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Preparing the Meal… vs. 17-19

  • 1st – Unleavened Bread… vs. 17
    • Looking back…
      • Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus!
      • The FEAST of Unleavened bread was one of the SEVEN feasts of Israel – Leviticus 23:4-8
      • It looked back at how God rescued Israel from the bondage of Egypt!
      • The Jews had to leave so FAST – their BREAD did not have time to rise – Exodus 12:39
      • Therefore – as part of the PASSOVER [πάσχα] – they were NOT to eat any LEAVEN…
      • If anyone did eat LEAVEN – the would be CUT off from Israel Exodus 12:19
      • To this day the PASSOVER [πάσχα] begins by kids removing all the BREAD [leaven]
    • Leaven…
      • LEAVEN [ζύμη] – what we commonly call YEAST [causes bread to RISE]
      • Is a used as a picture in the Bible – always to describe SIN – I Corinthians 5:7
      • LEAVEN [yeast] – is a micro-organism [plant] begins to DECAY when it touches flour…
      • The gas given off by the process causes bread to PUFF up and rise…
      • A little leaven is ALL that is needed to saturate a whole batch of bread dough!
      • In the same way SIN has the ability to spread DECAY – cause men to be PUFFED up…
      • And it only takes a LITTLE for it to SPREAD and infect the WHOLE church – Galatians 5:9
      • Because LEAVEN [sin] will CUT us off from the presence of God…
      • Jesus came to be our PASSOVER Lamb – He came to take away SIN [leaven]!
    • 2nd – The First Day… vs. 17
      • Confusion…
        • Saying: Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?
        • There is some CONFUSION about WHEN this PREPARATION took place…
        • The Passover lamb is sacrificed at SUNDOWN on the 14 day of Nisan – Leviticus 23:5
        • The Feast of Unleavened bread begins the next day [15 day of Nisan] – Leviticus 23:6
        • Yet we are told that on this FIRST day of the Unleavened Bread – they SACRIFICED the Lamb!
        • Luke 22:7 – “Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread when the Passover must be killed.”
      • Timeline…
        • This CONFUSION has caused questions about the TIMING of the Last Supper…
        • The best assumption is that PASSOVER [14 Nisan] is seen as the FIRST day of the FEAST…
        • That then continued on as Unleavened Bread for SEVEN more days… 
        • And when we look at the BIG picture – it seems to confirm the timeline!
        • [Sunday] the Triumphal Entry was FOUR days [10 Nisan] before the cross – Exodus 12:3
        • [Monday] THREE days [11 Nisan] before the cross Jesus was confronted in the Temple…
        • [Wednesday] TWO days later [13 Nisan] the disciples PREPARED for the feast – Mark 14:1
        • It is important to remember that Jews count a day from EVENING to MORNING – Genesis 1:5
        • So that NIGHT [now the 14 Nisan] Jesus had the LAST supper on PASSOVER [πάσχα]
        • [Thursday] the following morning [still 14 Nisan] Jesus was Crucified [not Friday]
        • [Sunday] THREE days later [17 Nisan] – He was RESURRECTED!
        • Matthew 12:40 – “The Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
        • NOT that it matters what DAY Jesus was crucified – what is matters is that our SIN is paid…
        • But many of the things we believe to be Biblical are just TRADITIONS…
        • That is why it is so important to study our Bibles – learn what the Word says!
    • 3rd – Anonymous… vs. 18-19
      • No names…
        • [Jesus] 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.
        • So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them – and they prepared the Passover!
        • What is interesting is that in this command there are NO proper nouns – no NAMES…
        • Jesus told His DISCIPLES [unnamed] they MUST [imperative] go into the city [Jerusalem]
        • There they would meet a MAN [δεῖνα] – someone whose name was NOT important…
        • They MUST [imperative] tell that man the TEACHER [διδάσκαλος] wanted to use his house…
        • They would prepare the PASSOVER [πάσχα] there – because His TIME [καιρός] was NEAR…
        • And [καὶ] the DISCIPLES did as Jesus had instructed!
      • Glory to God…
        • This MEAL is one of the most important events in HISTORY – the LAST supper…
        • Yet we have NO idea WHOSE house they met in – or WHO prepared the meal…
        • Because this event was all about ONE person – Jesus Christ!
