional conflicts that arise when different cultures mix. As these believers worked through their conflicts in prayer, love and victory, non-Christians began to respond to their witnessing. Outsiders called them “the people who love each other.” How would outsiders describe us? I would hope we would be called the same, but that depends on each of us putting into practice Jesus’ new commandment on a daily basis.
The First Communion – Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Passover has several stages within it. The particular elements within it can vary with the specific tradition being followed, but in general, after the candles are lit and Exodus 12 is read, the meal itself begins with a cup of wine and an invocation and blessing. This is followed by washing of the hands and is probably when Jesus washed their feet as an example of His lesson for them to humbly serve one another. The meal progresses with different foods being eaten and the story of God freeing them from bondage in Egypt being retold. There is a second cup of wine served accompanied by a pronouncement of praise to God. After this the bitter herbs are served with matzoh. It is probably at this point that Jesus announced the betrayer and Judas left.
After the bitter herbs, the Afikomen, a half sheet of matzoh that had been reserved from the beginning of the meal, would be broken and served. This would be followed by a third cup of wine, sometimes referred to as the cup of redemption, and another blessing pronounced along with an explanation of redemption by sacrifice from passages such as Leviticus 17:11, “for the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul.” It is during this part of the Passover meal that Jesus changes the meaning of the elements and institutes what Christians call “Communion,” “The Lord’s Supper or “Table” or “Eucharist,” which is a term derived from the Greek verb in Matthew 26:27 translated as “give thanks.”
Matthew 26:26-29, “26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness 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 takes these symbolic elements of Passover and changes their meaning for His disciples. The unleavened bread was baked in large, flat, crisp loaves. Jesus took some of it and broke it into pieces for His disciples. He offered a blessing of thanksgiving for it as He always did for whatever He had to eat and as would have been part of the Passover ceremony. He then passed the pieces out to the disciples. Then He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Luke adds that Jesus also said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” which is what Paul also cites in 1 Corinthians 11.
The unleavened bread had been a symbol of the severance of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. It denoted a separation from the pagan or oppressive – the leaven – that would be left behind as they went to the Promised Land where they would begin a new life of holiness and godliness. Now the matzoh would symbolize Jesus Christ Himself who gave Himself up on our behalf that we might be separated from slavery to sin and unto godliness
There had been no confusion among Christians about the meaning of this until about the 11th century. Pagans had accused Christians of cannibalism because they ate bread that was supposedly “Christ’s body,” but the Christians understood perfectly that this could only be symbolic, not a literal, physical body because Jesus said it was to be in “remembrance of Me.” In addition, Jesus was present with the disciples with His body fully intact when He offered the bread to the disciples, so His body and the bread were clearly distinct. And finally, the disciples would have rejected the bread if it was to be considered the actual physical body of Jesus because cannibalism was abhorrent to the Jews and was considered a sign of God’s judgment when it occurred.
Yet, despite the clearly symbolic language used, the context in which it was said, and the Jewish reaction to cannibalism, the doctrine of transubstantiation, in which the bread and wine become the physical flesh and blood of Jesus after it is blessed by the priest, was declared official dogma of the Roman Catholic Church (R.C.C.) by the Fourth Lateran Council in A.D. 1215. The R.C. C. had moved so far away from a foundation in the Bible that the wild speculation of the scholastics and the mystical stories among some of the people prevailed over the clear reading of the Scriptures themselves.
The same is true of the cup. Our text states that “when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.’” The wine here is this context is purely symbolic. As with the bread, Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:25 that Jesus directed them to also “do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” When Jesus made this statement, the wine in the cup was just wine and distinct from the blood that was still flowing through His veins. For the disciples to view the wine as the literal, physical blood of Jesus and then drink it would have been directly against God’s commands in Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:12,14 & Deuteronomy 12:23 not to eat the blood of any manner of flesh. The disciples understood very clearly the symbolic nature of what Jesus was talking about.
The blood symbolized here by the wine is significant in three ways. First, a covenant had to be ratified with blood. In the common covenants made between people, some animal – often a dove, a sheep or a cow – would be sacrificed to seal the vows made. The individuals would cut the animals in two, and then walk between the halves. It was in effect saying, “may this be done to me if I break my promises to you.” This is the origin of the phrase “to cut a covenant” or the more modern, “to cut a contract.” God did this with Abraham in Genesis 15 with God Himself going between the animal halves. Jesus was going to ratify a new covenant in which salvation is brought by faith in Him and a life of holiness is assisted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Second, there could be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood for the life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:14; Hebrews 9:22). Sin brings death and so the sacrifice had to die a bloody death as the payment for sin. Jesus would die the next day as God’s sacrifice to pay for man’s sin.
Third, the setting is a Passover meal which was a memorial of the first Passover in which a lamb had to be slain and its blood spread on the doorposts and lintel as a covering for the family so that the death angel would “passover” them and the first born would live. This was now being changed as Jesus pointed out with the cup that it would be His blood that would be shed to deliver man from sin’s judgment. Jesus, the lamb of God would become the fulfillment of the Passover lamb prototype the next day.
