True Godly Worship

 Instructions for Godly Worship

 1 Corinthians Chapter 11: Verses 17-34

 What is the greatest problem of the modern church today? The modern church gathers together not for the betterment of the church, but for the worse.

 We are to come together to hear the message God has for us on that particular day and apply that message to our lives when we step back into the world.

 We know that if we love the Lord, then He knows it.

 We had better know that the reason we attend church is also known to the Lord!

 Do we come to receive the instructions from Jehovah so that we can grow in the Lord?

Do we come out of curiosity?

Do we come to observe worldly interest?

Do we come without any preparation of heart?

 Are we soon wearying of the services we attend?

 Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? 

 Do we love the Word of God or not?

Are we just partially convinced of the truth of God?

Do we stifle the Holy Spirit?

 If we do not come together for the betterment of the Church and our lives, then we will come together for the worse!

 This is highly displeasing to Jehovah!

 Php 3:18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 

Php 3:19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

 There are only two ordinances assigned to the Church.

 One is Baptism.

The other is the Lord's Supper.

 Our lesson today is concentrated on the Lord's Supper.

 Here in the South, when the word supper is mentioned, it used to mean that the last meal of the day, when the whole family would come together to prepare for the end of the day and maybe plan a little for the next day.

 For the Jews, that evening supper was the principal meal of the day.

 The Lord's Supper is something that is, for the most part, entirely different.

 In our church, we say communion, and communion is fellowship with the Lord.

Communion is between the Lord Jesus Christ and His people.

 Joh 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 

Joh 14:24  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 

Joh 14:25  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 

 The Lord's Supper is called the cup of blessing because in it there is fellowship with Jesus Christ and His disciples, and among the disciples with one another.

 1Co 10:16  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 

 Every child of God belongs to Jesus Christ, and we can enjoy our relationship with Him!

 Only those who belong to Jesus Christ should take part in Communion.

 As the Apostle Paul wrote to Philemon, communion means the good things in us that come by Jesus Christ.

 Phm 1:4  I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 

Phm 1:5  Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 

Phm 1:6  That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 

 *****1Co 11:17  Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

 Paul begins his rebuke of the way this Corinthian Church was celebrating the Lord's Supper.

 As Independent Baptists, we only recognize two ordinances, which are baptism and the Lord's Supper.

 An ordinance is an outward rite prescribed by Jesus Christ to be performed by His Church.

 Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper on the night of His crucifixion.

 Luk 22:14  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 

Luk 22:15  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 

Luk 22:16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 

Luk 22:17  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 

Luk 22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 

Luk 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

Luk 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

 This was the New Covenant in contrast with the old Mosaic Covenant.

 Only through His death could this New Covenant be applied to the Church because it was the death of Christ that provided forgiveness of sins, which is discussed later in this lesson.

 The Lord's Supper is a memorial to the death of our Savior!

 As we celebrate the memorial of our Savior, we must emphasize that we have faith that He died so that we could be forgiven.

 This church in Corinth was even divided in this celebration, that is to remind us of what the Lord Jesus has already done for us.

 1Pe 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 

1Pe 2:25  For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 

 ***** 1Co 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 

1Co 11:19  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 

1Co 11:20  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 

 These Corinthians were tragically abusing the Lord's Supper!

 When divisions are in any church, the Spirit of the Church is in disorder!

 Minds and hearts are not upon the Lord but on the causes of this division.

 Paul knew how these matters would grow and become rumors and exaggerations.

 Paul understood there was great truth in the letter he had received from this church.

 This church needed to work on its problems before it could be a true House of God.

 None of these things could catch the Lord off guard or by surprise.

 In fact, the Lord will allow these things to persist so the true believers can stand out in the turmoil.

 These people who cause this division in any church will cause the love and truth of genuine believers to shine brightly, which is what verse 19 tells us.

 No Spiritual unity can exist where there is no supreme affection for Jesus Christ.

 We are all to unite with Jesus Christ because He is the Head of the Church.

