WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.940 The last supper here that Jesus celebrated with his disciples, we find that he made a 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:13.660 declaration that took the disciples kind of off guard a little bit along the way. But we know that 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:20.600 the planning and the preparation for the Passover was completed, and that Jesus had made provision 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:26.920 for all that was needed, just as we consider for the meal he had everything planned and prepared, 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:32.579 just like God had our salvation planned and prepared for what was going to come to pass, 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:38.000 and to make a provision for us. And this Passover, though, we know was going to be very different 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:45.480 for the disciples. Though it would be similar, it would stand very distinct in many ways, 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:52.820 because it's going to reveal the true picture of what it was and who it pointed to in that. 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:57.579 But the first Passover, if you remember, we talked a little bit last week about that, 00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:05.180 that that was in Egypt, as the Israelites were slaves, and how at the end of the Passover, 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:12.039 they were set free from Egypt, set free from bondage. And we find that the Passover, 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:18.799 when Jesus celebrates, he was about to set us free from sin, what has enslaved us. And we're going to 00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:25.579 see those similarities as we continue through this. But when we understand that that last Passover 00:01:25.579 --> 00:01:32.920 was going to reveal that new covenant or testament provided by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:39.439 himself. And we need to realize this was God's plan all along. For God promised that he would send a 00:01:39.439 --> 00:01:45.859 redeemer, a savior, one that would set us free from sin. And it would come to finally was coming to 00:01:45.859 --> 00:01:50.780 fruition. It was right on the edge of that fulfillment as we find, as we come into this 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:58.280 supper here, that Jesus is speaking here to the last Passover. And so we find here the Lamb of God 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:05.159 that takes away the sin of the world would soon be killed. You know, that final atonement paid in full 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:12.639 and available to whosoever would believe. You know, I like that whole, that song we sang this morning, 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:20.319 whosoever meaneth me. You know, that's a wonderful truth in that old song, that the whosoever means 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:28.379 exactly that, whosoever. You know, and the whosoever there meaneth you and me and anybody who calls 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:35.560 upon him. But we find here as Jesus has made ready the Passover, he's had a place and everything 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:42.339 prepared. He sent Peter and John, as we saw last week, tasked with making that ready, the 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:49.560 Passover. Remember they sent him in and he followed the guy carrying the pitcher instead of a water bag. 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:53.740 The guy was carrying a pitcher and followed him to the house that they were supposed to, and where 00:02:53.740 --> 00:02:59.580 they found that the master of the house had an upper room already prepared and furnished for what 00:02:59.580 --> 00:03:06.080 was needed. All Peter and John had to do was make sure the meal was ready, that things were in place. 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:16.240 And now the day is drawing to a close, and the twelve arrive here to eat the evening meal. And so 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:21.620 let's take a look here. If you found Mark chapter 14 this morning, let's stand together in the honor of 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:28.660 the reading of the Word of God, and we'll read down here for a few verses and get into the message here 00:03:28.660 --> 00:03:33.500 this morning that the Lord would have for us. But look here in verse 17. It says, 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:40.620 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:48.900 One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him, 00:03:48.979 --> 00:03:59.460 One by one, Is it I? And another said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve 00:03:59.460 --> 00:04:07.340 that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goeth as is written of him. But woe to the 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:15.439 man by whom the Son of Man be betrayed. Good were it for that man if he had never been born. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:20.860 Let's pray. Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning. Lord, we just thank you for the 00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:26.060 opportunity. Lord, we just pray for even, you have strength to my voice here today to be able to 00:04:26.060 --> 00:04:31.519 speak forth the truth of your word. Lord, that it might be able to be heard and understand, 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:39.060 understood. And Lord, help us just to think and to process your word clearly and concisely here this 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:43.639 morning, Lord. And we just love you and thank you. And we just give you all the praise in Jesus' name. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.800 Amen. You may be seated. You know, as we see here in verse 17, we see here that the evening he cometh 00:04:50.800 --> 00:04:57.520 with the twelve. You know, the twelve disciples and Jesus arrive at the house there in Jerusalem 00:04:57.520 --> 00:05:04.879 that had been prepared for the meal. And it was a private meal. You know, that's one of the things 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:10.460 that's important to note here. Jesus wanted this to be a time with just him and his disciples. It was a, 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:17.439 you might say it was a closed session with the disciples. It was just the twelve and Jesus as they 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:22.560 enter in to the meal. And we're going to see that I think there's a lot of things we'll find in the 00:05:22.560 --> 00:05:29.720 text this morning that reveals to us why Jesus did that. And even how it applies in his picture of 00:05:29.720 --> 00:05:36.680 things today, even in our own lives and the things that we need to be careful of in our own heart and 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:42.139 our own mind when it comes to the Lord. Because as we find here, this is one of the events you'll find in 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:50.699 every gospel. You know, the events of this Last Supper is in every gospel. Every one of them covers 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:56.659 it though a little different of a perspective. You know, that's one thing that we need to understand 00:05:56.659 --> 00:06:01.000 that I'll just a side note a little bit here for a moment. But you know, one of the things to get 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:06.659 valid validity to the Word of God is the fact that it gives different perspectives that are all the same 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:12.500 and can be correlated and it's perfect. But it helps us understand it's just not word for word. 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:17.060 Somebody didn't just copy something down and then somebody else repeat it. 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:26.940 These are real life testimonies that God has moved and God has given to them that we might know 00:06:26.940 --> 00:06:33.500 the details and the things there. And we know that they have our truth in what is being spoken 00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:39.160 about. Because you know, each of the gospels provide a little different perspective. You know, 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:44.779 if you, the gospel of John, when it comes to this, he gives a perspective, Jesus washing the feet of the 00:06:44.779 --> 00:06:51.160 disciples. You know, when you understand the washing the feet of the disciples, it's, as you read through 00:06:51.160 --> 00:06:56.259 the gospel of John, you'll find out the perspective is Jesus here, they're at the dinner, he's washing 00:06:56.259 --> 00:07:01.560 their feet. And if you read a little longer, a little farther there in John, it tells you a little bit 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:06.699 what their conversation was, is Jesus is washing the disciples' feet. They're talking about who's 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:12.399 going to be greatest. Let that soak in for a moment. When Jesus said, as the master, I'm going to wash 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:16.420 your feet, and you guys are discussing who's going to be greater. You know, we can sometimes miss the 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:23.160 very things that the Bible teaches us. And overlook, John gives us some insight about, he talks about 00:07:23.160 --> 00:07:30.000 specifically inquiring regarding the betrayer of who Jesus speaks. You know, Luke, we know, gives the 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:36.439 details gathered from the disciples, and noting names of the disciples of things and details that 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:41.180 were there, because it was kind of an eyewitness testimony gathering. You know, Luke, you might 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:46.079 look at it this way, is more kind of like a good investigative reporter that puts together all the 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:49.920 right information. He goes out and interviews everybody, and gets all the things, and then puts 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:55.879 it together. That's Luke's perspective there, is he's one that took all the information, he says, 00:07:55.879 --> 00:08:02.159 hey guys, these are the things most assuredly believed among us. That we can get a full picture. 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:08.899 You have Matthew, who records Judas's inquiry about himself. Unique perspectives. And here we're 00:08:08.899 --> 00:08:17.319 going to see Mark gives us some details and specifics also, because while the specific details of each is 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:24.019 painting for us a picture of the evening, that we have a full picture of it. Not just a one 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:30.979 perspective or one thought, but a full perspective of what was happening, and what was taking place here. 00:08:31.560 --> 00:08:38.759 Because these events are recorded for a purpose, and the first is the proclamation that Jesus has. I 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:44.899 want you to think for a moment as they sit down for the supper, and here look at verse 18 with me for a 00:08:44.899 --> 00:08:50.240 moment. Think about how they're excited about the supper. They're excited about what's happening here. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:55.500 To get all this stuff ready. I imagine that it was, they probably walked to the dinner that night. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:59.480 They probably had a little brisk walk to them, saying, we're looking forward to this. 00:09:00.659 --> 00:09:06.600 They were excited about what was going to happen. And we see here, look at verse 18. It says, 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:12.220 Verily I say unto you, one of you which eateth with me shall betray me. I don't imagine that was 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:20.039 what the disciples thought was going to come out. You know, not exactly dinner conversation. 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:25.360 They're sitting there, and they're listening to what Jesus has as he goes through the meal. 00:09:26.539 --> 00:09:32.719 But the mere thought that one of the disciples would betray him caught them all off guard. 00:09:33.339 --> 00:09:38.559 It was a shocking declaration. You know, think about, here's a group of 12. They've been together 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:45.620 over three, some three and a half years, some three years, you know, as the disciples kind of came on 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:51.899 board with Jesus, you know, and they really sold out to follow him. These are men that they'd traveled 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:56.320 together, they'd ate together, they'd sweat together, they'd worked together, they'd done all 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:01.940 these things together. They'd served the Lord together. They're looking, hey, all of us went out. 