A question related to this symbolism is how Jesus could celebrate Passover on Thursday evening and yet be crucified as the Passover lamb on Friday. Matthew, Mark and Luke are all very definite that Jesus and the disciples celebrated a Passover meal, and John’s gospel is very definite that Jesus died on Passover itself. Mosaic law required that the Passover lamb be sacrificed in the late afternoon on of the 14th of Nisan, our March / April. How could both Thursday & Friday be Nisan 14?
Liberal writers just considered that either Matthew, Mark & Luke were wrong or John was wrong. That is not an option to us who hold to the inerrancy of Scripture. Some commentators think the Thursday meal was held in anticipation of Passover, but that contradicts Jesus’ statements that it was a Passover meal. Others think John’s account refers to the sacrifice made on the day after Passover as part of the feast of Unleavened Bread. But that is contrary to the clear statements in John 18 that Jesus died on Passover.
A solution is found in the two different methods used among the Jews for determining dates. The Pharisees and the northern Jews followed a system that counted dates from sunrise to sunrise. Jesus and many of the disciples came from northern areas. The Sadducees, which included many of the priests, and the southern Jews, including Jerusalem, calculated dates from sunset to sunset. This dual system certainly caused some confusion, but it also helped out in very practical way on Passover by allowing for two periods of time over which all the multiple thousands of sacrifices for the two or more million people in Jerusalem could be made. It may have also helped reduce both regional and religious clashes between the two groups.
Jesus and the disciples held Passover according to the Galilean reckoning by which Nisan 14 began at sunrise on Thursday. This is the perspective taken by Matthew, Mark & Luke. John uses the system of the priests and the Jews in Jerusalem and calculates Nisan 14 as starting on Thursday evening and ending on Friday evening. The result of this is that Jesus celebrates Passover on Thursday and is Himself crucified as the final Passover lamb on Friday.
Jesus took a couple of the elements of Passover and made them into a new memorial meal that would not just look back in time to something that was done, but it would also look forward in time to something that will be done. Jesus states in Matthew 26:29, 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.” That is a statement that is both present and future. In this present age Jesus will not drink of “this fruit of the vine,” a Jewish colloquialism for wine. But when His Father’s kingdom comes He will do so again, and He will share it with all those who will be a part of that kingdom. That is a wonderful day to look forward to when all those who have placed their faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ will put off these frail and failing bodies and be given glorified ones. Our struggle against sin will be ended for our sanctification will be complete. We will even be able to enjoy wine with our Savior without any fear of it being abused as it is now.
Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 11:26 about the purpose of Communion is both past and future. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” In partaking of Communion we look back to Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself as the atonement for our sins as the means of our redemption, forgiveness of sin and adoption into God’s family. We also look forward to Jesus’ promised return when He will take us to heaven with Him and we will share with Him in that future marriage supper of the Lamb and be with Him forevermore.
Since that is the purpose and promise of Communion, it only has meaning for those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ – His disciples. It is a ritual done in remembrance of what Jesus did at Calvary and His promise for the future. It is not a sacrament by which you earn God’s grace and favor to attain heaven. It has no meaning for non-Christians, and according to the warning Paul gives in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 about partaking of it in a worthy manner, it can bring judgment upon those who do not come to it in the righteousness of Christ which is imputed by faith and are reverent toward the memory of Christ’s sacrifice. That is why we first give you time to examine yourself, reflect and confess to Him any sins.
Conclusions
I recognize that this teaching about Communion may be new to some of you, especially those of you who have grown up in a Roman Catholic, Lutheran or Eastern Orthodox tradition. There is a paper on Communion in the literature rack as you leave this room. Pick up a copy and study this issue for yourself. This is not an issue of opinion of pastor vs priest, but one of what did Jesus actually teach as recorded in the Scriptures. Your convictions need to be based in God’s word and not the musings of men.
In a few minutes we are going to celebrate this memorial meal, but before we do, I want to give you an opportunity to reflect and examine yourselves as Scripture admonishes us to do. If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord, then please join in this celebration with us. If Jesus is not yet your personal Savior, then please just quietly pass the elements along without taking anything. Get right with God first and have the issue of your salvation settled before participating in what might otherwise bring God’s judgment against you. Talk with me or any of our church leaders after the service about how to be saved and be assured that you are forgiven and belong to Christ.
If you have made a profession of faith in Christ but have not yet been baptized since then, I am going to ask you to also refrain. While it is commendable you want to remember His death in Communion, there is something wrong if you will not identify with His death in baptism according to Jesus’ commandment. You need to get that right in your life as an expression of what you actually believe. Pick up the paper on baptism and talk with me after the service.
Let us prepare our hearts for communion.
Sermon Notes – 2/24/2019
The Final Passover, Part 2 – John 13:31-38; Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
Introduction
Jesus and His disciples are in an upper room celebrating _______________.