        • When God commands us to do something – we must obey…
        • But we do NOT do it for the GLORY or the RECOGNITION…
        • Our goal should be to have our names be FORGOTTEN – we do NOT matter…
        • What we want is for people to see Jesus – He is the POINT!
        • I Corinthians 10:31 – “Whatever you do – do all to the glory of God!”
  • 2nd – Giving a Choice… vs. 20-25
    • 1st – The opportunity… vs. 20-21
      • When evening had come He sat down with the twelve.
      • Now as they were eating He said: Assuredly I say to you – one of you will betray Me!
      • When EVENING was come [Wednesday] – the beginning of the 14 day of Nisan…
      • When the Jews were commanded to kill and eat the PASSOVER lamb – Exodus 12:6
      • Jesus sat down with the TWELVE men He had CHOSEN – Matthew 10:1-4
      • But as they were EATING [present] – Jesus said to the TWELVE…
      • AMEN [ἀμήν] – one of them would [indicative] BETRAY [παραδίδωμι] Him…
      • It was NOT a question – Jesus already KNEW who the BETRAYER was!
      • John 6:70 – “Did I not choose you the twelve – and one of you is a devil?”
      • JUDAS had already gone to the chief priests – been given THIRTY pieces of silver…
      • But he had NOT yet BETRAYED the Lord – he still had a choice…
      • And Jesus was giving him the opportunity to REPENT!
      • We ALWAYS have a CHOICE when it comes to SIN…
      • We might think we are too far down the road – there is NO turning back…
      • But NO one is too far gone – there is NO sin God cannot forgive – Romans 5:20
      • And God WANTS to forgive us – all we have to do is being willing to TURN to Him!
    • 2nd – Self-reflection… vs. 22
      • They were exceedingly sorrowful and each of them began to say to Him: Lord is it [me]?
      • When the DISCIPLES heard this they were VERY [σφόδρα] sad…
      • Then EACH of them began to ask – is it ME [ἐγώ εἰμί] Lord [κύριος]
      • NONE of them was confident enough to say – NOT me…
      • Meaning ALL of them had DOUBTS – and had thought about betraying the Lord!
      • We tend to FORGET when others make mistakes – we are SINNERS as well…
      • We might think we would NEVER be so foolish as to do that [Judas]
      • But the truth is we are more than capable of ANY sin…
      • WHEN we make mistakes – we do NOT judgment – we want GRACE…
      • If we remember that we will be far KINDER to others when they stumble!
      • Matthew 7:2– “With what judgment you judge – you will be judged.”
    • 3rd – Showing Kindness… vs. 23
      • [Jesus] answered and said: He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me!
      • Jesus answer to their DOUBT – he who DIPS [aorist] with Me – will BETRAY [indicative] Me…
      • But this did NOT reveal who the BETRAYER was – they ALL dipped with Him…
      • Jesus was still reaching out to Judas – telling Him he was still welcome!
      • In the Jewish culture – food was shared with everyone at the table…
      • There was a bowl in the middle where EVERYONE dipped [and double dipped]
      • So when you shared a meal with someone – you were SHARING everything [germs]!
      • If we know someone who is struggling with sin – reach out to them…
      • They expect judgment – they expect to be shunned – they expect to be rejected…
      • When instead they are given the Love of God – it can change their heart!
      • Romans 2:4– “Knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”
    • 4th – Warning of wrath… vs. 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!
      • Since Judas did NOT confess – or respond to KINDNESS – Jesus gave him a WARNING…
      • The Son of Man [title for Jesus] would go [indicative] as it was written – Psalm 41:9
      • But WOE to the man who Jesus was BETRAYED [passive] by…
      • It would have been [imperfect] BETTER [καλός] if [εἰ] that man had NOT [οὐ] been BORN…
      • Meaning Judas was heading the WRONG way – he was NOT going to make it to HEAVEN!