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:07.340 We saw the miracles. We saw the wonders. We were there at all these things. We saw how God used us. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:11.560 You know, when we understand they all went out two by two, and they served the Lord, 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:19.179 and God did great things through them. And Peter, as you think about Peter, in his remark that he made, 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:24.959 you know, back in Mark chapter 10, in verse 28, Peter, when Jesus was talking to him there, 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:31.159 Peter looks at him and says, Lo, we have left all to follow thee. Peter was making a declaration, 00:10:31.419 --> 00:10:37.399 not only about himself, but the other 11 also. He's saying, Jesus, we gave up. 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:46.819 We turned away from what we had to follow you. That's a dedication. That's a decision that these 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:53.840 men had made to serve the Lord. So when Jesus looks at him and says, Hey, guys, I want to let you know 00:10:53.840 --> 00:11:02.139 there's going to be one here that's going to betray me. You see the reaction of the individuals here. 00:11:02.139 --> 00:11:08.879 Each one was there by their own choice. Jesus didn't force them to follow him. I want you to 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:15.539 understand that they chose to follow him. Just like today, he invites you and I to follow him. 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:20.120 One thing about it, you can't force somebody to do something very long. When it comes to serving the 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:29.100 Lord, it's a choice of a priority that you place. Look back into Mark chapter 8 for a moment as Jesus was 00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:35.860 speaking to his disciples earlier. Verse 34 in Mark chapter 8 says, And when he had called the 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:42.920 people unto him with his disciples, and he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny 00:11:42.920 --> 00:11:51.100 himself and take up his cross and what? Follow me. It was a decision that he challenged them to. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:12:01.800 He said, Whosoever will come after me. He didn't command them. He said it's a choice. It's just like 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:10.200 salvation cannot be commanded or directed to a person. It's whosoever chooses to call upon the name of the 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:17.920 Lord. It's not something you can make somebody do. You know, it's one of the important realities that we 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:25.599 need to understand. You cannot make somebody love God. You can make people go through actions, but you 00:12:25.599 --> 00:12:31.779 can't change the heart of an individual. That's a choice. And we see here when they hear that one in 00:12:31.779 --> 00:12:39.079 the group would betray Jesus. I can just imagine them looking around because the statement caught 00:12:39.079 --> 00:12:46.019 them all off guard. They had no clue. They had no idea what was about to happen. Who could it be? 00:12:46.019 --> 00:12:50.360 You know, you think about what they were going through their mind. And, you know, I talked about 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:54.960 the gospels giving us a little different perspective. Turn over to John for a moment. John chapter 13. 00:12:55.179 --> 00:13:00.120 Because John gives us this little glimpse of insight into what happened at that moment. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:07.079 You know, John chapter 13 and verse 22, it says, Then the disciples looked one on another, 00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:11.720 doubting of whom he spake. In other words, when they looked around the table, they're going, 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:17.879 Is it Matthew? No, no, it can't be Matthew. It can't be him. I mean, you think about it as they're 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:23.100 going around the room looking at one another going, I don't think it could be you. It caught 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:28.139 them totally off guard. But you know what? Jesus presented the question in a good way because what 00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:36.580 resulted is a very important thing too. Because I want you to see what takes place here. As we go back 00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:41.940 and look in our text here, notice what it says in verse 19. In Mark chapter 14, it says, 00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:48.980 And they began to be what? Sorrowful. And to say unto him one by one, 00:13:49.780 --> 00:13:56.320 Is it I? Is it I? You know, the reality is here the disciples did something we often need to do. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:14:03.300 That's to take a hard look at ourselves. To take a hard look inside ourselves. And they did. They 00:14:03.300 --> 00:14:09.600 began looking and examining themselves. It was a question, you know, is it I? They looked and 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:15.260 examined themselves trying to grab a hold of how I don't understand. You know, is there something in 00:14:15.260 --> 00:14:20.340 my heart? Is there something I need to deal with? Is there something Jesus knows that I need to walk 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:26.560 through or to confess or to deal with? I find this a great illustration of what you find later 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:32.440 in Scripture tied to the Lord's Supper. Look over to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 for a moment. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:37.960 1 Corinthians chapter 11. When speaking of the Lord's Supper, we find here 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:44.300 that the church of Corinth is challenged with something when regards to the Lord's Supper. 