[0:00] You all here tonight, it's good to meet on the Lord's Day, and we pray that the Lord would bless our meeting together. We'll start the service by singing to the Lord's praise in Psalm 149.
[0:12] Psalm 149, from the beginning. Praise ye the Lord unto him sing, a new song unto his praise, in the assembly of his saints, in sweet psalms do ye raise.
[0:31] Let Israel in his maker joy unto him praises sing, that all that science children are be joyful in their king. O let them unto his great name give praises in the dance, that them with timbrel and with harp in songs his praise advance.
[0:47] For God hath pleasure taken those that his own people be, and he with his salvation the meek will beautify. And in his glory excellent let all his saints rejoice, that them to him upon their beds aloud lift up their voice.
[1:03] We'll sing these five stanzas to the Lord's praise. Psalm 149, from the beginning. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord unto him sing, a new song unto his praise.
[1:27] Praise ye the Lord. In the assembly of his throesporters, praise ye the Lord's praise praise.
[1:39] to His praise. Let His love and His make our joy unto Him Christ's name.
[1:59] Let all of us our children are be joyful in their day.
[2:15] O let them unto His grave near give praises in the dance.
[2:31] Let them with timbrel and with harp in songs is great land.
[2:48] For God does pressure take in those that His own people be.
[3:03] and he with his salvation the me will beautify and in his glory excellent let all his things rejoice let them turn up on their bed and lift up their voice voice we'll call upon his name we'll stand to pray oh eternal
[4:06] God help us to come this evening anew into thy presence we would not rush into thy presence as the horse rushes into the battle that we would come in that humility of spirit contrition of heart for thou say in thy word that to this man will I look to him that is of a contrite spirit gracious God thou knowest how we can often come into thy presence thinking that we are worshipping thee coming into thy house because it's the Lord's day evening taking opening thy word and singing thy praise but alas our hearts are far from thee oh blessed one grant this evening that you would give us the spirit of worship and of praise we give thanks for another opportunity of coming around thy word to read thy word and to meditate out of it for a short time we ask thou would us come that we could say like others of old did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way
[5:32] Lord thou knowest each one of us through and through thou knowest the state of our hearts before thee and we have to confess so often know God that we are not what we should be we have professed thy name so many times in the past we go through the motions so often do Lord grant that even this evening would get a faith's view of Christ that our desire tonight would be like the desire of the woman of old when she was convinced that only Christ could help her having spent her all in doctor the all manner of methods by which she could alleviate her felt that she could say if only I could touch but the hem of his garment I will be made whole oh eternal one grant that that truly would be our desire this evening that we too would get even a glimpse of
[6:38] Christ for ourselves and if having a glimpse of Christ we would truly go home rejoicing we pray oh Lord for an opening of hearts an opening of doors not only here but wherever thy gospel is proclaimed we confess oh Lord that we are in times where like Israel of old we have hewn out for ourselves broken cisterns which can hold no water we have forsaken thee the fountain of living water but oh Lord I were able to come even in a day such as this when the desires of many are not towards thee when we go through our villages we see that there is no movement towards thy house even to worship thee oh gracious God we ask that thou wouldst arise we pray and listen to the prayers of thy people not only today but yesterday and yesteryear that thou wouldst come and speak to us as individuals and as families
[7:52] Lord we bring our families before thee tonight asking that thou in thy infinite mercy would draw them to thee not only young middle aged but the oldest well for we fear in our day that even the aged are having no concern at all for their never dying souls going on their way to the great eternity without Christ and therefore without hope in the world oh blessed one we come we ask thee that thou wouldst take our eyes and come and convince us for the need of coming and closing in with Christ while he is offered to us in the gospel freely available yet again to us today without money and without price remember those of our families and those near and dear to ones who are going through troubleless times at the present we pray for those of our families who are going through troubling times whether it's in their bodies or in their mind in relationships at home in work or wherever we ask you
[9:06] Lord that you would bless them and help them to look to thyself and remember thy pastor here who worships over leads over the congregation here bless him in his labors bless the elders and deacons and those who uphold his hand pray for the members as well that thou wouldst give them they needed strength and the vision to go out with the gospel the good news of Jesus Christ oh gracious one why should we hide it why can we hide it when it is the only good news for a dying world remember those who are in hospitals we commit them to the care homes we commit them to thee again this evening and ask that you remember them remember the lonely in particular whether it's lonely in their own homes or in hospitals or wherever thou knowest them thyself and bless them and be near to them be with us as a generation and as not only as an island but as a nation in these times when we find even the heads of state now are being deposed before us oh gracious