 It seems so many places of worship have forgotten this today.

 The Lord's Supper is our way of showing our faith in the Lord but here in Corinth it was perverted into a means of gluttony and drunkenness.

 Today, we see churches that are perverted, Bibles that are perverted, and Christian ministries that are perverted.

 The one good thing for the pastor of any church was that he could tell who were genuine Christians and those who were not.

 *****1Co 11:21  For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 

1Co 11:22  What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 

 This gathering of this church was meaningless to the Lord, and He would never be a part of such a gathering!

 It is impossible to have a divided church and honor the Lord Jesus!

 Jas 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

 When the early church observed the Lord's Supper, they would incorporate it with what was called a "love feast".

 Everyone brought all the food they could in order that there would be plenty for everyone, including the poor and the slaves who could not bring very much.

 The idea was to have a common meal where everyone shared, and everyone would have enough to eat.

 This church at Corinth began to abuse the Supper. Instead of sharing, everyone sat off in their little group of friends and shared the food they brought only with that group.

 Some were neglected and had very little to eat, if anything.

Some were indulging as gluttons, trying to make sure that group had nothing to eat.

Some treated the whole thing as a social gathering, bringing alcohol to drink off to the side and becoming drunk.

 This was no longer a Christian fellowship, and there was no love shown to the brethren.

 This was no celebration of the Lord's Supper!

 This celebration was meaningless and useless in furthering the Gospel and strengthening the Church.

 This celebration ruined the testimony of this church.

 Some outside the church who believed would talk about how Satan had accomplished so much in the church in such a short period of time.

 Satan is working hard in many churches today!

 Paul said you must despise the House of God to do such things.

 Paul said Do you not have homes to do such things and not bring this inside the church.

 They abused the sanctity of the Church.

They shamed the poor and the slaves who had little food.

They corrupted the Lord's Supper.

They slapped the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.

They were proud of themselves.

 A divided church is a sin against the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Paul said, "How can I praise such a gathering in the House, the Lord Jesus has built"?

 1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 

 1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

 Paul tells this church the truth of the Lord's Supper.

 *****1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 

1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come

 What is the real meaning of the Lord's Supper?

 The Lord's Supper involves our looking back to the historical event of the cross and anticipating His return, which could happen any day now.

 The Lord's Supper is a communion of believers with each other.

 1Co 10:17  For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 

 At the Lord's Supper, we will all eat and drink the same symbolic elements of the body of our Lord as we become the Body of Christ in common faith!

 **What is the meaning of the bread? Jesus said: "Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me". 

 We must remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Glory of God!

 Joh 8:12  Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

 Joh 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 

 The Lord Jesus took part in His final meal Himself. He was standing there with His disciples, who would become the Apostles.

 That bread symbolized the Lord's body.

 **In passing the cup, Jesus said: "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me".

 Jesus did not say this was His blood, but it symbolized His blood, just as it was a symbol of the New Covenant God has made with mankind.

 His body had to be broken for this New Covenant to take place, and it was broken for all mankind, but especially for those who love Him.

 The Lord Jesus substituted His body for my body on that cross and the body of every sinner who has ever lived and will live in the future, though that future may now be short.

 Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 

 **The Lord did these things for us, and of the bread He said: "This do in remembrance of me"

 Of the cup He said: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me".

 This means we are to stir up our minds to meditate upon the person of Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God.

 The Old Covenant, the Old Testament, is set aside, and this New Covenant is the blood of Jesus Christ and not the blood of bulls and goats.

 Heb 9:13  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: 

Heb 9:14  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? 

Heb 9:15  And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 

 Every church is to set time aside to observe the Lord's Supper, which is to concentrate our minds upon our Savior.

 His death.

His return.

 Jesus Christ died for us that we might live for Him!

 We must understand that there can be severe consequences for taking part in the Lord's Supper unworthily!

 *****1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 

1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 

 We know that Paul has sent this letter by Timothy to preach to the Corinthian church, but this letter would be preached to every Christian church of that day, and we have a copy of it today.

