WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.320 Well, I'd like us to turn back together to the chapter that we went to the first half of Matthew 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:07.400 26 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:15.040 Today we are continuing our study in the Gospel of Matthew and I want us to focus in particular on the words that we find 00:00:15.320 --> 00:00:17.960 in verses 27 and 28 00:00:18.679 --> 00:00:21.280 Where we read that Jesus took a cup 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:26.960 When he had given thanks he gave it to them saying drink it all of you 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:32.200 For this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many 00:00:32.920 --> 00:00:35.079 for the forgiveness of sins 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:40.799 Today we are able to share in the Lord supper again, which is brilliant 00:00:41.200 --> 00:00:47.799 It's and it's quite remarkable that and the very week that we had that we'd scheduled to to resume this is 00:00:48.359 --> 00:00:56.439 The same week that we come to the passage in Matthew where the Lord supper was instituted and of course the Lord supper is a very important part of 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:03.679 our lives as disciples and as a church together. It's a very special thing for us to 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:05.359 experience 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:11.359 So it's great to be able to see the bread and wine. There's there's very powerful 00:01:12.479 --> 00:01:15.120 Visual symbolism in front of us 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:21.000 It's great to be able to touch the bread and wine. It's real. It's physical 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:25.280 It's something that we take and handle and in which we participate 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:35.519 It's great to taste the bread and the wine. We eat the supper together and in doing so we are nourished and fed 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:42.840 It's even great to smell the bread and the wine Jesus and the disciples would have smelled the same smells 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:52.760 Around the table here in Matthew 26 these senses seeing tasting touching smelling are all important 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:57.160 But I don't think they're what's most important 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.640 It might sound a wee bit strange 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:06.120 But I think the most important thing about the Lord supper is not that we're seeing 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:09.480 tasting touching or smelling the bread and wine I 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:17.120 Think the most important thing is that we're listening to the bread and the wine and 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:22.480 That's because the bread and wine are telling us something and 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:29.840 That means that even if you are at home today and I'm not able to to participate physically in the Lord supper 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:34.520 And even though I'm sure you wish so much that you were able to be here just now 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:38.920 You don't need to panic or worry about the fact that you're not able 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:46.240 To do so because what matters most is that we are hearing and listening 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:50.159 To what Jesus is telling us through all of this 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:53.920 So what is Jesus saying? 00:02:54.480 --> 00:02:57.439 Well, there's a lot we could say about the Lord supper today 00:02:57.439 --> 00:03:01.719 I want us to just focus on what we're being told here in Matthew 26 and in particular 00:03:01.719 --> 00:03:09.879 I want to focus on what Jesus says about the wine because in verse 28 Jesus says something massive 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:15.599 He says this is my blood of the covenant 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:19.319 Now that is a huge statement 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:23.799 But what on earth does it mean? 00:03:25.359 --> 00:03:30.599 Well, that's what I want us to think about together today and to do so we're going to ask three questions 00:03:31.079 --> 00:03:32.879 What is a covenant? 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.079 What is the covenant and what does it mean for you? 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:42.680 So our first question is what is a covenant? 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.720 Well, when you see the word covenant in connection with the Bible 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:54.920 There's five things that I want you to have in your minds. Well, actually there's six, but I'm only going to tell you five 00:03:55.160 --> 00:03:56.600 Just now 00:03:56.600 --> 00:04:05.280 Number one is a relationship between people. That's really what a covenant is. It's establishing a relationship between people 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:08.319 There's a bond formed between parties 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:15.000 Two is clear, firm, articulated truth 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:23.120 So the relationship isn't vague or fluctuating. It's not a free-for-all. There's no spin or deception 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.120 It's a relationship that's grounded on 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:28.319 clearly set out terms and 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.000 these 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:36.720 These set out the expectations and the boundaries of the relationship 00:04:37.720 --> 00:04:40.279 Number three is life and death commitment 00:04:40.279 --> 00:04:43.360 So the concept of covenant is not for anything minor 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:48.720 You don't use a covenant to decide who's going to mow the lawn or who you're going to play Minecraft with later on this afternoon 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.079 Covenant is to do with matters of life and death 00:04:52.839 --> 00:04:54.600 importance and 00:04:54.600 --> 00:05:01.320 Those involved in a covenant are expected to be