[10:23] God would thou not send thy people into these positions that we would have a turning to thee in these places of parliament whether it's in Westminster or whether it's in Edinburgh we ask oh Lord that you would come back to us a nation that once knew you a nation that made solemn leagues and covenant to thee in the past gracious God remember us and help us go and remember those who are going through that are preaching the gospel in difficult places twos and threes where there is few people showing an interest in it remember to go out into different lands with the gospel bless them those who are persecuted for righteousness sake remember them as well tonight remember the persecuted remember the war turned countries of our world in Ukraine and the forgotten nations of Africa where there is continual war oh Lord we ask that you would bless your people and these people pull them and keep them and be with us now as we read thy word and as we turn to it bless it to us cleanse us from all our sin and we ask it for
[11:36] Jesus sake amen we'll read two portions this evening of God's word we'll read first of all in the gospel according to John chapter 13 gospel according to John chapter 13 read down to verse 18 of this chapter chapter now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world into the father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end and supper being ended the devil having put into the heart of
[12:38] Judas Iscariot Simon son to betray him Jesus knowing that the father had given all things into his hands he riseth from supper laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself after that he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord dost thou wash my feet Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou know not now but wash my feet Jesus answered to him if I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Simon Peter saith unto him Lord not my feet only but also my hands and my head Jesus saith to him he that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet but is clean every whit ye are clean but not all for he knew who should betray him therefore said ye are not set down again he said unto them know ye what
[13:50] I have done to you ye call me master and lord and ye say well for so I am if I then you lord and master have washed your feet ye also ought to wash one another's feet for I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you verily verily I say unto you the servant happy are ye if you do them I speak not of you all I know whom I have chosen but that the scripture may be fulfilled he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me amen may the lord bless that portion of his truth to us and we'll go on and we'll go back to the gospel according to Mark gospel according to Luke I should say Luke gospel at
[14:51] Luke's gospel at chapter 22 we'll go down to verse 23 now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh which is called the Passover and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him for they feared the people then entered Satan and to Judas served him to carry it being of the number of the twelve and he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains how he might betray him unto them and they were glad and covenanted to give him money and he promised and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
[15:38] Then came the day of unleavened bread when the Passover must be killed and he sent Peter and John saying go and prepare us the Passover that we may eat and they said to him where will thou that we prepare and he said unto them behold when ye are entered into the city there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the house where he entereth in and ye shall with my disciples and he shall show you a large upper room furnished there make ready and they went and found as he had said unto them and they made ready the Passover when the hour was come he sat down and the twelve apostles with him and he said unto them with desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God and he took the cup and gave thanks and said take this and divide it among yourselves for
[16:45] I say unto you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God shall come and he took bread and gave thanks and break it and gave unto them saying this is my body which is given for you this do in remembrance of me likewise also the cup after supper saying this cup is the new testament in my blood which is shed for you but behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table and truly the son of man goeth as it was determined but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed and they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing amen may the lord bless that portion to to each one of us we'll sing again this time in psalm 16 psalm 16 at verse 6 psalm 16 at verse 6 and unto me happily the lions in pleasant places fell yea the inheritance
[17:57] I got in beauty doth excel I bless the lord because he doth by counsel me conduct and in the seasons of the night my reins to me instruct before me still the lord I set sith it is so that he doth ever stand at my right hand I shall not move it be because of this my heart is glad and joy shall be expressed even by my glory and my flesh and confidence shall rest because my soul and grave to dwell shall not be left by thee nor wilt thou give thine holy one corruption to see thou wilt me show the path of life of joys there is full store before thy face at thy right hand are pleasures evermore we sing these six verses to the lord's praise psalm 16 from verse 6 unto me happily the lions in pleasant places of heaven unto me happily in the light in present places held yet thee in hand lifted o'er jud and in beauty done excel
[19:26] I bless the Because he does, I counsel, he conduct.
[19:43] And in the seasons of the night, my rage to be enshrined.
[20:02] Before me still, the Lord I stead, Severe it is so that he, Don't ever stand, but my light hand, I shall not do the peace.
[20:38] Because of this, my heart is glad, And joy shall be expressed.
[20:56] Here, by my glory, I am my flesh, In confidence, the rest.
