WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.480 Matthew 26 and verses 17 to 29. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:14.240 Do you know that Buddha, Confucius, Muhammad, they all died later in life. 00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:15.160 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.899 Shameful death. 00:00:31.940 --> 00:00:33.159 He was young. 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:37.600 He had only three years of ministry under his belt. 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:44.240 And yet Christians look up to the Lord Jesus and we say, yep, that is the man for me. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:47.320 That is the guy that I am going to follow. 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:54.280 And not only that, as Christians, we take the most embarrassing point of his life, 00:00:55.219 --> 00:00:59.400 the most shameful, the most embarrassing point of his life, the Christ. 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:03.759 And we say that is going to be the centre of our faith. 00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:07.560 And what kind of sense does that make? 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:12.980 Well, for the early church, those early Christians, it made perfect sense to them. 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:15.579 And in our passage, I hope we're going to see why. 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:19.659 There are three sections in our passage. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:24.019 There are three movements and there are bombshells in each one. 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:25.180 Let's look at the first one. 00:01:25.259 --> 00:01:27.719 It's in verses 17 to 19. 00:01:27.719 --> 00:01:30.239 Verses 17 to 19. 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:34.760 The disciples asked Jesus, where are we going to celebrate the Passover? 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:37.219 And Jesus says, look, I've got it sorted. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:38.480 You go to a village. 00:01:39.140 --> 00:01:40.819 There's a guy there with a room. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:42.200 It's going to be organised. 00:01:42.299 --> 00:01:42.939 That's no problem. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:51.179 But do you notice in these first couple of verses, in verses 17 to 19, the word Passover is mentioned in every one of them. 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:52.980 Why is that? 00:01:52.980 --> 00:01:58.420 I hope you've seen as we've gone through Matthew's gospel that that is not a mistake. 00:01:58.740 --> 00:02:01.340 Matthew is a very careful writer. 00:02:01.900 --> 00:02:03.740 He's got a very tidy mind. 00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:14.319 And Matthew repeats Passover in these three verses because he wants you and I to know that what is about to happen is all happening in the context of the Passover. 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:18.319 Now, you might say, well, what is the Passover? 00:02:18.419 --> 00:02:25.719 The Passover feast, which Jesus and his disciples were about to partake, celebrates the Passover event of 1300 BC. 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:30.780 The Jews, you read about it in Exodus, they were slaves in Egypt. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:38.360 And God repeatedly told Pharaoh, the leader of the Egyptians, through Moses, let my people go. 00:02:39.300 --> 00:02:44.560 Pharaoh is warned nine times and various curses before the Egyptians. 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:47.120 And Pharaoh hardened his heart. 00:02:47.259 --> 00:02:48.159 He is unmoved. 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:50.479 That is until the final curse. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:54.479 The final curse was the death of a firstborn son. 00:02:55.460 --> 00:02:59.060 The firstborn in every household was going to die. 00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:03.659 Except Moses spoke to God's people and he said to them, 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:08.479 You slaughter a lamb, you put the blood on the doorpost and on the lintel, 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:14.319 and when death comes to the city, it will pass over your household. 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:20.400 Death will pass over a house where a death has already taken place. 00:03:20.480 --> 00:03:20.920 Do you see that? 00:03:22.180 --> 00:03:25.599 So a young Jewish boy, the firstborn in his family, let's call him Ben. 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:31.960 Ben would wake up the next morning and he could say, I live because a lamb died. 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:34.699 I live because a lamb died. 00:03:35.299 --> 00:03:37.620 He purchased me through his death. 00:03:37.859 --> 00:03:39.039 He was my substitute. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:42.359 So let's think about that night. 00:03:43.519 --> 00:03:45.639 Ben, the eldest child in the household. 00:03:46.579 --> 00:03:49.259 That evening the family have finished dinner. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.819 Homework is done and the children are sent up to bed. 00:03:52.819 --> 00:04:01.859 At nine o'clock there's the familiar patter on the stairs and a figure appears in the doorway of the lounge in his pyjamas. 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:06.259 And he says, Dad, have you done that stuff with the blood yet? 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.299 His father says, no, I'll do it in a minute. 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:11.039 You go upstairs and you get some sleep. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:11.819 It's a big day tomorrow. 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:16.360 Ten o'clock, Dad is shutting down the laptop. 00:04:16.620 --> 00:04:18.399 He's checked that the back door is shut. 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:23.239 And again, the familiar footsteps on the stairs and the little figure appears. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:25.099 Dad, have you remembered? 00:04:26.179 --> 00:04:26.959 I'll do it in a minute. 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:29.039 Get back upstairs. 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:29.799 It's a big day tomorrow. 00:04:31.560 --> 00:04:32.500 Eleven o'clock. 00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:35.359 The small boy quietly opens his door. 00:04:36.620 --> 00:04:38.339 And he creeps down the stairs. 00:04:38.439 --> 00:04:39.199 The house is dark. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:43.920 And he peers across the hallway to the front door. 00:04:44.659 --> 00:04:45.560 And there's blood. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.519 On the sides of the doorposts and on the little door. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.259 And Ben goes back upstairs to bed and he sleeps safely. 00:04:53.899 --> 00:04:59.500 At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn of the Egyptians. 00:04:59.500 --> 00:05:07.199 From the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captives who were in the dungeon. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:10.040 And all the firstborn of the livestock. 00:05:10.459 --> 00:05:13.199 And Pharaoh, we're told, rose up in the night. 00:05:13.500 --> 00:05:14.439 He and all the Egyptians. 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:16.680 And there was a great cry in Egypt. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:19.800 For there was not a house where someone was not dead. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.900 Then Pharaoh summons Moses and Aaron by night. 00:05:25.020 --> 00:05:27.060 And he says, go out from among my people. 00:05:27.280 --> 00:05:28.939 Both you and the people of Israel. 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:30.819 And go and serve the Lord as you've said. 00:05:31.879 --> 00:05:32.759 And Pharaoh elinquishes. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.960 He lets God's people go. 00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:37.460 We know, don't we, he changed his mind. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:38.280 He chases them. 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.280 And God led the Israelites through the Red Sea. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:45.280 Which closed over onto the Egyptian army. 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:47.780 So that's it in a nutshell. 00:05:47.779 --> 00:05:52.539 And I hope we see that the Passover is more than just the Jews getting out of slavery. 00:05:53.359 --> 00:05:54.500 That's a great thing, isn't it? 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:55.939 But the Passover is about three things. 00:05:57.099 --> 00:05:58.639 The Passover, first of all, is about judgment. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:01.879 Secondly, it's about salvation. 00:06:03.000 --> 00:06:04.379 And thirdly, it's about victory. 00:06:05.419 --> 00:06:06.179 It's about judgment. 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:07.799 It's about salvation. 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:09.479 And it's about victory. 00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:12.039 And let's look at judgment for a moment. 00:06:12.119 --> 00:06:16.439 The Jews in Egypt, their biggest problem was not Pharaoh. 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:23.000 Their biggest problem wasn't finding safety from Pharaoh. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:27.699 In the Exodus, it says that death is coming to the whole city. 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:32.139 Their biggest problem was safety from God. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:34.879 Death was coming to the whole city. 00:06:35.919 --> 00:06:38.639 Judgment was coming to the whole city. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:46.479 Which meant that without a lamb, the fate of the Jews would have been absolutely no different to the Egyptians. 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:49.519 They would have lost their fierce born too. 00:06:50.339 --> 00:06:52.379 And so Passover is about judgment. 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.019 But Passover is also about salvation. 00:06:56.019 --> 00:07:04.159 So we see in the Bible, from the start of the Bible to the end of the Bible, when God judges, he also saves simultaneously. 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:10.599 He protects his own people from his own judgment through the blood of a lamb. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:11.359 It's about judgment. 00:07:11.719 --> 00:07:12.759 And it's about salvation. 00:07:13.060 --> 00:07:14.159 And it's about victory. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:21.300 Because we know, don't we, that the Exodus story is the beginning of God's people's journey to the promised land. 00:07:22.400 --> 00:07:24.280 So that is the historic event. 00:07:25.380 --> 00:07:30.460 And after the Passover, if you keep reading in Exodus, God gives them a meal. 00:07:31.200 --> 00:07:32.680 He gives them a rite. 00:07:32.980 --> 00:07:36.379 He gives them a liturgy to remember what happens. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:43.199 And in the Old Testament, what we know, that one of the great sins of the people of God is forgetting. 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:46.240 And God says, I don't want you to forget. 00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:49.339 I don't want you to forget what happened. 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:50.639 So you keep doing it. 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:53.659 And that is what the Passover meal is about. 00:07:54.740 --> 00:08:00.120 And so why does Matthew keep bringing up the Passover at the beginning of this little section? 00:08:00.120 --> 00:08:06.560 Because everything that is about to happen is happening within the context of the Passover. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:13.340 And during that Passover meal, Jesus is going to say something offensive and something radical. 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:20.500 He's going to say that the salvation of God's people experienced in Egypt 1,300 years ago. 00:08:20.759 --> 00:08:25.699 And the meal that we're about to eat today is all about me. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.199 It's all about me. 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:37.799 That thing that's at the heart of the Jewish faith, the Exodus, Jesus is going to say that is all about me. 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:40.860 The lamb that you eat during that meal, that is me. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:46.039 And it's all pointing to my death and what my death will accomplish. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.360 And Jesus comes back to that in 26 to 30. 00:08:51.259 --> 00:08:53.139 So we see the bombshell of the Passover. 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:57.360 But in the middle section, in verses 20 to 25, we see the bombshell of betrayal. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:03.019 So the disciples and Jesus have found the guide. 00:09:03.180 --> 00:09:04.220 They've found the room. 00:09:04.300 --> 00:09:04.840 They've got the meal. 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:07.000 And they're eating the meal. 00:09:07.320 --> 00:09:09.139 And they're in the middle of the Passover meal. 00:09:09.340 --> 00:09:11.899 And Christ drops the bombshell on them. 00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:12.759 Can you look at verse 21? 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:21.000 And as they were eating, he said, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:29.120 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, is it I, Lord? 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:33.779 Which has got the sense, surely not I, Lord. 00:09:33.779 --> 00:09:36.899 Jesus doubles down and he says, I like this line. 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:44.819 He says, doesn't he, the one who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:47.299 I expect that all the disciples sat on their hands at that point. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:50.339 Jesus drops this bombshell. 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:52.500 What does he mean there? 00:09:52.579 --> 00:09:55.319 The dipping of the hand in the food business. 00:09:55.439 --> 00:09:57.179 He's just saying it's one of us. 00:09:57.179 --> 00:10:03.859 One of the people sharing this intimate meal with me right now is going to betray me. 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:13.299 And it's interesting that just as Jesus says that, none of the disciples turn and look at Judas and say, come on, Judas. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:16.939 Obviously, no one had any idea today. 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:21.019 He has covered his tracks very, very well. 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:23.639 Now we look at verse 24. 00:10:27.179 --> 00:10:31.819 The son of man goes as it is written of him. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:38.139 But woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. 00:10:39.099 --> 00:10:42.919 It would have been better for that man if he'd not been born. 00:10:44.439 --> 00:10:46.679 There are two really huge things there, aren't there? 00:10:47.459 --> 00:10:56.519 One, he's saying that the betrayal on the cross, that is the plan of God and nothing is going to stop that. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:01.559 And then on the other hand, he says, woe to the betrayer. 00:11:03.099 --> 00:11:05.500 And so can you see what Jesus is saying there? 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.620 He is saying that God is in complete control. 00:11:09.819 --> 00:11:11.419 God is absolutely sovereign. 00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:13.099 He is in total charge. 00:11:13.539 --> 00:11:17.039 Nothing is happening without him saying yes to it. 00:11:17.219 --> 00:11:18.379 This is part of the plan. 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:23.220 But he's also saying to Judas, you are completely responsible for your actions. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:26.279 Judas was not a puppet of God. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.259 Now, how do we resolve these two things? 00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:34.519 How do we mush them together so that they make sense? 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:38.299 Sovereignty, God's sovereignty and human responsibility. 00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:42.779 And the Bible does not tell us how they work together. 00:11:43.859 --> 00:11:46.279 It proclaims both strongly. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:54.939 It holds both these truths that God is sovereign and you and I are responsible. 00:11:55.179 --> 00:11:56.979 And it holds that right the way throughout the Bible. 00:11:56.980 --> 00:12:03.860 So in Acts chapter 2, in the first sermon preached after the resurrection, Peter says in verse 23, 00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:10.440 Jesus is delivered according to the definite plan and the foreknowledge of God. 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:15.980 Crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:12:15.980 --> 00:12:21.700 So the very first sermon after the resurrection raises this issue again. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:24.980 God is completely in charge and what you do matters. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:29.940 And you might have intellectual problems with this idea. 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:34.779 But can I say that believing the Bible's teaching regarding this, 00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:40.139 holding both these truths firmly in our lives is incredibly practical. 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.960 Let's think about if you don't hold these truths. 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:47.300 Two reasons. 00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:54.080 If you really believe that your actions can change the plan of God, 00:12:55.420 --> 00:12:58.560 if you really believe that, well, a couple of things happen. 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.360 One is that you have a very, very high view of yourself. 