committed to it as a matter of life and death 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:09.840 Number four is real life action. So a covenant is never just a theoretical paperwork exercise 00:05:10.320 --> 00:05:13.400 It has a direct effect on real life 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.760 so 00:05:15.760 --> 00:05:17.760 In the covenant relationship 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:25.279 For those who are involved their actions and their lives are going to be shaped by that covenant. There's certain things you do 00:05:25.399 --> 00:05:29.439 There's certain things you don't do and the people in the relationship 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:34.560 Are expected to be obedient to the terms that they are committing to now 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:37.719 That's not obedient in the sense of slavery. You must do this or you must do that 00:05:37.800 --> 00:05:44.959 But obedient in the sense of being willing to fulfill the obligations that you now have towards one another 00:05:44.959 --> 00:05:51.759 So relationship between people clear firm truth life and death commitment real life action number five 00:05:52.279 --> 00:05:54.519 lasting security the result 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:01.159 Should be that the covenant relationship brings lasting security for all those who are part of it 00:06:01.159 --> 00:06:10.079 So the firm truth of the agreement the seriousness of the commitment the reality of real life obedience all comes together to establish a secure 00:06:10.799 --> 00:06:12.279 safe 00:06:12.279 --> 00:06:14.159 consistent relationship 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:16.160 That you can rely on 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:23.120 So that's five key elements of a covenant we can summarize them under the following headings 00:06:23.760 --> 00:06:29.840 Covenant relationship covenant truth covenant commitment covenant obedience covenant 00:06:30.760 --> 00:06:32.760 security and 00:06:32.840 --> 00:06:38.120 I would want you to try and keep these five things in mind as we think about 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:43.639 Covenant and what I hope you can see by looking at these is that really 00:06:44.280 --> 00:06:50.959 This is simply summarizing what all good healthy relationships look like 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:58.959 So a good example of of a covenant is marriage. It brings two people together in a relationship 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:06.399 It's grounded on firm clear truth. It's it's based on vows and it has a legal status attached to it 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:12.439 It's a commitment that is for the whole of life. It involves real life action for a husband or wife 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:18.000 There's there's things they do and things that don't do as a result of that covenant relationship and it brings 00:07:18.599 --> 00:07:20.519 lasting security 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:27.199 So marriage is a very clear example of this but even in terms of relationships that aren't as formal as marriage 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:29.399 The same emphases apply 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:36.799 So for example these five headings I think really just portray what what any good friendship looks like 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:39.639 People relate to one another as friends 00:07:39.799 --> 00:07:43.959 It's grounded on truth as you get to know one another and learn more about one another 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:52.679 The best of all friendships are for life and greater love has no one than than than that that of the person who will lay down their life 00:07:52.919 --> 00:07:54.919 for their friends 00:07:54.920 --> 00:08:01.040 If someone's your friend then there's things that you definitely do so you talk you spend time together 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:06.800 You help each other and there's things you definitely don't do so you don't gossip about them 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:08.040 You don't pick on them 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:15.759 You don't you don't take them up and put them down at a whim and you don't take advantage of them and a good friendship brings 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:23.439 lasting security, it's a wonderful thing so even friendships an example of this I think that even a good employee 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:25.240 employer 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:26.319 relationship 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.800 Looks the same 00:08:27.800 --> 00:08:32.279 There's clear terms and expectations in that relationship 00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:39.720 There's commitment. There's real-life obligations for both the boss and the staff and if things are the way they're meant to be 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:43.600 then everyone benefits from lasting security and 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.600 Equally on the other side of the coin 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:51.960 Problems arise in marriage and friendship or in the workplace when individuals fail 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:56.280 in one or more of these five areas 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:02.120 Now all of that means that when we when you see the word covenant 00:09:02.920 --> 00:09:08.780 It's not talking about some weird archaic concept from ancient history 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:17.720 It's actually talking about everything that we crave in our relationships with others 00:09:17.720 --> 00:09:22.639 And you can see that if you think of the opposite of all of these things 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:29.279 So covenant relationship is the opposite of selfish individualism 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:35.000 Covenant truth is the opposite of deception and manipulation 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:40.519 Covenant commitment is the opposite of being superficial or changeable 00:09:40.519 --> 00:09:47.000 Covenant obedience in real life is the opposite of empty airy-fairy waffle and 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:51.919 Covenant security is the opposite of temporary or casual 