[21:15] Because my soul in vivid wealth Be sure the path of life, Of joy there is, He holds your, people I miss, And by the people they meek, I am my heart.
[22:17] right hand and pleasures evermore before we turn to the Lord's wealth we bow our heads in a word of prayer and ask him for his leading oh eternal God we need thy leading every time we enter into meditating upon thy truth and when we dip into the mysteries of God manifest in the flesh there is a depth that we can never ever get into we feel so often that we are waiting in the shadows in the shallows but oh eternal one grant it even tonight that we would just get a view of the wonderful love of Christ to sin as we were reading there in these two portions of thy word that we would see the infinite beauty that there is in our redeemer one redeemer and blessed to each one of us as we meditate upon it this evening and give us grace to wait upon thee leaning upon thee watch over us and keep us for Jesus sake amen we will turn to we're going to look this evening at a little as I said
[23:51] I was saying to somebody as I prayed tonight I was saying to somebody today that I'm going to try to get into the depths that are in the upper room and as I was saying I'm just waiting the more I I studied it even this afternoon I was changing and changing and changing and I see the mystery the wonderful mystery of Christ Jesus and that even this night we would see him or just get a little glimpse of him the wonder of the fact that he did come into the world to save sinners like you and me and that we would go out of this place having even met with him in a little way we look at if we were looking at a text tonight we look at in Luke's gospel chapter 22 and and we look at verse verse 15 verse 15 Christ is saying here he's come into the upper room sitting at the meal and he's saying to them there and he said unto them with desire
[25:04] I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer but I say unto you I will not anymore eat thereof until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God I'd like to look at four things in connection with this tonight first of all we'll look at anticipation fulfilled then secondly we will look at humility exemplified thirdly we'll look at sin exposed and then fourthly we'll look at remembrance encouraged these four things first of all anticipation fulfilled there are many scenes in the Bible that when we read the whole of the Bible with the Old Testament and the New Testament that conjure up wonderful pictures to us thinking of a few today for instance
[26:05] Abraham on Mount Carmel with his son offering his son what a picture then we've got Moses in Mount Sinai getting the Ten Commandments coming down the mountain you've got these you've got a vivid picture of him coming down you get that with Daniel in the lion's den and there are many other pictures but one outstanding one in the New Testament seems to be the upper room isn't it if we really think about the upper room and what it entails and what is involved in it we find that there is something wonderful in it and some depths in it as I said that we can never get to the bottom of it where for instance there we read in John chapter 17 that at the very beginning John chapter 13 read at the very beginning of that chapter we read it says there now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of the world unto the
[27:13] Father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end that phrase at the end of that having loved his own he loved them unto the end so now he sits around his last meal on earth and he's with his disciple and John in his gospel John if you know verse 13 right on down to the end of the chapter John doesn't describe the Lord's supper in the detail that the other writers do and John in Matthew Mark and Luke doesn't describe that but he's emphasizing more on Christ and how he shows he is emphasizing the fact that in this case here Jesus is opening his heart as it were to his disciples he's there in the upper room and he's going to tell them he's got things to say to them he's got things to do for them and as
[28:19] John says as John is describing here the heart of Jesus is going out to his disciples but here he is Passover time has come the day of unleavened bread whatever we like to call it it's a Passover has come and the lamb has to be sacrificed and he had told them there he says to them go now notice the instance in it he says go and prepare a place and prepare the Passover for us that we may eat it now Christ didn't have a place because the Passover had to be performed in a home because you remember the Passover in Egypt it was the home of the Israelites they had to put the blood on the outside of the home and it was when they were inside because inside the home if they were covered with the blood on the outside door lintels and the doorpost they were safe from the destroying angel remember that so you had to have a home a house but he said before foxes of holes the birds of the air of nests but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head and he tells him go and prepare a place a
[29:37] Passover for us so naturally the disciples turn to him and he says to him where can we prepare where can we prepare there's no place for us and he gives them directions and we see the directions there and one of the things that he says to them go and see a man once you enter into Jerusalem now this time Jesus had been journeying from Bethany Bethany is about two miles away from Jerusalem so they were on their way journeying to Jerusalem and he said to him when you two of you when Peter and John when you go just as you enter into the city you'll find a man carrying a pitcher now that was peculiar because men didn't carry pitchers of water in these days women did men didn't so it would be highly improbable if you were Peter and John and he said to you go and find and you don't see a man carrying a pitcher you'd think that they would have said men don't carry pitchers but they went nevertheless and just as they said there they found exactly what he said and there the disciples and he followed him into a house now some of the commentators think it was the father of