 We know that if we have sin in our hearts, God will not answer our prayers.

 Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: 

 In partaking of the Lord's Supper, we must understand its purpose.

 Psa_116:13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Psa 116:14  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 

 The same night of the Lord's Supper, we know that He was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.

 If we partake of the Lord's Supper with sin in our lives, then we are not saved by the "grace" of God, we have not accepted the New Covenant of God, and we have partaken of the Lord's Supper unworthily.

 The Lord Jesus died for our sins; He had no sin.

 The Lord's Supper shows forth His death until He returns!

 This event commemorates the death of our Savior.

 1) Not His life, for He lived in holiness without sin.

2) Not His teaching, though He spoke in Divine Truth.

3) Not His miracles, though He walks in mercy.

4) But His death, not glorious, but broken. His blood, not flowing through His veins, but shed for all mankind.

The Lord's Supper is when we see our own sins laid upon Him

The Lord's Supper is when we see our souls washed by Him.

The Lord's Supper is when we see our doom reversed by Him.

The Lord's Supper is when we see our lives secured by Him.

So, we must show forth His death till He comes.

The eleven disciples who remained became more faithful witnesses after the Lord's Supper, and we should also, if we can see how great our salvation is.

Those who partake of the Lord's Supper unworthily put the Lord in open shame.

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 

Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 

Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

Those who have no concept of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His death in payment for our sin, and partake of the Lord's Supper show irreverence of the body and the blood of the Son of God, will stir the judgment of God the Father.

It sounds serious because it is serious!

1Jn 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 

*****1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

1Co 11:33  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 

1Co 11:34  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. 

If we know we have unconfessed sin, we should not take part in the two ordinances of the Church, and certainly not the Lord's Supper.

If we take that word "judgment" to mean "discern," we need to examine ourselves to make sure we are not living in sin or carrying some unconfessed sin in our hearts; we must certainly not take part in the Lord's Supper.

We must confess our sin and repent of that sin, knowing that God will chasten us, but He chastens us out of His love for us. If we continue in sin, we may be running the risk of being judged with the unbelievers.

We must share and demonstrate our love by putting others first, serving one another.

We must not bring condemnation upon ourselves. We must repent of our old life. We must change what we have been doing.

We can eat our meals at home, but the Lord's Supper is for those who truly trust in the salvation plan of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jonah realized His sin, he cried unto the Lord with these words: Jon 2:2  And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 

Amen

A Memorial To Christ

The Certainty Of Christ's Memorial

Book of Luke 22


A "Memorial" is something that preserves the memory of something of great importance.

Today we will see that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the death and the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God.

We are expected to take part in this memorial service until the Lord returns.

1Co 11:24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

But we are also to be worthy to take part in this remembrance of the work of the Lord.

1Co 11:27  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

If we look back to the first Jewish Passover we can get the true meaning of all these things.

Everything about the Passover Feast was designed to teach the people of Israel and of course all those that study the Scriptures, that we all owe our lives to the protecting and guiding hand of God.

If we look back at the first Passover we should see some important things.

Exo 12:22  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exo 12:23  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exo 12:24  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

If you took that blood and put in the places mentioned in this Scripture you have made the shape of a cross.

The significance is obvious. Israel was saved from the bondage of Egypt by the blood of a perfect lamb.

The world is saved from the bondage of sin by the blood that was shed on Mount Calvary by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God.

It was the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for our redemption!

As Jesus peered out through blood soaked eyes, He said Father forgive them for they know not what they do.

He was looking at us through His own blood.

The Bible says:

Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

At this Passover Feast with His disciples, the Passover had now reached it's end, and had found it's full meaning!

The Passover, which sprinkled the blood of the covenant on those door posts in the land of Egypt, descends until it's last victim dies beneath the shadow of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Let's Begin:

*****Luk 22:14  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
Luk 22:15  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Without a doubt we can see that there is a connection between the Passover and the suffering of Jesus Christ.