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:54.559 relationships and 00:09:54.559 --> 00:09:56.559 in today's world 00:09:56.480 --> 00:10:03.879 Whether it's with friends with colleagues with lovers so many relationships today are selfish 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:06.360 manipulative 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.439 shallow 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:09.439 half-hearted and 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:11.440 insecure 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:12.920 And 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.920 If you've been on the receiving end of that 00:10:15.800 --> 00:10:18.680 You will know how horrible all that can be 00:10:19.320 --> 00:10:25.440 And that's why so often in life the very things that should give us the greatest joy can be the things that can cause us 00:10:25.560 --> 00:10:28.160 The most pain broken friendships 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:31.200 nightmare colleagues or 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:34.400 failed relationships these are all incredibly 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:37.240 hard 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.480 In that world 00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:48.240 The word covenant is thrilling it is everything we long for 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.639 and 00:10:50.639 --> 00:11:00.560 The amazing thing about Christianity is that covenant is what lies at the very heart of the whole thing 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:04.080 Which of course brings us to question two 00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:13.600 What is the covenant as Jesus establishes the Lord's supper in Matthew 26 after taking the bread and giving it to the disciples 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:20.560 He then takes a cup of wine and he says drink it all of you for this is my blood of 00:11:21.400 --> 00:11:23.240 the Covenant 00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:28.720 That means that one of the things the Lord's supper is telling us is that at the heart of 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:34.600 What Jesus's death is all about is the covenant? 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:37.320 It's central to all that he's doing 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:40.040 But what is the covenant? 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:44.279 Well, we can pretty very simply and say that 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:54.160 The covenant is the big thread that ties the whole of the Bible and the whole of Christian theology together 00:11:54.159 --> 00:12:00.439 So for example if you were to drive north today, you would probably go over the Queen's Ferry crossing 00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:04.959 How is that Queen's Ferry crossing held together and held up over the Firth of fourth? 00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:11.879 Well, it's held up by massive cables that span across the whole thing if you turn on a light switch in your house 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:14.000 How does it work? 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:23.319 It's connected to a vast network of wires and cables that make up the national grid and even if you go to school tomorrow or to uni or 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:26.800 Tune in to listen to a lecture what you're gonna learn tomorrow is 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:35.040 Part of a wider curriculum that spans across each stage of your education so much of what we do every day 00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:42.240 Is part of a framework which is bigger and which holds everything together and it's exactly the same with the Bible 00:12:42.760 --> 00:12:48.560 The Bible is an incredible book full of different people different periods different places different cultures 00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:52.080 But the whole thing is held together by one key concept 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.080 Covenant 00:12:54.879 --> 00:13:02.160 It's the framework that spans the whole of the Bible. It's the thread that runs right through it 00:13:02.960 --> 00:13:10.280 And that's reflected very clearly in the titles that are given to the two big sections of the Bible as I'm sure you know 00:13:10.280 --> 00:13:18.160 The Bible is divided into two big chunks Old Testament and New Testament and that word Testament simply means covenant 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.720 We could just as easily say 00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:28.960 Old Covenant and New Covenant the whole Bible is framed around this 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.320 concept 00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:34.680 So we'll see that if we look back at these five key areas 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:39.040 Christianity is all about the relationship between God and 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:43.800 Humanity the Bible presents that relationship as a covenant relationship 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:47.920 Christianity is grounded on clear solid 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:56.719 Stated truth that's precisely what the Bible is it is setting out the terms the implications and the expectations of a 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:59.039 relationship with God 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:04.479 Christianity is a matter of life and death commitment now. That's not even the slightest 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:13.480 Exaggeration the whole thing is about living or dying. It's about heaven or hell. It's about being saved or being lost 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:19.320 Nothing is more important Christianity is not just a nice thing to think about on a Sunday morning 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:22.440 It's a relationship that's grounded on full commitment 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:27.039 Christianity is all about real life action and 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:35.279 Here in Matthew everything is pointing towards the one great act that Jesus has come to do and the Bible is 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:41.240 Is constantly presenting us with a record of real life stuff 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:48.519 That's happened and that's building up towards the cross the whole Bible is centered on the real life 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:54.399 obedience of Jesus that takes him all the way to the cross and of course as 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:03.680 Christians the reality of what Jesus has done it now transforms how we live each day of our lives as well and the goal of it all 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.159 The goal of Christianity is lasting security. In fact, it's eternal 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.159 eternal security 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:14.259 for all who trust in Jesus 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:20.719 Covenant is at the heart of what Christianity is all about 00:15:21.879 --> 00:15:24.000 So the covenant what is it? 