[30:52] John Mark but I don't think there's any necessity to speculate over whose house it was it meant nothing what was meant is who was in the upper room and what was going on in the upper room so anyway that was done so they prepared the Passover and you get then it was towards evening so that would have been in the morning so of course they would have gone and got the Passover lamb and they would have prepared everything for the spices and all that was at the Passover which reminds me as well when studying this as well it's a wonderful thing to study actually what was going on in the Passover how many cups there were in the Passover and so on and it's worth having a little study of maybe your pastor has done a study with you on the Passover but it's a very interesting study to do but we haven't time to go into that anyway Jesus then we find Mark going back then when evening was come Mark has it Mark 14 in describing this as well in chapter 14 at verse 17 he says there that when evening had come we find that and when it was evening
[32:01] Jesus came with the twelve now in my reading of this and maybe my imagination is going a wee bit wild but you get the feeling that you have Jesus coming along and he's saying to them let's go let's go boys let's go lads let's go now and he's leading them and he's leading them to the very home that he told now there is no mention did you notice there is no mention that Peter and John never came back to tell Jesus where it was notice in any of the synopsis but he went directly with the other the rest of the twelve and he says he led them it's as as as he's leading them come with me he was a leader to them they were following him all the time and he had to lead them and he's taking them there and then he's of Luke's gospel in verse 15 with desire with desire
[33:05] I have desired notice that he's repeating it's a repetitive with desire I have desired the emphasis is on the earnestness of the desire think of that dear friends this is Christ the saviour and he's coming here and his earnestness his earnest anticipation right through for the last year his anticipation was looking towards Jerusalem his face was set as a flint it says in another to go towards Jerusalem and here he is he wanted to go with them he knew the end was coming matter of fact within hours the end was coming the very next day it was coming and he knew it down to the last detail he knew it and he wanted to be with his disciples
[34:06] John Gill predecessor of Spurgeon Charles Spurgeon in Metropolitan Tabernacle has a wonderful commentary on the Bible and he says there he mentions this despite their backslidings and their revoltings that means that they were revolting against some some would deny him some would actually betray him because the betrayer is still here some would the rest of them would actually abandon him and it was to be with these that people that he wanted to have his last meal with that's who he wanted friends that's the company Jesus wanted you're here tonight and you're saying to yourself and I'm here and it puzzles me so often does it puzzle you why Christ ever chose you puzzles me with my strings and waverings and sinfulness you say to my
[35:14] I say to myself why would Christ ever bother with me but here he is and he's here and he's bothering with these disciples particularly 11 and as we go on we see that he's actually bothered with the 12 he's bothering with these disciples that's what he's doing his delight was in them his desire was to be with them with because the emphasis in the passage here I want to be with you before I suffer with you before I suffer that's who is where the emphasis is on this his delight was in them we find that in John chapter 17 the high priestly prayer father father father he says I desire that they also whom you have given me may be with me where I am to see my glory that you have given me before the foundation of the world that was his desire for them to be with him where he was in his glory or believer tried believer maybe you're here and you're saying to yourself that my desire isn't as it should be towards
[36:28] Christ with myself my desire isn't what it should be and not like the desire of Christ and you're saying to yourself why would he bother with me well here he says he wants his people that's you friend that's me if I'm his he wants you to be in his glory at last he wants you to be with him he wants you to participate in his glory he wanted the disciples to participate in the Passover he wanted the disciples to participate in his last supper and today that is his disciples he is unchanging friends he's the same yesterday today and forever so this is what he says it's wonderful when you read the song of Solomon what Christ had to say about his church imagine what he's saying here song of Solomon chapter 7 how fair and how pleasant art thou oh love for delight my
[37:33] I was thinking of that today what just what how fair and how pleasant art thou for delight that's because of Christ he's saying that not because of what you are but if your faith is in Christ you're in Christ and that's what he said because what did he say of his son this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased so that's what he says and this to them thou that dwellest in the gardens that's what he's saying to her she's dwelling in the gardens and the companions are listening to her voice she's talking to the other they're talking together fellowship in one to the other what does he say the companions listen to thy voice cause me to hear it let me hear your voice friends is Christ hearing your voice tonight as he heard it today have you gone at all today when the time you rose up in the morning till now have you gone a little while to speak to tell him what you've been doing what you heard in the morning tell him when you're going tonight ask him to bless the word to you have you spoken to him oh friends so often for so often if we're honest if we're honest believer in
