LUKE 22:1-23
THE UPPER ROOM
Life of Christ #52
There is something about a
family meal that is special. One of the
highlights of my growing up years was sitting around the kitchen table and
enjoying a meal with my whole family. In
later years, when Dottie and I would visit, family meals were still important. A very special time in the meal was sitting
around the table after eating and just chatting, especially with my Dad.
Probably the most important
family meals are those which are enjoyed during the holidays. It is great when the extended family can get
together. This past year it was
wonderful to have all 17, soon to be 20 members of our family gathered together
to enjoy food and fellowship.
Sometimes there are
hindrances to family meals. When there
have been disagreements and hurt feelings within the family then a family
gathering is a strained gathering.
This morning we return to our
study in the Life of Christ. Last week
we saw part of a “family meal” that Jesus had with his disciples the night
before his death. We looked at Jesus
example of service in washing the disciples’ feet.
This week we return to a
place called “The Upper Room” to look in more detail concerning “The Last
Supper”. It was a family meal, but
unfortunately, there was some strain caused by Judas Iscariot who that very night
would betray the Lord Jesus.
This morning we have adopted
a very brief outline to aid in our study.
THE SCANDAL
THE SUPPER
THE SACRAMENT
THE SCANDAL – Vss. 1-6, 21-23
Vs. 1 – Most of you are
familiar with the Passover. Even today
it is a holiday celebrated by our Jewish friends.
The Passover was a holiday
celebrated in commemoration of God releasing the Jews from bondage in
Of course The Passover was
also a picture of what the Lord Jesus would do for us. As John the Baptist announced concerning
Jesus in John 1:29 …Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world.
1 Corinthians 5:7 - …For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Vs. 2 – At Passover time there could have been as many as
200,000 visitors in
For some time the Jewish
leaders wanted to kill Jesus.
Jesus was very popular.
They could not find the right
opportunity to kill Him.
If they were to arrest Jesus
publicly, they feared that the people would turn on them and support Jesus.
There would be a riot on
their hands.
Vs. 3 – Then there was Judas. Judas was well respected by the disciples.
Judas was the group’s treasurer, although John tells us in his Gospel that
Judas was a thief. Judas had preached
for Jesus as a disciple, and in all likelihood even worked miracles.
But hanging around disciples
does not make one a true Christian any more than hanging around the garage
makes someone a car! Unless there is
true belief that causes a change of heart, people can pretend to be Christians
and turn out to be traitors.
Judas was influenced by Satan
to do his dastardly deed.
Vss. 4-6 – There was a high level secret meeting including
Jesus, the high priests and the captains of the temple police, who would be
involved in the arrest. The plan was
simple.
Judas would bring them to
Jesus in a quiet time away from the crowds and Jesus would be arrested.
Judas would look for the
right time for betrayal.
He would find the right time
that was ultimately God’s time.
Jesus would not be betrayed
and arrested a moment too early or too late to fulfill God’s plan.
Vss. 21-22 - It is important to note that Jesus was not
fooled. In fact, He treated Judas kindly,
knowing that he would betray Him, and even giving Him opportunity to repent.
This was a sad time for
Judas.
It is sad for anyone who
pretends to be a Christian, but in reality is in cahoots with the Devil!
My friend, I would beg you,
that if you have never truly placed your trust in Christ that would you would
so, immediately. Stop pretending! Start believing!
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2 Corinthians
6:2 - …behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The greatest scandal of all
is that you would sit in this pew Sunday after Sunday and not be truly a child
of God, but a traitor. How many times do
you have to hear the Gospel before you truly believe?
THE SCANDAL
THE SUPPER – Vss. 7-18
Vss. 7-8 – The Day in which the Passover Lamb was to be killed
had come. Jesus entrusted the meal
preparations to two of His most trusted disciples, Peter and John. This was an important event, and Jesus chose
men he could trust to get the job done.