Jesus has rebuked them for their __________and washed their feet as an example of humble service
Philippians 2:3-4 – we are to regard one another as ________________________and ourselves
Jesus predicted one of them would betray Him, but they still did not suspect __________even when he left
Judas is a _______figure having been so close to Jesus, yet turning his back on Him. Many today are similar
The Son’s Glorification – John 13:31-33
Jesus stresses the fact that all that is about to happen is part of God’s ________to glorify Himself and Jesus
The New Commandment – John 13:34-35
Commands to love have been given before (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39), but now _____is the standard Greater in Scope – Matthew 5:46, 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 Romans 5:8, Luke 23:34, Matthew 5:44
Matthew 5:46 – People love those that _________ them
1 Cor. 1:26-28, Romans 5:8, Luke 23:34 – God loves the weak, the despised & even ________that hate Him
Matthew 5:44 – we are to reflect the love Jesus has for us to others including our ______________
Greater in Depth – Philippians 2:5-11; John 15:13
Jesus _______________ Himself giving His own live on behalf of others
Greater in Patience – Luke 9:41, Matthew 8:26, Luke 24:25, John 13:1, Hebrews 13:5
Jesus lamented the little faith & slowness of heart of His disciples, yet loved & promised to _______forsake
We are to forbear (Eph. 4:2), & ______even when sinned against (1 Peter 4:8) & bear one another’s burdens
Greater in Length – Jesus’ love is ___________ ending
People are basically ____________ and so keep friends as long as they get something in return
Jesus’ love seeks the best interest of others at the ________of itself and endures forever – He is our example
Warning Against Arrogance – John 13:36-38; Luke 22:31-38
Jesus directly rebukes Peter for His _________- but he will do it again as they go out to the Mount of Olives
Do not be _________. You cannot do this on your own. It must be Jesus’ love flowing through you to others
You become Jesus’ hands, feet and voice of love to others by walking with Him in the ___________of faith
The First Communion – Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Jesus probably washed the disciples’ feet after the _________cup and the invocation and blessing
Jesus probably announced the betrayal and Judas left after the ________cup and the bitter herbs
Jesus probably institutes Communion when serving the Afikomen and the _________cup
Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus changes the meaning of the symbolic elements of Passover into _____________
The matzoh symbolized separation from bondage in Egypt, but now it would symbolize freedom from ____
The disciples understood this was _______: 1) It was done in “remembrance” of Jesus. 2) He was physically present with them. 3) __________________would have been abhorrent to them.
Despite the obvious, the R.C.C. declared transubstantiation as official dogma in A.D. __________
The wine is also symbolic: 1) It was done in “remembrance” of Jesus. 2) Jesus’ blood was in His veins, not in the cup. 3) Drinking blood was directly ___________God’s commands (Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:12,14)
The wine symbolized the blood as: 1) The ratification of the new _________. 2) The price for the remission of sins. 3) Deliverance from God’s ____________- Jesus fulfilled the prototype of the Passover lamb
How could Jesus celebrate Passover with the disciples on Thursday and yet die on Passover on Friday?
Pharisees & northern Jews calculated days from sunrise to sunrise: __________is Nisan 14
Sadducees (priests) & southern Jews calculated from sunset to sunset. Thursday _______/ Friday is Nisan 14
Jesus celebrates Passover by ___________reckoning, but dies on Passover by priests’ / Jerusalem reckoning
Jesus instituted a new ___________meal – with an assurance of the fulfillment of His promises in the future
1 Corinthians 11:26 – Communion looks back and Jesus’ sacrifice and forward to His promised _________
Communion only has meaning for those who are _____________of Jesus (true Christians)
Conclusions
What the ___________teaches is contrary to Roman Catholic, Lutheran and other “Christian” traditions
Pick up the paper on Communion in the literature rack & study the __________to develop your convictions
KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times the word “love” and Jesus is mentioned. Talk with your parents about how to love others as Jesus does, and have them explain Communion.
THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. What has already occurred during the Passover meal prior to Jesus teaching about a “new commandment” in John 13:34-35? Why does Jesus tell them that God and He will be glorified “immediately” just prior to teaching them about the “new commandment”? How is Jesus’ commandment “new”? In what ways is Jesus’ love superior to normal human love in Scope? Depth? Patience? Commitment? Length? How well do you follow His example of love? Why is it so important to love others as Jesus did? What is hindering you from loving others in this way? What can you do to improve your love? When will you change those things? How were the responses of Peter and Judas toward Jesus the same? Different? Why does Peter boast he will lay down his life for Jesus? Why does Jesus rebuke Peter for this and say that Peter would deny Him three times before morning? How can you be able to love others as Jesus commands? Explain. What needs to change so that you do fulfill this command? Review the stages of a Passover meal. When did Jesus probably wash the disciples’ feet? When did Jesus probably announce the betrayer and Judas left? At what point in the meal is Jesus instituting His commands concerning Communion? How do we know that the unleavened bread is symbolic of Jesus’ body? What did it symbolize? How do we know that the wine is symbolic for Jesus’ blood? What did it symbolize? Why do Roman Catholics teach transubstantiation? Why do Lutherans teach Consubstantiation? In what manner is Jesus present in Communion? What is the purpose of Communion? Who is it for? What is the proper manner to take it? What do we look back to? What do we look forward to? How could Jesus celebrate Passover on Thursday yet die on Passover on Friday?
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