[38:56] Christ child of God we're not talking to him as we should we're silent so often he wants to hear our voice and are we silent so often I was reading a story recently of two young men from a village they were brought up together they were in the same village there were two homes it was in the beginning of the 1900s and they did everything together they went to school together they went to work afterwards together and they were called up to the first world war to the infantry and they found themselves in the same regiment they found themselves in France fighting in France and you remember the France war you see the Ukraine war nowadays the photos on the television is horrendous isn't it while France the Somme and these places were just as horrendous there was bodies littered all over the battle but anyway one of them
[40:02] James one of them he was cut off and the other John was with him he was cut off in the middle of no man's land and the British went one trench and the enemy one and the other and he was chest out and his friend John could see him could see him and he could tell him that he was alive and he turned to his sergeant and he said to the sergeant sergeant he says can I go and get him he's my pal can I go and get him the sergeant said no not a chance not a chance he says you haven't a chance out there well he says I have to please can I he won't allow him then when the sergeant went away jumped over ran over and went picked his friend James up put him onto his back and carried him back to the trench but in the process of doing he got shot both of them got shot again James died
[41:03] John was there and he was mortally wounded and the sergeant came up to him and while he says to him John John why did you do it was it worth it while was it worthwhile yes sergeant says it was you know as I put him on my back you know what he said to me you know John he whispered I knew you would come I knew you would come that was worth dying for friends Christ has come into the world to save sinners like myself and yourself and to see what he went through at Calvary and what he went through at Gethsemane he found it worthwhile because he later said for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross the shame he did all that for you for you for you for me and what's our return to him what are we saying to him do you love me do you love little wonder
[42:12] Peter turned round in an ashamed way you know all things you know that I love me well that was the anticipation it was fulfilled he was at with the disciples in his last supper and you know this when we come to last things some of you have been in the last two years we wouldn't have been many deathbeds you know that when you're at a deathbed of a loved one you know who they want family don't they loved ones you know if you're at your mother's deathbed if you're at your father's deathbed it's great to be there to hold their hands for the last Christ knew that he was going to his last and he wanted his friends to be with him they wanted to see him for what he is and he was opening his heart to them there his anticipation fulfilled but there was also this humility exemplified the supper is prepared they're sitting down they all sit down they've forgotten something they've forgotten something there's a big bowl of water in the corner and there's a towel by the side nobody goes to use it because you know that it was the servant of the house that used to take a bowl out to take the water and put it into the bowl take a towel around his waist and the servant used to wash the feet of the guests that was the servant's job they didn't do it they didn't do it why what were they arguing about who should be the greatest that's what they were arguing about pride pride pride is in every one of us friends here he was then and that was the custom what did he do he got up he got up from the table lying beside one of the commentators said they lie on the table prostrate with their arm over a small table and he got up and he went to the bowl took off his jacket outer garment it says and put on the towel and he went and he washed every one of his feet this is the servant this is what he was showing them he was the servant
[45:12] Peter said remember what Peter said no no no no you know to wash my feet I'm sure many of us would have said that would we but no he said to Peter yes I have to suffer it to be so now he says I must wash your feet and Peter realized what he was saying well if you do wash my whole body typical of Peter wash my whole body so anyway the Lord did it suffer it to be so now ah friends what is he doing he's showing that this was what he was going to be he was going to be the suffering servant he was showing tangibly that he was the servant taking off his coat was hard enough in the eastern country but then put the towel around him he was now to be the Lord he was their Lord and teacher they would call him rabbi he has now become a servant they were interested in self the
[46:19] Lord their Lord and teacher the creator of the whole universe their savior he was with a towel around his waist washing their feet what an example to them of humility little wonder Peter later on you read Peter first and second Peter it's a wonderful chapter friends you read there in chapter chapter 2 Peter 2 verse 21 Christ he says also suffered for us leaving us an example that you should follow in his footsteps that you should follow in his footsteps in the midst of it all the Passover meal what it meant the exodus what it meant to them the Passover lamb what that meant to them they were always thinking about themselves our friend are these examples an example of ourselves do we think of ourselves so often are we not self centred ourselves you know