I am reminded that even when
we don’t realize it, what seems to be a menial task is important to our
Savior. Those little insignificant
things that He calls to us to do may actually have great significance to Him
and His plans.
This reminds me that whatever
I do, I am to do it well!
Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least
is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in
much.
Colossians 3:23 - And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord, and not unto men;
Vs. 9 – Here was a logical question.
Vs. 10 – They were to go into
LUKE 22:1-23 - PAGE 5
Why wasn’t Jesus more
specific, giving a name and a street address?
I feel that He wasn’t more
specific because Judas was looking for a good, quiet time to betray Jesus. Jesus was not going to allow this betrayal to
take place until after a last Passover with His disciples and the institution
of the Lord’s Supper.
It was unusual for men to
carry water jars. They usually carried
water in skins. The man would be obvious. He was to be followed.
It is quite possible that
Jesus had prearranged this signal with the owner of the house. It is also possible that this was a
miraculous occurrence. Whatever the case Judas could have heard the
instructions and not known where the Passover would be held. Or, Judas could
have asked Peter or John where the Passover would be held, and they could
honestly say they didn’t know.
Vss. 11-12 – Obviously the owner of the house knew the Master
and was willing to share his large room on the top of the house for such an
occasion. The room was furnished with the traditional couches that the men
would recline on.
What would have been involved
in getting the Passover meal ready?
All the food for the meal
would have to be purchased, including unleavened bread, wine, bitter herbs etc.
A lamb would have to be
secured, if it hadn’t been already.
Then, there would be a trip
to the temple. Remember there were
thousands of lambs being offered at the Passover. Each lamb was to cover the
feeding of about 10 people.
R. Kent Hughes - “At midafternoon, 3:00 P.M., the ritual slaughtering began.
This was completed in three huge shifts. When the first group entered in and
the temple court was filled, the gates of the court were closed. A priest’s shofar played a sustained blast and the sacrifices
began. Each Israelite slaughtered his
own offering, and priest caught the blood, which was then tossed at the base of
the altar. As the offerer left the temple, the slain
lamb and its skin ws draped over his shoulder.
“That evening the Passover
was observed in a home or room reserved for the occasion. The lamb was roasted
on a pomegranate spit. Inside, the company dressed in festive white and
reclined at tables with the leader at the head.”
R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word, Luke Volume 2, That You May Know
the Truth, (Wheaton, Illinois,
Crossway Books, 1998), pp. 313-314
Vss. 13-14 – Peter and John completed their duties and the
Passover was ready for eating when Jesus and the other disciples arrived.
Vs. 15 – Jesus showed his love and concern for the
disciples. “With desire he desired” to eat the Passover with
them. He was eager!
He wanted one more quiet time
of intimate fellowship with His disciples before he suffered at the hands of
the chief priests and Roman soldiers. He
wanted a time of intimacy to reassure, to teach, and to institute his own
memorial, the Lord’s Supper.
This is again an indication
as to how much Jesus loves His own. When you are loved by Jesus you are loved
with an everlasting love!
Vs. 16 – This was to be the last Passover Jesus would
partake of until He does so in His Millennial Kingdom.
Vss. 17-18 – There were four
courses of wine passed during a Passover.
There was prescribed course for what is called the Seder.
According to William
Hendriksen the main elements of a Passover Seder were:
1.
“A prayer of
Thanksgiving by the head of the house; drinking the first cup of (diluted)
wine.
2.
“The eating of
bitter herbs as a reminder of the bitter slavery in
3.
“The Son’s
inquiry, ‘Why is this night distinguished from all other nights?’ and the
father’s appropriate reply, either narrated or read.
4.
“The singing of
the first part of the Hallel (Psalms 113-114), and
the washing of hands. The second cup.
5.
“The carving and
eating of the lamb, together with unleavened bread.
6.
“The continuation
of the meal, each eating as much as he liked, but always last of the lamb. The
third cup.
7.