      • It is hard to confront people with their SIN – especially those who we care about…
      • We might think it is better NOT to confront someone who is sinning…
      • But the truth is leaving someone in their SIN – is risking them going to HELL…
      • Therefore – we are called to EXHORT them in spite of how we fear it might hurt them…
      • Not that we can make them REPENT – it is their CHOICE – but we can WARN them…
      • Our motive needs to be LOVE – we want to see them FORGIVEN!
      • Ephesians 4:15 – “Speaking the truth in love.”

    • 5th – No Repentance… vs. 25
      • Playing innocent…
        • Then Judas who was betraying Him answered and said:
        • Rabbi is it [me]? He said to him: you have said it!
        • Judas – who was actively choosing to BETRAY [present] Jesus…
        • ANSWERED Him by saying – is it ME [ἐγώ εἰμί] Rabbi – he did NOT say Lord [κύριος]
        • He was trying to ACT just like everyone else – HIDE his DARK motive…
        • Therefore Jesus – no doubt with a heavy heart said – it is YOU!
      • Into the Darkness – John 13:27
        • After the piece of bread Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him: What you do – do quickly!
        • Unwilling to repent – unwilling to change – Judas sealed his fate…
        • Judas was determined to go through with his plan – to betray God…
        • Because he loved MONEY – this world – more than he loved the Lord…
        • Therefore satan entered him again – and he ran out into the DARKNESS of night…
        • None of the disciples understood what had happened – they did NOT expect Judas…
        • The assumed he had the money – maybe Jesus told him to pay for the meal!
        • Genesis 6:3 – “The LORD said – My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”
        • If a personal CONTINUALLY refuses to turn to the Lord – they will NOT repent…
        • There will come a point when God will give them what they want…
        • If someone is intent on refusing God – refusing to go to Heaven – intent on going to hell…
        • If they want their sin more than God – God will NOT force them to change…
        • But we do NOT know when that point is – ONLY God knows – II Timothy 2:19
        • So we keep on loving them – hoping – praying – that they still choose life!
        • Hebrews 3:13 – “Warn each other every day… so that none of you will be deceived by sin.” [NLT]
  • 3rd – The Last Supper… vs. 26-30
    • 1st – The Bread… vs. 26
      • Three in one…
        • As they were eating Jesus took bread!
        • With Judas now gone – Jesus could do what He had been waiting for…
        • He took the Unleavened BREAD – it is a FLAT [unleavened] bread called MATZAH [מצה]
        • There are THREE pieces of MATZAH – inside in ONE bag [matzah tosh]
        • The ONLY piece that is eaten in the PASSOVER – it the SECOND piece!
        • The idea of God being THREE in ONE has caused a lot of confusion…
        • The reason is because there is NOTHING else like God…
        • It should NOT come as a surprise that finite man CANNOT comprehend and infinite God…
        • And the Bible does NOT try to explain to us HOW the TRINITY works!
        • But there can be no DOUBT that it is how God defines His character…
        • The doctrine of the TRINITY – DEITY of Jesus – is a NON-negotiables of our FAITH…
        • Romans 9:5: Eternally blessed GOD – Isaiah 9:6: the mighty GOD
        • John 20:28: Our Lord and GOD – I John 5:20: the True GOD – Titus 2:3: Great God
      • Afikomen…
        • [Jesus] blessed and broke it And gave it to the disciples and said: Take – eat. This is My body!
        • The MATZAH is unleavened [no sin] – PIERCED and STRIPED [Jews do not know why]
        • It is also known as the – bread of affliction – Deuteronomy 16:3
        • But only the center piece of the MATZAH is broken – called the AFIKOMEN [comes after]
        • The AFIKOMEN is wrapped in a white cloth – and taken away and hidden [buried]
        • It is brought out at the END of the MEAL – at the conclusion of the PASSOVER!
        • God became as a man – IMMANUEL – to live a perfect sinless life…
        • Jesus did what no one else could – He fulfilled the righteous requirement of the LAW…
        • Then He was BROKEN – so we could be HEALED – forgiven of our sins!
        • Isaiah 53:5 – “He was wounded for our transgressions – He was bruised for our iniquities… and by His stripes we are healed.”
    • 2nd – The Wine… vs. 27-29
      • Four cups…
        • Then He took the cup and gave thanks – and gave it to them saying: Drink from it all of you!