[47:25] I think of that sometimes with my prayers do you ever think of your prayers do you ever think that your prayers are so self centred that they're not rising above your head I was telling me at a prayer meeting this morning I was saying to some of the members of the prayer meeting I was down a village next to me the other day that's two weeks ago right beside me where my wife grew up well acquainted with 40 or 50 years I went through that village and every second home had a God fearing person in it and through two weeks ago top to bottom my sheep are in the top park I was walking all the way down I was looking at the homes would Christ be welcome in that home no Christ no Christ no Christ I counted nearly 30 homes I could almost count on one hand those that had any interest in the gospel of
[48:27] Jesus Christ you know what you friends you seen it you seen it I came down here tonight I was coming down this road here I reached Gernheim and then I come to here come right the way through college and some of you go as far as be as me and there so many of us here 20 or 30 where's the interest in the gospel where's the interest in Christ we're self centered we talk about ourselves don't we we don't worry about our souls and about the never dying souls we're more interested in walking our dogs on the Lord's day aren't we oh friends that's all of us and as a Christian myself I have to confess how much prayer do I do for these homes do I pray for these homes on a regular basis oh friend if you cannot sleep at night at 3 o'clock or 4 o'clock in the morning I was told this many years ago go through your village one by one and pray for them do that do it spend 3 o'clock in the morning 4 o'clock in the morning as we get older we cannot sleep as much can we spend time praying for these people who never see dark in the door of a church and pray for everyone child young children growing up in the day we're in anyway this is what he was doing he was showing them he was showing them that he was the servant and how long suffering he was towards him he carries on and he washes them all he even washes the feet of
[50:04] Judas do you notice washes the feet of Judas I can't understand the love and mercy and grace of Jesus Christ can you I can't I really cannot friends he was showing them what was to come he was to become the suffering servant he was to be made sin for them and he was in the process of being made sin when he comes into Gethsemane just an hour or two later on and he was to apparently he drank the third cup he didn't drink the fourth cup of the Passover the cup of restoration is what it's called but he had one cup to drink and he drank it and that was the cup of God's wrath he drank it to the bitterest dregs friends and this is what he was going to do for them he was going to suffer for them at Calvary and you know the suffering that he went on there and then he suffered and died for them
[51:10] I was reading a hymn yesterday and it's called it's a Joseph Hart hymn it's called the fountain of Christ and this is what it says the fountain of Christ assist me to sing the blood of our priest our crucified king which perfectly cleanses from sin and from filth and richly dispenses salvation and hell but this is what he went on this fountain from guilt not only makes pure and gives soon as felt infallible cure but if guilt removed return and remain its power may be proved again and again friends I thought to myself that's for me if guilt removed return and remain how much times guilt removed sin has come back with me do you find so often that you're sinning so often friend child of
[52:13] God are you sinning are you here today and you're coming in here and you've got this guilty conscience that you feel so often that you're just nothing but filth how often do you feel that how often do you feel that you've turned back you've swayed here you've done this in the past and the devil will come into you and he'll he'll eat and eat away with you and he'll say to you there's no hope for you there's no chance of hope for you there it is guilt removed return and remain its power that's the power of the blood the power of the blood may be proved again and again again and again he comes back and this is what he's doing here to the disciples he's here thirdly time is running on sin exposed yes within the twelve there was the betrayer he was there and he was intent on on betraying christ you know friends there must have been indeed there was brings a doubt what he was doing here his holy human soul mind body heart must have been filled with sorrow and sadness at the fact that there was one betrayer in the twelve that he had chosen that one that he had chosen had proved to be deceitful we read that he had gone to the prior to this he had already gone to the scribes and Pharisees he had already bargained thirty pieces of silver
[53:56] Christ he was waiting what is called an opportune time that opportune time had not come you know it's remarkable when jesus sent his two disciples to go to the the the man in that was carrying the picture jesus could have told them there and then he said he said go in and you'll find an empty room at fifty four bethlium street that's that's where you'll find him go there and you'll find it he didn't do it because the betrayer would have gone and taken him before even before he had this conversation with the disciples but you see his time had not yet come he wanted the time with the disciples he wanted to show the disciples more so his time had not come so here he is and here in judas his case he has betrayed his master for things things what were the things money in his case friends how much do things in your life and my life matter
[55:03] I sometimes think that when I have the sheep I have and I'm sure some of you have sheep I see some of you here have sheep I sometimes think am I making a god out of them sometimes do you haven't feel that or things am I trying to make my house so wonderfully and my soul is nothing my soul is barren we can be preoccupied with things well here he was and this this this Judas he was preoccupied with money friends he had spent three years imagine he had spent three years with the saviour he had seen him cure the lame he had seen him cure the woman with the issue of blood he had seen him raise Jairus' daughter he had seen all this he had heard him never man spoke like this man it made not an iota of an impression on him what what do you say friends how many times have we heard the gospel how many times have ourselves heard the gospel
