The Coolidge examiner., 1936-05-29

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT
TOPIC - What the Lords Supper
Meant to Jesus.
The last meal that Jesus ate with
his disciples was the Passover, the
memorial of the national deliver
ance which pointed to the supreme
deliverance to be effected by Christ
on the cross of Calvary. In cOnnec-
ton with this Passover, the feast of
| the new covenant was instituted.
| This feast also has a double import.
1t looks backward to the great de-
liverance wrought through Christ's
atOning death, and forward to the
even greater deliverance which He
shall accomplish at his second COM
ing U Cor. II :26).
|. The Last Passover (vv. 7-1S).
l. The Passover prepared (vv.
7-13).
a. AS the time had arrived for
the killing of the Passover, Jesus
VII CSlcu elcI anu JOlIA " ndhc
ready for it ". 81.
b. The disciples inquired ". 81
where they should prepare the Pass
over. Doubtless, they were eager
to be of service to their Master and
Lord. The true disciple is not only
ready to do the Lords bidding, but
eager also to know his exact will.
C. Jesus gave strange directions
wv. 10-12), that they should go into
the city, where they would find a
man bearing a pitcher of water.
The custom was for women to carry
the water. This unusual occurrence
would make it the easier for them
to recognize the man of whom they
would ask, "Where is the guest
chamber where shall eat the Pass
over with my disciples?" He assured
them that they would then be shown
large upper room furnished.
d. The disciples gave unquestion-
ing obedience ". 13), not permitting
the unusual instructions to raise the
question of sanity or reasonable
ness. Jesus, because he was ON
niscient, knew just how the mat
ter would turn out, and the disci-
Piles found i&even so.
2. The Passover eaten wv. 14-1S).
a. The historic group around that
table ". 14) was composed of Jesus
and the Twelve, the apostles.
b. Jesus words to the disciples
wv. 1919.
O Il have desired to eat this
Passover with you before l suffer"
". 15). He desired to show them
the meaning of the passion through
which he was to go. He also craved
their human sympathy as he passed
through this terrible ordeal.
(2) 81 will not any more eat there
of until it be fulfilled in the king
dom of God" ". 16). His death was
the anti-typical fulfillment of the
Passover meal. He declared that
this would be the last time that they
could share together this sacred
ordinance before the completion of
his mediatorial work.
(3) Take this cup and divide it
among ourselves" wv. II, 1S). BY
the token of the cup the disciples
were partaking Of the shed blood
This cup of the feast of the new
covenant.
II. The Feast of the New Cove
nant wv. 10, 20).
This feast took place at the close
Of the pascal supper.
!. The bread a symbol of Christ's
body ". 19). AS bread nourishes
and strengthens our bodies, so
Christ is food to our spiritual ma
ture. Unless the body receives nour-
ishment, it decays. Unless our souls
feed upon Christ, we shall perish.
Christ's giving the physical bread
to his disciples signified the giving
of himself to them. In order to get
benefit from Christ, we must receive
inappropriate him.
2. The cup a symbol of Christ's
blood ". 20). He said, This cup
is the new testament in my blood
which was shed for you," indicating
that each one must personally ac-
cept the atonement made by the
shedding of his blood.
III. The Treachery of Judas (vv.
21-23).
l. The time of it's manifestation
". 2D. 1t was while they were eat
ing the last Passover that Jesus
made announcement of the betrayal.
Perhaps Jesus was in this manner
offering Judas an opportunity at
this last moment to repent.
2. The betrayal was by the de-
terminate counsel of God ". %, cf
Acts 2:23). Nothing takes place by
chance. Even the sinful acts OF
wicked men come within the per
missive providence of God. This
does not, however, lessen the guilt
Of sinners, for Jesus said, "Woe
unto the man by whom he is be
trayed."
3. The sorrowful question ". 23)
That the disciples were not sus
picious of one another is evident
from the personal nature Of the
question they asked, Lord, is it L?
Matt. 26:22). Well may each be
lever ask if he is in any way be