“Singing of the
last part of the Hallel (Psalms 115-116). Fourth
cup.” William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Exposition of the
Gospel According to Luke, (Grand Rapids Michigan, Baker Book House, 1978)
pp. 959-960
This is the supper which
Jesus and the Apostles ate.
But then, at the end of the
Supper Jesus would establish a memorial for Himself.
THE SCANDAL
THE SUPPER
THE SACRAMENT – Vss. 19-20
There are churches that have
seven “sacraments”.
We have just two, instituted
by our Lord.
These things we practice
because the Lord said to.
The first sacrament is
believers’ baptism.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded
you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world. Amen.
The Lord’s command was really
quite simple.
To “teach all nations” means
to “make disciples”.
A disciple is made when a
person places their faith and trust in the Jesus Christ as their Savior.
The next step is to baptize
the person who has become a disciple.
With all due respect it says
nothing about baptizing babies in the Bible.
The last step in the process
is the person who is baptized is to be taught.
If you are a believer you
must be baptized after being saved! It
is your testimony of faith in Christ!
The other sacrament is
instituted in these verses.
It is called “The Lord’s
Table” or “Holy Communion”.
Vs. 19 – The Bible is a Book that is to be taken literally,
unless it is obvious that it is using a figure of speech.
Jesus took bread and gave
thanks. This represents His broken body, and He was still able to give thanks.
He distributed the bread to
the disciples.
He then said, “This is my
body.”
It is obvious that Jesus was
talking figuratively.
He does not mean that the
bread is literally His Body.
It represents, it is a
picture of, His body!
Just as He broke the bread
His body was broken.
Isaiah 52:14 - As many were astonied
at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man,
and his form more than the sons of men:
When we take of the bread in
remembrance of Him, we remember a body that was broken that had no broken
bones.
John 19:36 - For these things were done, that the
scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not
be broken.
The next time you partake of
the bread at the Lord’s Table, reflect on a body given for you:
·
A body broken by
a crown of thorns
·
A body that was
spit upon
·
A body that had
its face smashed
·
A body that was
whipped and beaten
·
A body that was
pierced with a spear
All of this was done for you!
Vs. 20 - Next the Lord took the cup.
Just as the bread is not
literally the body of Christ, the cup is not literally the blood of Christ.
It represents Jesus’ blood.
Forgiveness is found in
Christ’s blood.
Atonement for sin is found in
Christ’s blood.
Redemption is in the blood.
Hebrews 9:13-14 - For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and
the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth
to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Notice Jesus said that the
blood was shed for you.
Think on that the next time
you partake at the Lord’s Table. His blood was shed for you!
The blood represents the New
Testament, that is, the New Covenant or the new agreement in His blood.
The Old Testament,
or covenant was instituted with the giving of the Ten Commandments, and other
parts of the Old Testament law.
The Israelites promised to do
obey God’s law’s completely.
The covenant or agreement was
sealed in blood.
Exodus 24:5-8 - And he sent young men of the children of
Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen
unto the Lord. [6] And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.
[7] And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the
people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said
will we do, and be obedient. [8] And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on
the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath
made with you concerning all these words.
Of course, not
So, God the Son brought a new
covenant, a New Testament, that is, a new agreement. This agreement is also sealed in blood, the
blood of His Son.
It is a covenant in which God
forgives our sins through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This New Covenant is an
agreement in which God does it all.
Not only does He forgive our
sins through the blood of His Son, but He indwells us with His Spirit enabling
us to live the Christian life.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. [27] And
I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye
shall keep my judgments, and do them.
UNDER THE OLD COVENANT GOD
SAID IN Exodus 19:5-6 - Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice
indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me
above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a
kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt
speak unto the children of
UNDER THE NEW COVENANT GOD
SAYS IN 1 Peter 2:9-10 - But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in
time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Next time you take of the
Lord’s Table make sure that you remember The Upper Room:
THE SCANDAL
THE SUPPER
THE SACRAMENT