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:48.700 Look what it says here in verse 28. It says, but what? Let a man do what? 00:14:48.700 --> 00:14:57.080 What? Examine who? Himself. And so let him eat that bread and drink that cup that he that 00:14:57.080 --> 00:15:02.540 eateth and drinketh unworthy eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's 00:15:02.540 --> 00:15:07.580 body. You know, it's interesting. We're told that before you partake in the Lord's Supper, 00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:15.920 you ought to examine yourself. It's interesting before God celebrated and turned what was the Passover 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:21.459 over into the Lord's Supper that he had the disciples take some time to examine themselves. 00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:29.659 To look at who they were. They had to look at who am I before God? What is my relationship like? 00:15:29.719 --> 00:15:38.120 What's going on in that? Is it I? You say, well, how, why would Jesus do that? You know what the reality 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:44.639 is? It keeps us, when we examine ourselves, it keeps us in a right perspective. Because sometimes you can 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:49.340 look at somebody else and say, yeah, I can, I can see him doing that. I can do this. And oftentimes we 00:15:49.340 --> 00:15:53.000 don't think, you know, there's, we're only a few decisions ourselves away from being in the same 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:58.439 place somebody else is. If you don't think you're just a couple of bad decisions away from destroying 00:15:58.439 --> 00:16:04.539 your life, you're, you're wrong. The Old Testament's filled with great examples of individuals. Think about 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:11.939 David. He was a man after God's own heart, but made a few wrong choices in a rapid period. And he ended up 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:16.740 in adultery with a woman. I guarantee when they looked at David, nobody would have said, hey, David's 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:21.700 up for that one. But you know where it started was in the heart. He needed to look at himself. We get 00:16:21.700 --> 00:16:26.820 in trouble when we don't look at ourselves and consider there were just a few short choices 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:34.060 away from falling. You know, look over to 2 Peter chapter 3. 2 Peter chapter 3. Look here at verse 17. 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:40.020 Peter gives us a good insight here. He says, ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:47.639 beware, lest ye also being led astray with the error of the wicked fall from your own steadfastness. 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:54.179 Now I want you to know today we have to be careful because the spirit of deception 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:58.699 is running rampant just as it was in their day. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:07.100 People can present things. The spirit of deception takes things and twists it. It takes scripture and 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:12.860 people will take one scripture, they'll take one verse out of context or even out of a sentence 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:17.759 and make it say something that it doesn't say. And you'll look at it and say, well, it's the word of 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:23.340 God and it sounds good, but it can take you down a path totally counter to what God has said. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:29.519 You know, one of the famous ones, judge not. You know, that's one gets used a lot, isn't it? 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:34.819 My thing is, read the rest of the passage. Now I want you to understand that we can get led astray 00:17:34.819 --> 00:17:41.459 with things that sound good. If we don't examine or even ourselves, we can convince ourselves that 00:17:41.459 --> 00:17:48.419 things are okay when it's not. We need to be aware of the sin in our life. You know, we can fall into 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:54.900 sin very easily. It's a decision that you can make. It says, they began to be sorrowful. Is it I? And 00:17:54.900 --> 00:18:00.340 another said, is it I? But notice what Jesus says. He helps them out here. As I read this and I've 00:18:00.340 --> 00:18:06.400 looked at it and studied it, it's kind of an interesting statement because Jesus is almost 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:11.960 reflecting it back to themselves also when you understand the custom and what's going on. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:20.380 notice here in the next verse, he said, is one of the 12 which dippeth with me in the sop or in the 00:18:20.380 --> 00:18:25.039 dish here. John calls it the sop, which is, it's the same element that we're looking at here. 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:32.960 Now the irony is all 12 of them would have participated in it. I imagine the disciples were 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:36.799 looking at Jesus going, well, that's no help. You know, you said, well, it's going to betray you. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:43.779 And then you say, what am I going to dip in the sop with you? The sop was a bowl that was mixed with 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:48.579 fruit and some other things. And they would take a piece of the unleavened bread and stick in there 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:54.299 and they would eat. And we understand that they would do that as they were around the table. 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:58.559 They're thinking, you know, that doesn't help us at all who that is. You know, we're all going to be 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:04.619 doing that. Uh-oh. But we find here that as he refers there to dips in the dish and the disciples 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:10.539 didn't know who it was, but Jesus did. You know, he understood what was going to happen. 00:19:10.939 --> 00:19:18.839 Look at verse 21. He says, the Son of Man indeed goeth as it is written of him. But woe to that man 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:25.639 by whom God, by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. You know, Jesus already knew what was going to happen. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:32.639 While it shocked the disciples, the fact that one would betray him, I want you to understand it was 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:37.680 no surprise to Jesus. Matter of fact, what was taking place here was foretold. 00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:43.080 And we're going to talk about that a little bit, but turn over to Psalm 55 for a moment. 00:19:44.020 --> 00:19:49.960 Because Psalm 55 gives us a glimpse into what was happening here. It was foretold. 00:19:50.340 --> 00:19:54.700 These things that were going to happen. It says here in verse 12, it says, 00:19:54.860 --> 00:20:00.100 for it was not an enemy that reproached me when I would have borne it. You know, you think about 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:08.319 oftentimes what Jesus is having happening here? We say, how does Jesus understand what I'm feeling 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:13.799 in life? I tell you what, if anybody's ever betrayed you, Jesus understands what betrayal feels like. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:19.879 When you have one that he's walked beside that you've helped, you've encouraged, you've done 00:20:19.879 --> 00:20:26.399 everything you can for him, then they walk out the door. And in this case, sell him out for 30 pieces 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:32.860 of silver for his life. Notice what he says here. He says, then I could have borne it. You know, 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:37.180 if it was somebody that don't know, that I didn't know, or wasn't attached to, you know, 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:41.080 when somebody you don't know very well betrays you, it really doesn't bother you terribly. 00:20:42.820 --> 00:20:48.080 But when it's somebody close to you, somebody you've walked with, worked with, 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:54.559 had a connection with, he says, neither was it he that hated me that didn't magnify himself against 00:20:54.559 --> 00:21:00.500 me. Then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:05.519 mine acquaintance. He took sweet counsel together and walked into the house of God in company. 00:21:06.399 --> 00:21:13.000 I mean, think about that. Judas had sat there, they'd worshiped together, they'd done all the 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:18.079 things in the temple together, they'd served alongside. Jesus had sent him out. He had given 00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:24.599 him abilities to do miraculous works in the name of Jesus. Jesus had done everything for Judas. But 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:29.680 Judas was going to turn on him. Verse 15 there in Psalms says, let death seize upon them and let them 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:37.559 go down quick into hell, for wickedness is in their dwelling and among them. Now I want you to see here 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:43.599 that Jesus understood what was going to take place, but it wasn't going to change what was going to 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.899 happen. Jesus would fulfill what had been written. He would be betrayed and he'd be crucified. But look 00:21:49.899 --> 00:21:56.119 over to John chapter 13 for a moment. John chapter 13 and verse 18. John gives us another little glimpse 00:21:56.119 --> 00:22:04.519 of insight. Because Jesus also made note, I speak not of you all. I know whom I have chosen, but that the 00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:11.299 scripture may be fulfilled, he that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:18.220 before it come, that when it has come to pass, you may believe that I am he. Now I think this was 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:25.480 important. Jesus understood us as a person. Because he said, hey, the disciples are going to be caught off 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:33.519 guard by what Judas is going to do. It may even make them question my choice in Judas. But he said, I did 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:39.139 this. I want you guys to know because afterwards when you look back, you're going to say, yes, Jesus is 00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:43.559 everything and all that he said he is. He already knew what was going to happen. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:50.299 Wasn't caught off guard. Jesus was going to say, this is what's going to happen. This is how it's going to 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:59.440 happen. None of these things were catching him by surprise. You know, matter of fact, Acts chapter 2 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:05.420 in verse 23 tells us this, it says, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:14.080 of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. We don't have a lot of time 00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:19.480 this morning to get into it, but I want you to understand that God has a determinate counsel of 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:24.420 how things are going to end, how things are going to be provided. God has accomplished those things. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:31.240 He has set a plan in place and nobody's choice is going to alter the outcome of the plan. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:37.460 I want you to understand that God is above you and my and your choices. 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:45.039 We have a loving God that gives us the ability to choose, but your choice doesn't supersede 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:52.380 God's plan. What God says, do you want to be a part of my plan? Are you going to stand opposed to 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:58.880 my plan? What a desire. God has the foreknowledge of understanding what's going to take place. 00:23:59.280 --> 00:24:05.320 Judas made a choice to betray Jesus. And what I want you to make it emphasize here a little bit, 00:24:05.360 --> 00:24:12.620 I want you to understand that God didn't make Judas betray him. The heart of Judas betrayed Jesus. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:20.660 It was his choice. Judas betrayed Jesus by his own will. Look back to our text for a moment. Look in 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:27.900 verse 21. It says, the Son of Man indeed goeth as it is written of him. In other words, I want you 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:34.040 to understand that yes, what happened with Judas was important. It was foretold, but God is basically 00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:40.580 telling us there, he says, I'm going to the cross to pay for sin no matter what. I'm going to accomplish 00:24:40.580 --> 00:24:48.580 what I came to do. Why did Jesus come? Jesus didn't come the first time just so we could have Christmas. 