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.560 And two, you would be constantly fretting and worrying. 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.539 On the other hand, if you believe that what you do doesn't really matter at all 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:16.139 because God is in control, it doesn't matter what you do, 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:18.500 you will have no incentive to live well. 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:24.939 You will have no incentive to seek after God and live for him in your life. 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:29.620 So verse 25, Judas answers. 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.719 Do you see what he says? 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:33.319 He asks, is it I, Rabbi? 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:37.879 And Jesus says to him, you have said so. 00:13:39.400 --> 00:13:42.160 Do you notice the difference between the other disciples and Jesus? 00:13:42.260 --> 00:13:43.800 What did the other disciples say? 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:46.360 Verse 22, just look down, they say, is it I? 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:48.480 And they call Jesus Lord. 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:55.860 But in verse 25, Judas answered, is it I, Rabbi? 00:13:56.640 --> 00:13:57.340 Which means teacher. 00:13:57.340 --> 00:14:04.040 Either something has happened in Judas' estimation of who Jesus is, 00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:09.080 or perhaps more likely Judas couldn't bring himself to call him Lord, 00:14:10.200 --> 00:14:11.019 knowing what he'd done. 00:14:13.100 --> 00:14:15.860 John's Gospel gives us an extra little detail which is helpful. 00:14:16.379 --> 00:14:20.240 Jesus is the host of this meal, and he gets to choose who sits where, 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:23.340 and he sits Judas in the place of honour. 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:28.100 Judas, in John's Gospel, is sitting right beside Jesus. 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.300 Why has Jesus done that? 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:34.060 Because he's giving Judas an opportunity to change. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:40.740 He wants Judas to know, I know it's you, Judas. 00:14:40.820 --> 00:14:43.780 And it doesn't have to be this way, but Judas refuses to. 00:14:45.560 --> 00:14:52.620 Judas can feel the weight of those pieces of silver in his pocket. 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:55.700 And he's having this conversation. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:15:01.040 He can feel the weight of that money he's betrayed Jesus for in his pocket, 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.160 and it feels good. 00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:06.320 Surely you don't mean me, teacher. 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:09.399 Surely you don't mean me. 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:12.639 It is such an ugly and cynical thing to say, 00:15:13.040 --> 00:15:17.360 because Judas thinks that he can fool Jesus. 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:24.279 Judas thinks that he can fool Christ, which we think sometimes. 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:29.240 And so if you're watching this this morning, 00:15:29.379 --> 00:15:31.240 and you're doing churchy stuff, 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.279 but you have concrete plans 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.759 to disobey God 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.819 today or this week, 00:15:40.959 --> 00:15:42.220 and you're here, 00:15:42.339 --> 00:15:44.480 and you're saying the right things, 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.399 but you can feel the money in your pocket, 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.220 and your plans are set, 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:51.920 I need to remind you that you cannot bluff God. 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:56.320 You cannot bluff God. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.879 You cannot fool Jesus Christ. 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:05.080 And so you need to repent. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:09.139 You need to turn from your sin, 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.960 and you need to hear the words of God, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000 and you need to see yourself in Judas, 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.460 and make a different decision. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.779 Charles Spurgeon said, 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:20.600 a man may get very near to Christ, 00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:23.720 may dip his hand in the same dish 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.480 with the Savior, 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.379 and yet betray him. 00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:27.720 We may be high in office, 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:30.059 and may apparently be very useful, 00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:31.080 as Judas was, 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.980 and yet we may betray Christ. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.120 Heed the warning. 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.899 The first section, 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:39.000 it's all about the Passover. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.139 The second section, 00:16:40.299 --> 00:16:42.220 it's all about this bombshell of betrayal, 00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.840 in verses 26 to 29. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.500 But in 26 to 29, 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.340 the third section, 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:47.580 we're back to the Passover. 00:16:49.139 --> 00:16:51.019 And the disciples are doing the meal. 