        • Jesus commanded the DISCIPLES – they were to ALL [πᾶς] drink from THE [ὁ] cup…
        • There are FOUR cups in all that are used in the PASSOVER!
        • KEDDUSH – the first cup is BLESSING – giving THANKS for all God has done – Luke 22:17
        • MAKKOT – the second cup is PLAGUES – remembering the TEN plagues of Egypt
        • HAGEULAH – the third cup is REDEMPTION – taken AFTER the meal – Luke 22:20
        • HALLEL – the fourth cup is PRAISE – declaring next year we will be in Jerusalem!
        • It was the THIRD cup – REDEMPTION – that Jesus gave for ALL [πᾶς] to drink…
        • Because Jesus came to REDEEM everyone – bring us back to God – John 3:16
      • New Covenant… vs. 28
        • For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins!
        • Jesus told His DISCIPLES that the CUP is [present] His BLOOD…
        • BLOOD represents LIFE – if we have no blood we die – Leviticus 17:11
        • What Jesus was saying is that He was going to DIE – so we could have a NEW Covenant…
        • A NEW way for us to be FORGIVEN [ἀφίημι] of our SINS!
        • Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” [NLT]
        • The OLD covenant had a FAULT – that is why there was a need for NEW Covenant…
        • The FAULT is NOT in the Law – it is PERFECT – Romans 7:12
        • The FAULT is in US – we are NOT perfect – Romans 3:23
        • And it only takes one sin to keep us out of heaven – James 2:10
        • While the perfect LAW has the power to show us we are SINNERS – Romans 7:7
        • The LAW is LIMITED – it has no POWER to make us PERFECT!
        • Hebrew 8:10-12 – “This is the [NEW] Covenant… their sins I will remember no more.”
        • REMEMBER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek…
        • We are sinners – we have made countless mistakes – but we have Jesus… 
        • And now when God looks down on us – He does NOT see our FAULTS…
        • He instead sees the PERFECT life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as FAULTLESS!
        • Psalm 103:12 – “He removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
      • Communion – Luke 22:19
        • Do this in remembrance of Me!
        • We MUST [imperative] be doing [present] this – so we do NOT forget!
        • This is where we get the COMMAND from the Lord to partake of COMMUNION…
        • Because while it is true that salvation is FREE for us – it is given by GRACE [gift]
        • We must never forget that it cost Jesus EVERYTHING!
        • I Corinthians 11:26 – “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup [we] proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
      • Marriage Supper… vs. 29
        • 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 concluded by giving an amazing PROMISE…
        • He would NEVER [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] drink the fruit of the vine [HaGeulah] again…
        • Until He did it with them in the Kingdom of His Father!
        • In Jewish custom – when a GROOM proposed to His BRIDE…
        • He would seal their engagement with a shared cup of wine…
        • After the engagement the groom would leave and return to his fathers house…
        • There He would remain separate from His bride for an undefined amount of time…
        • He would return in day and hour when least expected to get His BRIDE for the wedding!
        • John 14:3 – “I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.”
        • Jesus is waiting for the day when HE gets to come and bring us HOME [rapture]
        • Every time we partake of COMMUNION – we are looking forward to the WEDDING!
    • 3rd – Hallel Psalms… vs. 30
      • When they had sung a hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives!
      • The PASSOVER finished with a HYMN – and then they went to the MOUNT of olives…
      • To a place called the Garden of Gethsemane – where Jesus would be BETRAYED!
      • Psalms 113-118 – are known as the HALLEL Psalms…
      • They remember the Passover – and the deliverance of Israel from Egypt… 
      • These psalms are sung every year to this day as part of the Passover ceremony!
      • Psalm 116:8-12 – “You have delivered my soul from death…. I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living…. I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD.”
      • We cannot know for certain – but I can imagine this is the HYMN they were singing…
      • For the DISCIPLES the words might have just been TRADITION…
      • But Jesus KNEW they were far more than that – it was PROPHECY…
      • He knew He was about to DIE – but through Him – death would be DEFEATED…
      • Giving LIFE to EVERYONE who takes up the CUP of salvation – calls on the name of the LORD!

I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “Death where is your sting? Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”


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