00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:54.240 He didn't come so people could have cute little plays. You know, we always love Christmas. You 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:59.960 always got the, you know, the two to three year olds are always the best, right? Unpredictable. You never 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:04.000 know what's going to happen, you know? You know, we might enjoy those things, but that's not the reason 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:12.480 Jesus came. Jesus didn't come just to give us a good example. When he stepped into this world as a babe in 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:19.700 the manger, he already understood. He had set his eyes forth and directed exactly what he was going to do 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:28.440 and to accomplish. The road didn't begin when they left Galilee a few months earlier from this point. 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:36.240 This began, it didn't even begin when he was born. This plan was put in place, the Bible tells us, from the 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:41.620 foundation of the world. These things were put in place. Read Galatians chapter 4. We won't go there 00:25:41.620 --> 00:25:47.480 this morning, but I want you to understand it's very clear that at the appointed time, you know, God has 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:51.120 things that he has appointed. You know, it's kind of like getting your appointment book or your calendar. 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:55.839 God has a big calendar and he says, yep, that's when it's going to take place. But I want you to 00:25:55.839 --> 00:26:02.220 understand here, Judas betrayed Jesus by his own will. God chooses to disclose what was going to happen. 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:09.920 Instead, we find this whole evening presented an opportunity for Judas to repent. You know, 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:17.120 consider that Jesus, the picture we see here, Jesus is washing the disciples' feet, explaining that 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:24.680 they're not all clean. And he wasn't talking about their feet. Jesus was still displaying love to Judas. 00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:30.559 I want you to understand, he might understand, I don't know how Jesus balances or how God balances that in 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:35.799 his mind. But he gives us a great picture of the loving God. He says, I know you're going to betray 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:42.419 me, but I want you to know I love you still. That's a powerful picture. John 13 11 says, for he knew whom 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:48.759 he should betray him. Therefore, he said, you're not all clean. And that's the wonderful thing about the 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:54.720 Lord. You always have a chance to turn to him by your drawing breath in this life. Then we look later 00:26:54.720 --> 00:27:01.079 and Jesus offers Judas the sop that he had been, that he had dipped. You know, when you understand 00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:09.319 the picture of where Judas was around the table. Now, first thing I want to tell you is get the famous 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:15.200 painting of the Last Supper. Just put that away. If you want one of them, get one with the dogs because 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:19.100 it's as accurate as the rest of them. Matter of fact, I think the dog picture might be more accurate. 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:24.399 They did not have the Last Supper at a long table. You know, that's the reason we need to be careful 00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:31.459 because sometimes we try to interpret scripture through people's ideas that put into our head. 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:39.559 And it leads us to a wrong understanding of what's happening. When you read through this, I want you 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:44.119 to know something. As you read through the account, they would have been eating at a low table. 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:50.719 They would have been sitting on pillows laying on their side eating. That would have been the custom of the day. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:57.659 John, as Jesus would have been laying there on his left hand to support him on his left elbow. 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:00.959 John, he could have reached out and touched. 00:28:02.219 --> 00:28:08.639 Because remember, it says John leaned back on Jesus' breast. Well, how could he do that? Because John was at his back to Jesus. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:11.179 And so if he wanted to talk to Jesus, he had to lean back. 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:14.560 But the interesting thing is, you know, he's on the other side? Judas. 00:28:14.900 --> 00:28:17.759 When you understand the culture, we don't have time to get into it all, 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:23.000 but it says that Jesus did dip in the sop and pass it to Judas. 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:26.700 You know why? Because Judas was the one that was right behind him. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:30.519 You say, well, why wouldn't that include everybody? 00:28:31.320 --> 00:28:32.460 Because it was a custom. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:37.880 The disciples had no idea that that was a signal of what was happening at the time. 00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:41.740 That's the reason they were looking at themselves going, 00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:45.360 I don't know who it is, and I don't think it's me. 00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.340 Lord, is it me? 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:48.260 Is there something I need to deal with? 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:52.060 He offers Judas the sop. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:54.660 And Judas, Matthew records something. 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:59.060 A little conversation between Judas and Jesus. 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:01.260 Look over in Matthew chapter 26. 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:04.200 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, 00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:06.480 Master, is it I? 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.680 And he said unto him, Thou hast said. 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.579 Now this has a lot of implications here, 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:14.940 because now Judas knows that Jesus knows 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:18.059 what had been going on behind the scenes we talked about a few weeks ago. 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:20.859 Because remember what Judas had done? 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:25.180 He'd went to the scribes and the high priests and the priests 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:28.279 because they'd put out a declaration, 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:32.240 Hey, who's willing to sell Jesus out for some cash here? 00:29:34.220 --> 00:29:39.880 Judas being upset that he didn't get the money in the bag that he could steal, 00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:41.880 goes and sells Jesus out. 00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:44.940 And then comes back and waiting for a convenient time. 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:49.240 I want you to understand, this had been brewing for days. 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:52.440 And Jesus looks at Judas and he says, Thou hast said. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:55.140 In other words, basically he's telling Judas, 00:29:55.600 --> 00:29:57.880 I know what you got going on. 00:29:58.100 --> 00:30:00.640 He gently confronts Judas with his sin. 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:03.100 I don't think Jesus could have confronted him any gentler 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:05.180 with any greater tone of love 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:07.340 than to just speak kindly the truth. 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:10.160 Jesus wasn't just guessing, Jesus knew. 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.799 But he still didn't repent. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:14.000 You know, I think Judas is like many today. 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:18.100 We have deceived ourselves rejecting a chance after chance. 00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:21.059 When it comes to the Lord, 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:23.000 oftentimes people, they read this, 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:23.879 Oh, next time. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.480 Or we can look past this. 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:27.299 Or, no, I don't want to deal with that. 00:30:27.539 --> 00:30:30.460 I'll tell you, just as Jesus said in Luke chapter 13, 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:30.859 He says, 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:33.759 I tell you nay, but except ye repent, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.819 ye shall all likewise perish. 00:30:36.299 --> 00:30:37.659 Because look at verse 21. 00:30:38.059 --> 00:30:40.319 The Son of Man indeed goeth as is written of him, 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:43.259 but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. 00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:48.440 Good were it for that man if he had never been born. 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:52.519 Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:56.600 You know, the Bible tells us it was better off if he'd never lived. 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.980 You know, the reality is, 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:59.700 is the same is true for us today. 00:30:59.820 --> 00:31:01.460 It's better off not to have lived 00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:05.220 than to live and die by rejecting Jesus. 00:31:05.500 --> 00:31:08.720 Because the same is true of anybody who dies without Christ. 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:10.720 You know, it kind of amazes you sometimes 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.940 because you say, well, I wouldn't be like that. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:17.360 You're not exempt from anything when you consider Judas 00:31:17.360 --> 00:31:19.779 walked alongside Jesus, saw his miracles, 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:22.820 heard his teaching, witnessed his character, 00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:25.320 saw his mercy and his grace, 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:27.480 and still rejected him. 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:34.360 To live without Jesus is a terrible thing, 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:38.240 but to die without him is an even greater tragedy. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:42.380 All the way to the end, 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:47.960 Judas made a decision to neglect so great a salvation. 00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:50.420 You know, sadly today, many are doing the same. 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:54.259 They have an opportunity to call upon the Lord, 00:31:54.359 --> 00:31:55.440 but they walk away. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:32:00.500 Their sin holding them firmly in where they want to go. 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:02.319 They want to hold on to their sin 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:06.639 when simply they have to let go and let God. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:09.099 Let God step in. 00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:11.539 You know, it's amazing how we can hold on to things 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.319 that hold us down. 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:19.359 I remember as a kid and learning how to trap different animals. 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.659 You know, a raccoon is a very coy animal. 