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:30.240 Well, it's referring to God's great plan to bring us back into a relationship with him 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:35.279 But as we said a week ago the Bible divides that into two big chunks 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:41.360 And you've got the old and the new and we kind of need to ask well, how does that all work? 00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:43.360 And how does that fit together? 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:47.480 Well, when we're looking at the difference between the old and the new covenant older New Testament 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:51.079 It's important that we make sure we understand it correctly 00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:54.079 So 00:15:54.079 --> 00:15:56.240 When we say old and new 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:00.439 We mustn't think of old and new in terms of completely 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:06.840 Chucking out the old and bringing in a completely different replacement instead 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:14.600 We need to think of it in terms of the old being a shadow and the new being a fulfillment 00:16:15.240 --> 00:16:19.960 So maybe it's helpful to think of it like this that when you say the difference between the old and the new 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:23.680 It's not like old and new stuff where you your shoes are old 00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:27.360 You throw them in the bin you go and buy a new pair of shoes and there's a complete total 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:33.480 Replacement one's pink the others are red or whatever and it's not such a radical change as that 00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:36.080 It's more in terms of a progression sometimes 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:40.200 It's maybe helpful to think in terms of an old way of doing things and a new way of doing things 00:16:40.200 --> 00:16:43.000 So for example when I was a young child I 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:48.759 wobbled when I walked and I I couldn't really speak 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:56.919 Very clearly I'd get words wrong when I said anything as an adult. I don't do that anymore and 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:01.559 I can I can walk fully and I can talk 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.799 coherently and 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:06.879 the old way of childhood has passed and 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:14.279 The fullness of adulthood has come. It's not that that the old me was thrown away and completely abandoned 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.119 I'm still the same person. It's still me walking. It's still me talking 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.119 Probably talk too much now 00:17:19.439 --> 00:17:25.479 But the key thing is that the old has been fulfilled and been completed in the new 00:17:25.919 --> 00:17:29.119 That's exactly how it works in the Bible 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:32.799 The covenant stretches right across the whole thing 00:17:34.199 --> 00:17:38.719 But in the Old Testament the Old Covenant there are shadows 00:17:39.639 --> 00:17:41.639 pointing towards the ultimate 00:17:42.159 --> 00:17:43.919 fulfillment in 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:45.679 Jesus 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:48.680 Now there's there's four 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:52.720 big Covenant shadows in the Old Testament 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:59.799 That I want to highlight and they're all connected with key individuals. So first of all you've got Noah 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:02.920 and 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:09.000 God comes to Noah and he makes a covenant with him and 00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:12.799 Central to that covenant is the creation 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:21.240 It's a shadow of God restoring the universe that has been broken and cursed because of sin and 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:26.159 The sign of that covenant is to do with the creation particularly to do with with rainfall and clouds 00:18:26.159 --> 00:18:27.879 It's the sign of the rainbow 00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:31.319 That is is the sign of that covenant 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.759 Next God makes a covenant with Abraham 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:41.279 Central to that covenant is the family God promises Abraham a son and that that 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:46.039 And his descendants would become a great nation and that's a shadow of 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:50.920 God restoring a divided and hostile 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:55.960 Humanity and bringing them back into one family and the sign 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:04.399 For that is circumcision which of course is connected with the male reproductive organ again pointing to the idea of family and 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.720 descendancy 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.039 God makes a covenant with Moses 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:13.799 Central