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:54.300 There are words and actions, 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:56.480 regarding the deliverance from Egypt. 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:58.220 And here is what is amazing. 00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.580 That point of the meal, 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:03.340 where Jesus should have pointed them back to Egypt, 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:05.519 we see he again points them to himself. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:07.980 And he says, 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.779 my death is a central thing. 00:17:09.779 --> 00:17:12.960 Every deliverance in the Old Testament 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:14.859 is pointing to me and my death. 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.240 My death on the cross 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:21.660 is going to be the exodus of all exoduses. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.119 And in Christ, 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:26.960 he creates a new meal for us, 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:28.119 a new rite. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:32.859 And he gives us words by which we remember these. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:37.119 Jesus took bread and he broke it. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:38.179 What does that mean? 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:40.139 It is pointing, isn't it, 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:43.779 to that violent death that Christ will experience. 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.699 And he takes wine, 00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.719 a common cup of wine, 00:17:47.979 --> 00:17:48.599 and he says, 00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:50.359 this is my blood, 00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.299 poured out for many 00:17:52.299 --> 00:17:54.139 for the forgiveness of sins. 00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:56.620 So here, 00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:59.060 Jesus points to the meaning of his death. 00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.560 He's going to die, 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:03.140 but it's not going to be a violent, 00:18:03.780 --> 00:18:04.860 pointless death. 00:18:05.980 --> 00:18:07.500 Jesus' death is not the result 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:10.520 of his enemies weaving and scheming 00:18:10.520 --> 00:18:12.880 and a plot that he could not escape from. 00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:15.160 He would die because God willed it. 00:18:16.540 --> 00:18:18.800 And there was a purpose in his death. 00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:21.759 The death was for many, 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.720 for forgiveness. 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:28.119 Now, do you notice what's missing 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:29.019 on the table? 00:18:29.799 --> 00:18:30.759 Or in the narrative? 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:35.000 That the main course of the Passover meal 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.700 is not mentioned. 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:39.779 For us, it's bread and wine. 00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:42.240 But for a reader 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.960 who first read Matthew's Gospel, 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:44.559 it's a shock. 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.539 Sometimes Claire will go out for dinner 00:18:48.539 --> 00:18:49.859 with friends, 00:18:50.099 --> 00:18:50.900 and she'll come in, 00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:51.980 and I'll say, 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:53.580 what did you have for dinner? 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:56.600 And she will sometimes say 00:18:56.600 --> 00:18:57.720 these remarkable words. 00:18:57.820 --> 00:18:58.540 What did you have for dinner? 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:00.960 I had vegetarian risotto. 00:19:02.580 --> 00:19:03.280 At which point, 00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:03.800 I will say, 00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:04.820 that's not a dinner. 00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.100 That's not a dinner. 00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:07.300 What did you have for dinner? 00:19:09.060 --> 00:19:10.320 Where's the main bit of the meal? 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.060 Where's the meat? 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.720 Where's the main bit of the meal? 00:19:14.800 --> 00:19:16.240 And that's what you should be thinking 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:18.120 as you read this narrative. 00:19:18.280 --> 00:19:19.600 Where's the main bit of the meal? 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.980 Where's the main bit of the Passover? 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:22.980 Why doesn't Jesus mention the Lamb? 00:19:24.619 --> 00:19:25.740 He doesn't mention the Lamb 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.919 because He is the Lamb. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.480 He is the Lamb of God 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:33.199 who takes away the sin of the world. 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.839 And so remember what I said 00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.899 about the Passover. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:39.379 It's about three things, isn't it? 00:19:39.459 --> 00:19:40.659 The Passover is about judgment. 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:43.480 The Passover is about salvation. 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:45.200 And the Passover is about victory. 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.880 So what is the cross about? 