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.559 I mean, it's very smart, 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:24.259 but a raccoon is also very dumb 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.319 because you can catch a coon with a shiny coin. 00:32:26.579 --> 00:32:27.839 All you got to do is put it down someplace 00:32:27.839 --> 00:32:30.159 where they can get in and get a hold of it, 00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:32.059 and the stupid animal won't let go. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:32.599 You know what? 00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:34.379 Sometimes it's just like us when our sin, 00:32:35.480 --> 00:32:39.939 all we got to do is let go of it to be set free. 00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:43.579 But yet we sit there and hold on to it. 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:45.659 When Jesus says, come unto me, 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:49.460 just as Judas and his betrayal and his greed 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:51.859 in his heart, his own corruption, 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.799 he held on to it instead of turning to Jesus. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:58.899 To reject salvation is to secure your place 00:32:58.899 --> 00:32:59.960 in a place called hell. 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:02.279 You know, Jesus is calling out today 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:05.619 He has done everything that you need to be saved. 00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:07.879 He died on the cross to pay for your sin, 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.920 to settle the debt we all owe. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.500 He rose again victorious, 00:33:12.700 --> 00:33:14.819 allowing all those that turned to Him 00:33:14.819 --> 00:33:18.059 to live eternally in the presence of a holy God. 00:33:18.359 --> 00:33:20.720 Jesus was providing everything that was needed. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:22.119 Yet you still got to do something. 00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:23.519 That says you got to make a choice. 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:26.839 Are you going to let go of your sin and come to me? 00:33:26.839 --> 00:33:29.240 Are you going to let your sin take you to a place 00:33:29.240 --> 00:33:30.879 that wasn't prepared for you, 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:34.299 but was made for the devil and his angels? 00:33:34.639 --> 00:33:36.559 It's a place you go of your own choice. 00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.419 I want you to understand, 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:39.179 we don't have an angry God that says, 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.279 I want you to go to hell. 00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:42.019 We have a loving God that says, 00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:46.079 I've made a way that you don't have to. 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:47.359 What about you today? 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.439 As the Lord spoke to you about some things 00:33:49.439 --> 00:33:50.579 in your heart and your life, 00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:53.059 maybe you're here today and you're holding on to sin. 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.819 Instead of saying, 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.759 Jesus, I repent, I turn to you. 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.339 Maybe you need to understand the reality 00:33:58.339 --> 00:34:01.059 of what it means to trust Christ as your Savior today. 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:03.059 It's not something somebody gives to you. 00:34:03.139 --> 00:34:05.179 It's something that God has offered. 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:07.299 He offers it to you today. 00:34:07.579 --> 00:34:09.480 Heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning. 00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.739 What about you today? 00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:13.119 What's keeping you from the Savior? 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:15.219 What's keeping you from serving God? 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.139 Whatever that is, 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:19.940 I want you to understand the necessity of coming to Him. 00:34:19.940 --> 00:34:23.980 Heavenly Fathers, we come before you this morning, Lord. 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:26.159 We just thank you for your word. 00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.599 We're thankful for the reality 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:33.039 that you made a way of salvation for us. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:36.139 Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each heart, 00:34:36.240 --> 00:34:37.079 each life here today. 00:34:37.179 --> 00:34:40.179 Lord, there's one that doesn't know for sure 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:43.599 the reality of your salvation, Lord. 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:47.420 Understand the reality of what it means to be saved, Lord, 00:34:47.420 --> 00:34:51.519 that it's not a ritual or a rite that you perform. 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:53.880 It's not something that's outward, 00:34:54.000 --> 00:34:55.760 but it's something that happens inwardly. 00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:58.500 It comes from the inside out. 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:01.000 Lord, I pray just have your hand upon each one today. 00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:02.119 Lord, you know the need. 00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:05.079 Lord, if there's one today that is not sure 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.300 of where they stand with you, 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:08.400 that today might be the day 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:11.000 they'll call upon you in faith. 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:13.240 Lord, we just ask it all in your precious name. 00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:15.139 Amen. 00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:17.139 As we sing... 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:17.139