to that covenant is the law and the tabernacle or the temple 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:17.559 That's a shadow of restoring humanity to be the image of God 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:23.159 So obeying the laws to become again what God wanted us to be the tabernacle is where God 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:27.200 Dwelled with his people and through the Old Testament. That's a really 00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:34.759 Important theme and the great emphasis of that is that you had this building the tabernacle or the temple and in the middle of that building 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:39.240 God dwelt with his people and the sign of that covenant was observing the Sabbath day 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:46.519 Which of course is pointing back to Eden where where humanity did fully bear the image of God and where God did indeed 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:52.079 Dwell with humanity and then fourth we have a covenant with David 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:57.079 Central to that covenant is the kingdom. It's a shadow of God's kingdom 00:19:57.640 --> 00:20:02.000 Being established and all the damage of sin being put right 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:09.359 Everything being restored to what God intended it to be and the sign of that is that David's descendants would sit upon 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:13.079 The throne now that diagram there is a bit of a simplification 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:19.119 And there's a lot more to it and there's a lot more overlap between these than maybe that cover that diagram 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:24.400 Perhaps is able to portray but I hope that that's helpful to see that you've got these shadows 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:29.799 Running through the Old Testament that are just building things up bit by bit by bit 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:33.559 But they are all shadows 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:38.119 And that's why when you go back to the Old Testament and you read about them 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:42.200 You see that they're all a combination of success and failure 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.519 So you look at Noah 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:50.079 There was the promise that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood and it hasn't been but the world is still cursed 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:52.960 And it's still broken and even Noah himself failed 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.680 rather sadly 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:00.840 After Abraham a great family nation was established the nation of Israel 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:07.440 But it was pretty tiny compared with the rest of humanity and even the nation itself just kept on dividing 00:21:08.200 --> 00:21:11.840 After Moses there was clear instruction with the Ten Commandments 00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:15.840 They had the amazing privilege of God being present there in the tabernacle and then the temple 00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:21.519 But they kept on disobeying these commandments and eventually God departed from the temple 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:26.240 And after David there was a line of kings sitting upon the throne 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:31.680 But half of them were terrible and eventually the kingdom was conquered by foreigners 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:38.720 All of these were a combination of success and failure mostly failure because they were all shadows 00:21:39.720 --> 00:21:47.519 None of them restored things properly and they were never intended to they were only ever meant to be shadows 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:52.119 And that's why I've drawn them as arrows because they're pointing towards 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:55.119 something and 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.200 What they're pointing to is 00:21:57.759 --> 00:22:01.759 the new covenant the new testament and 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:05.119 This is what Jesus is talking about 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:09.160 The whole reason he has come is to fulfill 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:14.839 Everything that these shadows pointed towards so for the creation 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:21.720 Jesus has come to defeat Satan to destroy the kingdom of evil to break the curse of sin and to 00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:27.359 Restore the whole universe into a new creation and new heavens and a new earth 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:33.319 For the family Jesus has not just come to unite Abraham's biological descendants 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:35.919 He's come to unite the whole of humanity in fact 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:43.199 He's come to make a new humanity Jews Gentiles every family every nation every race every class all 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:47.240 United as brothers and sisters for the law 00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:52.640 He's come to fulfill everything that the law required and he's come to teach us what God's law instructs 00:22:52.640 --> 00:23:00.400 And he's doing that so that we can learn and understand and grow and fulfill our potential to be everything that God created us to be 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:08.440 For the temple Jesus has not come to to build us a temple. He's come to make us the temple 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:15.320 So instead of God dwelling in the middle of a room in a building in Jerusalem. He's come to dwell in you and 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:19.440 me in our hearts by his spirit and 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:22.160 for the kingdom 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:29.279 Jesus has come as king and as Matthew's been telling us all the way through this gospel the kingdom of God has come and 00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:36.000 Right now and forevermore