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.000 Judgment comes to the city, 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:53.599 but it passes over the house 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:54.779 where the Lamb was slain. 00:19:55.620 --> 00:19:58.420 And death passes over the houses 00:19:58.420 --> 00:20:00.319 where a death has already occurred. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:03.519 And that little firstborn little boy, 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.679 Ben gets up in the morning, 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:05.139 do you remember? 00:20:05.399 --> 00:20:06.019 And he says, 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:08.359 I'm saved because the Lamb has died. 00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:12.759 And judgment comes to this world, 00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.559 but we say, 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:16.119 I am saved because Jesus died. 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:19.379 He died in my place, 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.899 and that is the basis for the new covenant. 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:25.820 And so Christ interrupts the Passover meal. 00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:27.380 He changes the liturgy, 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.540 and again He says, 00:20:28.660 --> 00:20:30.080 it's all about me. 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.600 There will be judgment, 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:35.600 but it will fall on me. 00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:38.280 There will be salvation, 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.140 but it will be for you. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:43.200 And there will be victory, 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:44.259 verse 29. 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:46.980 I tell you, 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:48.340 I will not drink again 00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:49.360 of this fruit of the vine 00:20:49.360 --> 00:20:50.080 until that day 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.640 when I drink it new with you 00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.540 in my Father's kingdom. 00:20:54.880 --> 00:20:57.420 And Jesus picks up this meal idea again, 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:59.100 and He points to that day 00:20:59.100 --> 00:21:00.000 when He will come 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.320 with all His holy angels, 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:04.160 and He will defeat every evil. 00:21:04.259 --> 00:21:05.340 And what will it be like? 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.360 It will be like a banquet. 00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.660 What will heaven be like? 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:11.180 What will the new creation be like? 00:21:11.340 --> 00:21:12.180 It will be physical. 00:21:12.300 --> 00:21:12.860 Can you see it? 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.340 I will not drink again 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:15.480 of this fruit of the vine 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.280 until the day 00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:19.740 when I drink it anew with you. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:22.920 It's a picture, isn't it, 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.780 of eternal joy and victory, 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.620 of feasting, 00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:28.180 of abundance, 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:31.720 of rich relational goodness. 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:35.780 And that is what communion is all about. 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:39.420 Do you notice 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.599 that Jesus specifically speaks here 00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.960 about eating and drinking? 00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.539 It's a way of saying 00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:48.980 we get to appropriate 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:51.440 what Jesus is going to do, 00:21:52.099 --> 00:21:53.319 what Jesus has done. 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:54.759 Let me explain that. 00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:56.680 He doesn't just break the bread 00:21:56.680 --> 00:21:58.639 and say, 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.019 His body was broken, 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.660 and then put it over there, 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.160 and then you can go and look at it. 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.660 It's going to get broken. 00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:08.160 He doesn't just pour the wine 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:08.680 and say, 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:10.420 this kind of looks like blood, 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.019 doesn't it, 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.080 and I'm going to bleed. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:12.880 You look at it. 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.220 No, He says, 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:15.519 doesn't He, 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.000 very clearly, 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.580 eat and drink. 00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.800 Why does He say that? 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.519 Because He wants us 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.019 to take on 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:25.660 the benefits of the cross 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.800 into our lives. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.100 That is the picture. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:29.840 And so communion 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:32.240 is more than just remembering. 00:22:33.439 --> 00:22:34.199 It's not like 00:22:34.199 --> 00:22:35.299 when we remember 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:35.919 a great holiday 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:37.059 and we get the holiday snaps 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.559 that we went on 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.779 and we reminisce. 00:22:39.859 --> 00:22:40.819 It's not like that. 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:42.339 It is remembering 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.859 what God has done 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:46.539 and how He has provided 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.559 and what has happened 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:48.799 to us 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.939 and for us 00:22:49.939 --> 00:22:52.139 and living in that 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.799 and acting on that 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:55.179 and taking that 00:22:55.179 --> 00:22:56.179 to ourselves 00:22:56.179 --> 00:22:58.439 and living in the light of that 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.840 and internalizing it. 00:23:01.380 --> 00:23:02.480 And so we are given 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.700 this tangible meal. 00:23:07.820 --> 00:23:08.720 I want to finish 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.420 with a scene 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.299 from the Lord of the Rings. 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.140 It's book five, 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:16.779 chapter five, sorry, 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.480 in book three 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:20.140 and it's the final, 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.500 the return of the king. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.680 And it looks terrible. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.240 Death seems absolutely certain. 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.360 It looks really bad 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:28.879 and Pippin, 00:23:29.199 --> 00:23:29.959 the little hobbit, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.679 is standing at the gate 00:23:31.679 --> 00:23:32.259 of the fortress 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:35.399 and this huge demon king 00:23:35.399 --> 00:23:36.419 breaks through the gate 00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.619 and Pippin realizes 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.119 he's going to die 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:41.399 and he's staring death 00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:42.179 in the face 00:23:42.179 --> 00:23:43.679 and suddenly, 00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.699 what does he hear? 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.479 He hears the horns. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.979 He hears the horns 00:23:49.979 --> 00:23:51.199 and it's the riders 00:23:51.199 --> 00:23:52.859 of Rohan. 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:53.919 It's the cavalry 00:23:53.919 --> 00:23:56.219 and he is gloriously 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.220 and wonderfully saved. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.740 And let me read to you 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.740 what Tolkien says 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.980 of this moment. 00:24:03.100 --> 00:24:04.100 He says, 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.740 when the dark shadow 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.240 at the gate withdrew, 00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:10.620 Gandalf still sat motionless. 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:13.759 But Pippin rose to his feet 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:16.220 as if a great weight 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.620 had been lifted from him 00:24:17.620 --> 00:24:20.000 and he stood listening 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:20.960 to the horns 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:23.440 and it seemed to him 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.779 that they would break 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.079 his heart with joy. 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:29.259 And never in after years 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.420 could he hear a horn 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.920 blown in the distance 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:35.059 without tears 00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:37.340 starting in his eyes. 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:41.359 the bread and the wine, 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:42.579 it is our horn. 00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:47.379 It is this living memory. 00:24:48.959 --> 00:24:50.759 That is what the cross means, 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:52.220 that we are free, 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.079 that we are delivered, 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.179 that we are forgiven, 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:59.720 that judgment has taken place 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:03.220 and we now know salvation 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:06.360 and victory is ours 00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:10.000 and we will be with Christ forever 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.019 and we will banquet him 00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:14.360 with him forever. 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:44.339 and we will be with Christ