[56:06] I don't know you how many times have you heard the gospel and yet where are you where are we his heart was not changed friends it needs a change of heart that's what I need that's what you need sometimes I wonder if I've got it do you that's what Jesus even during the supper Jesus had warned him time and time again apparently if you read through it Jesus gave him five opportunities five he had washed his feet he had said the hand of somebody with me at the table is to betray me he turns to Jesus and he says master sit I the other eleven do the same he's doing the same he's going through the process oh friends how deep how desperately deeply wicked is the heart of men and women how many times he's done it the opportunities he's here and Christ would seem to give him time after time of every opportunity to turn and yet he doesn't and then there came this that there was a last opportunity there was a last as regards
[57:22] Judas there was a last opportunity where he says to him where he says to Jesus when he says to him that the person that was with him at the table would eat with him at the table and Jesus when he said is it I he says Jesus said to him what thou are doing do now and Judas went out where did he go what does it say after that and it was night and it was night when Judas went out you know I wonder so often why why does why does the Bible say to us here that it was night when Judas went out well it was night because as regards Judas there was no ever ever opportunity of him ever seeing light because you find later on in Acts chapter 1 you find what he did he regretted that he ever did it and what did he do he went and he hanged himself and
[58:35] Acts chapter 1 tells him he went to his own place so in so in the condition of Judas it was night it was finished for him with this saviour in a sense it was the beginning of night a night which he would overcome when he would say it is finished triumphantly say it is finished but with Judas it isn't all friends there is nothing for a sinner without faith in Jesus Christ but an ever ending darkness in a lost eternity the old people had this a lost eternity how many times do you hear it today it's very rarely oh friends there is as sure as you're standing here there is there is a place and friends the only way that we can get out of that place we cannot get out of it
[59:55] I shouldn't say the only opportunity that we have of not going into it is to having Christ Jesus as our friend as our companion there he is here he is and he was saying there that he was next we find and time is now running on him we go to the fourth point here and it is remembrance encouraged and this is where he has one more task to perform and before he suffered he had to institute the Lord's supper we're in the middle of the Passover meal he's reminded them as the host the host the father would remind the family of what the Passover meal was all about it was about redemption from Egypt exodus from
[60:55] Egypt because of the Passover lamb as we said before when I see the blood I will pass over you they were remembering in the Passover what they went through in Egypt their slavery in Egypt and they would remember the redemption because of the Passover lamb and he would have reminded them of that and then he comes to this when he takes the bread Spurgeon says of this the Lord Jesus when he's doing this at the Passover he's melting he says he makes the Passover melt into the Lord supper so that you cannot tell where one ends and the other begins and look how skillfully he does it look at verse 19 of our chapter in Luke he took bread this was the unleavened bread he took the bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to each of them and he said this is my bloody which is given for you do this in remembrance of me and likewise the cup as
[62:06] I said this would be the third cup of wine he's in the middle of the it's the cup of redemption and he is after they had eaten the bread he then turns he takes the cup and this cup that is poured out for you is the new testament in my blood what are you saying here the Passover is finished I am the lamb John the Baptist remember had described him when he was coming to the Jordan this is the behold he says the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world here he is as the true lamb of God and he is to break his body his body is to be broken his blood is to be shed in a few hours that is in Calvary in the cross of Calvary you know it's interesting as well that Jesus begins his ministry with baptism remember when he began down at the
[63:07] Jordan with John the Baptist when John the Baptist baptized him and this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear him and he finished it if we can call the finish at this time he still had the work of crucifixion to go through but he is finishing with the second sacrament which is the institution of the Lord Supper that's why there is only two institutions there is only two sacraments baptism and the Lord Supper so here he is here he's finishing that he was telling them now there are three things in conclusion with what he's done here first of all notice when he institutes it what he says what is the emphasis on in verse 19 the emphasis is on two things my body the emphasis then is in chapter verse 20 my blood friends the emphasis in the