Jesus reigns as king over the whole universe 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:41.119 And he's calling all of us to become and to live out our lives as 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:43.640 citizens of that kingdom 00:23:44.359 --> 00:23:52.680 Everything in the Bible is pointing towards this moment when the shadows of the old become a reality in the new and 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:56.039 You can even see that right here in Matthew 26 00:23:56.599 --> 00:24:04.039 You see the Passover mentioned in verse 2 that's immediately pointing you back to Moses and telling us that the salvation of Israel 00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:10.960 Through the death of a lamb is a shadow of the salvation that Jesus is going to bring through his own blood 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:16.200 You see Jesus being anointed in verse 7 the disciples thought it was a complete waste of money 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:21.399 But Jesus is no this is a precious thing. It's pointing forward to something 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:27.039 You see the plotting of the Pharisees you see Jesus Judas betraying Jesus 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:30.519 The forces of evil are conspiring against him 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:36.480 But all of this is known and understood by Jesus because it's all leading up to the key moment 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:44.519 That's approaching everything in the Old Testament everything in Matthew's gospel is pointing towards this big key 00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:47.819 event the great moment of 00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:50.639 covenant fulfillment is 00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:53.240 coming and 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:55.879 Jesus says 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:58.759 If you want to understand this 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:03.720 You need to listen to a cup of wine 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:11.319 Now that probably sounds really weird, but it actually makes perfect sense 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:18.839 Because that cup of wine is representing the blood of the covenant that means it's telling you something 00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:24.759 Incredibly important. It's telling you about covenant relationship 00:25:24.759 --> 00:25:31.000 Jesus is round this table with his disciples and he gives the cup to them 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:36.119 He's in a relationship with him and so he says to them drink it all of you 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:43.079 It's not just for Jesus. It's for all of them because they all belong together in a relationship 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:45.680 It's a meal that's being shared 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:50.920 It's pointed to the fact that Jesus has come to restore us into a relationship with God and 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:53.519 into a relationship with one another 00:25:53.519 --> 00:26:00.200 The wine is also telling you about covenant truth Jesus uses this wine as a picture of his blood 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:06.319 Blood that's going to be shed as he goes to die in order to save us 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:14.359 That's the key truth of Christianity that Jesus has come to die and rise again so that we can be saved and that salvation is 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:16.559 for many 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:22.119 That's one of the many incredible truths that it's not just for these disciples. It's not for the elite 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:27.079 It's not for the select few. It's a message of salvation proclaimed for the many 00:26:28.319 --> 00:26:33.159 This wine is telling you about life and death commitment because the blood that Jesus is talking about 00:26:33.159 --> 00:26:37.839 It's not the blood of a lamb or a bull or of anything else. He says this is my blood and 00:26:39.719 --> 00:26:46.559 The fulfillment of the covenant promises is literally a matter of life or death for Jesus 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:53.720 Because our salvation can only happen through the death of our Savior and Jesus is saying that's exactly 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:56.440 What I'm going to do 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.519 The wine is telling you about real life action 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:05.119 Jesus is saying that that this is my blood which is poured out 00:27:05.679 --> 00:27:11.399 poured out wine is speaking of poured out blood and it's telling us that Jesus actually did it 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:13.799 He actually died 00:27:13.799 --> 00:27:21.079 His blood actually poured in real life real time. He did it. He had to go to the very limit 00:27:21.399 --> 00:27:24.759 in order to be obedient and he did it 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:28.200 He did everything that was needed and 00:27:29.039 --> 00:27:31.039 The wine is telling you about 00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:36.000 lasting security because the whole reason he did it was for the forgiveness of 00:27:36.639 --> 00:27:38.639 sins 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:44.160 That means that for all who trust in Jesus the guilt and damage and 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:47.360 brokenness and horribleness of your sin is 00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:50.560 Washed away 00:27:51.120 --> 00:27:54.120 And the result is that you are freed and 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:57.400 You are safe 00:27:57.920 --> 00:28:00.960 Totally and utterly secure 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:04.160 forever 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:10.080 And that also means that there is so much to celebrate and that's what the wine is telling us to do 00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:17.680 It's Jesus is telling us to take the cup because it's the blood of the covenant and that covenant is giving eternal security 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:25.759 To all who trust in him and in a world of disease and disaster and sorrow boy. Is that a reason to celebrate? 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:34.000 But what's maybe even more amazing is that for Jesus he is not quite celebrating yet 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:40.480 Because for him the time to celebrate is not now for him the time to celebrate is still to come 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:45.640 That's why the new covenant is a big arrow because it too is still pointing forward 00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:51.720 It's pointing forward to the day when Jesus will come and take you home and bring you into his new creation 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:58.279 That's why he says in the very next verse I won't think of this again until that day when I drink it new with you 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:05.640 In my father's kingdom because for Jesus the moment to celebrate is when you are home with him 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:08.799 forever 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.799 That's his goal 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:18.720 That's why he was sent. That's why he came. That's why he died so that he could save you and bring you home 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:22.160 safe and secure forever 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:26.319 So the covenant is 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:33.319 God's great amazing plan of salvation and when Jesus says this is the blood 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:39.160 This is my blood of the covenant. He's telling us about everything. He has come to do 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:45.559 He's come to fulfill the covenant. He's come to complete God's plan of salvation 00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:52.079 He's come to bring you back into covenant relationship with God and he did it all 00:29:53.799 --> 00:29:57.639 By pouring out his blood on the cross 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:04.799 Last question is what does this mean for you? 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:09.879 Well, I hope that it helps you to see how the Bible fits together. I 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:17.160 Also hope it helps you to see just how big and brilliant God's covenant plan of salvation is and I 00:30:18.040 --> 00:30:26.160 Really hope that it makes you love that word covenant because covenant theology is so cool 00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:33.280 But you might be looking at all of that and you might be thinking well that all sounds great Thomas 00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:36.360 but I can't live up to it and 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:44.719 You can so easily think well covenant relationship sounds great, but my relationship with God is nowhere near what it should be 00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:51.000 It's so easy to look at that. I think well, I'm just a failure and I don't match up to all of this is saying 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:57.199 Covenant truth maybe sounds great, but but you might be thinking well, I don't really understand it all and 00:30:58.039 --> 00:31:03.359 There's so much. I don't know so much. I need to learn and the truth about my life is that I've just made tons of mistakes 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:05.359 And I keep on making mistakes 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:12.279 Covenant commitment sounds great, but but sometimes I just want to give up and 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:16.919 Sometimes I feel tired or dissolutioned or discouraged sometimes 00:31:16.919 --> 00:31:22.839 I feel people have hurt me and I've let other people down and it's so easy to look at ourselves and think well 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:26.759 I don't feel particularly strong or healthy in my faith 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:32.599 Covenant obedience sounds wonderful, but but you might be sitting there thinking yeah 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:38.679 But I'm constantly attacked to sin and if I look back over the past seven days. It's not a story of obedience 00:31:38.679 --> 00:31:40.679 It's a story of failing and 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:45.879 There's no way that that that we can say to God look at what I've done and 00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:53.480 Covenant security maybe sounds great for those who are doing well in their Christian lives 00:31:53.480 --> 00:32:02.079 But for you, maybe you sit here and you're saying well, I just feel like a constant disappointment to God 00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:07.000 Maybe you feel like that today. Maybe you feel like that as a Christian 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:11.480 Maybe you feel like that as somebody who wants to be a Christian 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:15.000 You could say all that theology sounds great Thomas 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:18.920 But it sounds like it's for the proper Christians 00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:21.599 It doesn't really apply to me 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:29.559 Well if you feel like that today, I can totally understand why you do 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:36.759 But I'm also delighted to tell you that you're actually totally wrong 00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:41.559 Because who is all of this for 00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:50.319 Who is the blood of the covenant poured out for who are the kind of people who get to share in all of this 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:56.279 Is it the elite the strong the wise the successful the ones who are spiritually on fire? 00:32:58.399 --> 00:33:01.519 Well Matthew 26 tells us who it's for 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:06.879 All of this is for those who trust in Jesus and 00:33:07.759 --> 00:33:12.679 Here in Matthew 26 that means it's the people who are sitting around the table with him 00:33:14.919 --> 00:33:16.919 But what happens to them next 00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:21.519 After this moment do the disciples go out and 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:32.320 Leave this room