[64:23] Lord's supper here the emphasis in the upper room is on him Christ body and blood my body my blood which is shed broken for you that's the first thing the second thing is the next thing is what's it for it's given my body given for you my blood poured out for you for sinners that's who it's for Matthew adds there and Mark adds it as well in this he says shed for many many so friends the blood of Christ and the body of Christ is given for you sinner not not because you're saved it's because you're a sinner it's given no other reason for it friends
[65:23] I don't believe they appreciated them and sometimes I don't think we appreciate it now really they didn't appreciate what was going on oh they couldn't have they couldn't have they couldn't have envisaged what was coming in the next hour never Judas who they thought the world of I'm saying that I think they thought a lot of him because he was the man that was given the bag and he was the man they thought that when Judas went out that minute he was going to distribute some stuff to the poor they never once ever thought that he was going to the Pharisees and to the scribes to betray him no one ever our friends they were in danger one of the commentators reckoned that the institution of the Lord's Supper was because Christians have a tendency to suffer from spiritual amnesia spiritual forgetfulness sometimes we think that and that's one of the things that really over the past two years when we weren't celebrating the
[66:33] Lord's Supper I'm not going to make a criticism of it but friends it was instituted for your spiritual good and my spiritual good and it was to remember Christ and I think over the past two years we forgotten much of Christ I do think so it's had its impact this coronavirus it's had its impact it's had its impact upon not only our mental but on our spiritual well being and I think that if we're honest with ourselves we need to reintroduce as quickly as we can and I'm sure you've done it here it's the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to remember Christ Jesus friends it's not for and let me tell this it's not for super spirituals it's for forgetful Christians that's what it's for and that's why he was put it in here but the third thing in it in here we close with this emphasis on this was that he was going to come again look what he says look what he says in verse 18 look what he says there for I say unto you
[67:55] I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until when the kingdom of God shall come when is that when is the kingdom of God coming when he comes when he comes that's when he's going to take his people because remember the words of institution the first Corinthians 11 verse 26 for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you do show the Lord's death until he come friends he's coming he's coming again and he's going to take you if we're still here he's going to take you he's going to take his kingdom to himself and every knee shall bow every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord they don't do today but my they're going to do it they're going to do it in that day and that's friends what we're going to look for friends when you think of the
[68:59] Lord Supper and when you think of the Lord Supper you look back and you remember him about his body and his shed blood but remember also that you look forward he's coming again he's coming again are we ready that's the question and he's going to come dear friends and what a day that's going to be for his people oh my what a day that's going to be for those who are out of Christ calling to the hills and to the mountains to cover them oh friends friends make your calling and election sure if you haven't done so go to Christ tonight who waits for you because this blessed redeemer is his you know some people say what's which God and which Christ in the door he's ready to forgive because why judge is his strange work he delighteth what in mercy oh sinner friend if you haven't come he delights in mercy why not come why not come just as you are and you'll find that he will receive you let us pray oh eternal
[70:17] God we forgive us for what we have said that is not contrary to thy word even in the reading of thy word that thou would bless it to us and make christ precious to us more and more that we go on the longer that we are in this world eternal one that can make him more and more precious to us oh deliver us from sin deliver us from pride which so easily besets us and sins which are so easy come into us we pray thee oh lord to bless thy word to us all and we think of those especially especially those who are as yet without christ we pray oh lord that you would bring them bring them to thyself convince us and convert us all wash away our sins for we will conclude by singing in psalm 45 psalm 45 psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm 45 psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm psalm they shall abide.
[72:11] And that means they shall abide forever. These three verses God's praise and concludes. Psalm 45. First verse. Three verses. Verse 13.
[72:21] Behold the daughter of the king all glorious is within. Behold the daughter of the king all glorious is within.
[72:41] And with and bright the days of gold her garments wrought out be.
[72:57] She shall be brought unto the king in robes with neither wrought.
[73:13] A fellow virgin following shall launch to thee be brought.
[73:27] Lord. They shall be brought with gladness great and clear on every side.
[73:45] Into the palace of the king and there she shall abide.
[74:02] Just finish with a short word of prayer. Oh Lord, we ask that thou wouldst bless us as we depart one from another. Lord, that thy countenance would shine upon us, we pray thee, into the deep recesses of our hearts and make us willing to follow thee.
[74:22] And help us, O Lord, if we have followed thee up to now, that thou wouldst continue with us, strengthen us, revive us, we pray thee. For we have need of reviving. Lord, forgive us of everything that we said, which is not in accordance with thy words, for we bring sin into every duty we perform and be with us as we go home.
[74:43] May the Lord bless each one, not only here, but connected with us. We ask it for Jesus' sake. Amen.