in triumph and overcome every obstacle that they face as as these models of of faith and wisdom and courage 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.960 No, that's not what happens at all 00:33:36.480 --> 00:33:42.320 These disciples go out from this room and they totally stuff up 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:50.279 Jesus tells them that they're gonna fall away and scatter and if you read a few verses further on you see that they fall asleep 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:56.159 They run away and despite what Peter says he does in fact deny Jesus 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:03.799 But Jesus says to them you might fall away, but I will go 00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:06.519 before you and 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:12.880 This is because all these promises and blessings of the covenant are never 00:34:13.719 --> 00:34:16.039 Ever dependent on us 00:34:17.119 --> 00:34:24.239 It is not about what you do. It's not about you matching up. It's not about us doing anything 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:28.320 Because Jesus does it all and 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:36.920 So the covenant is not about our truth or our commitment or our obedience or our efforts to restore a relationship 00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:39.800 With God it is all about him 00:34:40.640 --> 00:34:42.480 It's his truth 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:45.640 It's his commitment. It's his obedience 00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:51.240 He is the one who makes us secure and far more than you will probably ever realize 00:34:51.600 --> 00:34:56.600 He is the one who wants to be in a relationship with you 00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:58.599 that lasts forever and 00:35:00.559 --> 00:35:02.559 It does not matter 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:05.000 how 00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:08.480 useless or broken you think you are 00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:15.039 Because all the incredible theology of the covenant is for weak 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.440 broken people 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:22.759 like Peter and the disciples and you and me 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:30.480 And this brings us last of all to the sixth thing that I wanted to say about covenant 00:35:31.160 --> 00:35:34.320 if you look at that diagram again, you'll see that I've drawn 00:35:35.120 --> 00:35:37.120 covenant as arrows and 00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:44.640 That's partly because they keep pointing forward the arrows in the Old Testament are pointing forward to the new and 00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:50.040 Even the new covenant is pointing towards the new creation when Jesus returns 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:56.920 But that's not the only reason why I've drawn them as arrows because the other reason why I've drawn them as arrows is because the covenant is 00:35:57.320 --> 00:36:00.480 Being driven along by something 00:36:01.320 --> 00:36:07.440 So as you go see this thread running through the Bible there is a tidal wave of strength 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:14.960 Pushing these arrows forward. There's a relentless momentum that drives Jesus through Matthew 26 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:20.559 Into Matthew 27 and all the way to the cross these arrows are being driven along 00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:25.800 Right through the pages of scripture and across the generations of history 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:29.280 But you need to ask what is it that's driving these arrows forward? 00:36:30.760 --> 00:36:33.840 Well the driving force behind all of these is 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:38.079 Covenant love 00:36:40.079 --> 00:36:41.679 Unstoppable 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:43.280 unrelenting 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.840 unending 00:36:44.840 --> 00:36:47.600 Unbreakable covenant love 00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:51.519 and if you look back over all these 00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:59.920 Examples in the Bible you'll see that every person in these arrows messed up Noah Abraham Moses David Peter James John 00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:07.360 All the disciples they all failed again and again and so do we we keep on failing but the arrows 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:09.760 never stop 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:14.640 And that is because God's covenant love never fails 00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:24.360 And when Jesus holds up that cup of wine he is saying I will never ever give up on you 00:37:26.600 --> 00:37:31.120 And that is why covenant theology is the coolest thing ever because it's telling you that 00:37:31.120 --> 00:37:37.200 threaded through the whole Bible and spanning across the whole of history is the covenant plan of God 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:43.879 Which is driven forward by the fact that he loves you and he will never ever give up on you 00:37:46.919 --> 00:37:48.919 And all we have to do is trust him 00:37:51.759 --> 00:37:53.759 That's all we have to do 00:37:55.199 --> 00:37:58.439 Because that's the terms of his covenant 00:37:59.559 --> 00:38:04.839 He's the one who's put all these arrows in place. He's the one who is blasting it all up 00:38:04.840 --> 00:38:11.519 He's the one who is blasting it all along. He is the one who has done absolutely everything that's needed and all he's 00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:13.440 saying to you is to just trust me 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:17.559 Follow me I 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:23.320 Will hold you and I will never let you go I 00:38:26.559 --> 00:38:28.559 Really hope 00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:30.480 That 00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:32.480 every one of us here and 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:34.480 Every one of us at home. I 00:38:35.320 --> 00:38:37.320 Hope that we can all hear 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:40.280 What this cup of wine is saying? 00:38:40.280 --> 00:39:02.280 Amen, let's pray