In "typology", the Passover pictured the coming of Christ (a perfect lamb, the perfect Lamb of God)

The blood that was placed on the side posts and the lintel pictured the blood of Jesus (shed on the cross)

It was a sign that the life and the blood of an innocent lamb had been substituted for the sin of the first born (sin of Adam)

The eating of the lamb represents the spiritual nourishment gained by the feeding of Christ (The Bread of Life, The Lord's Supper)

The unleavened bread is a picture of putting evil out of your life and out of your household.

The Jews used 4 foods and drink items at the Passover Meal.

1) They used a bowl of salt water to remind them of the tears shed by their forefathers, while they were in 430 years of bondage in Egypt.

2) They used a bitter salad like plate, to remind them of the bitterness of bondage and slavery.

3) They used a paste mixture of of fruit and cinnamon sticks, to remind them of the labor in making those bricks from clay and straw.

4) They used 4 cups of wine to remind them of God's 4 promises to deliver their forefathers from bondage.

God promised Israel these 4 things.

Exo 6:6  Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:
Exo 6:7  And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Exo 6:8  And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.

The Passover Feast was based upon historical facts.

The Lord's Supper is a memorial to the work of the Lord much much more than just history.

The Lord's Supper is a remembrance of the Living Christ until He returns to take us home!

The Passover Feast reached it's end and found it's full meaning with the Lord's Supper!

The Passover then represents the change of slaves to servants!

The Lord's Supper represents the change of servants into the children of God and joint heirs with Christ!

We are close to the end of the Church Age, when that last when victim will die in the shadow of the cross and is "Born Again" and then the return of Jesus Christ.

1Co 5:7  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8  Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus said "you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free".

Don't you just love the Word of God!

We should also remember our Messiah had a human side and that side needed some support for what He was about to do.

Remember Christ "gave" His life, because no man could take it from Him if He so wished not to die!

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

But above all these things God's created human beings also needed comfort. These chosen men needed reassurance for the things they were about to face!

We can be sure, that God is well aware of the painful steps that each one of us have in our daily walk with Him and all the steps we will take in our own journey in this life!

Maybe the greatest reason for the Lord's Supper of all is, that it looked forward to the glorious future of the Church and all the people of God!

The Lord took His place in that first Communion and the end of these things is when He once again joins with us all at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!

You know we do not have to look for great things in order to discover the great truths of God.

God will use the routines of common life to show us His deepest secrets.

The Lord Jesus Christ took a simple meal of bread and juice to show us the truth of the "Gospel".

*****Luk 22:17  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

We can just imagine the intense love of Christ for us as He took the time to explain to explain the truth, a communion meal of memorial for all believers, yet it was His last meal on this earth.

The Lord Jesus "desired" to spend His last free time with a simple meal and then singing and rejoicing and then prayer before His death and He even took the time to wash their feet as a slave would his master.

The Lord's Supper is all about the death of Christ.

The Lord's Supper is also a picture or a "type" of that Heavenly Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

This will not take place until all things are fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

The Lord's Supper is also God's promise of that future Marriage Feast.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Jesus then took the bread.

*****Luk 22:19  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

**There is a great meaning to the bread.

Jesus took the bread and broke it:

This symbolized His broken body.

Jesus Christ sacrificed His body for our deliverance because He needed no deliverance.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

AND, this act of the Lord was truly significant to the early church and it should be today:

Act 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Under the Old Testament the broken bread signified the sufferings of the Jews.

Jesus said this was a New Testament and the bread signified the broken body of Christ.

Jesus said His body would be broken and given for us!

He suffered and died for us!

Jesus took our place on the cross of death. (The wages of sin are death)

Jesus Christ bore the "Judgment of God" for us!

**There is also great meaning in the cup.

Jesus said the cup held the blood of the New Testament.

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that established a New Covenant with God!

It is the blood of Jesus Christ that has allowed us to have a personal relationship with God as He had in the time of Adam before Adam had sinned.

It takes "faith" in these very things to have assurance of eternal life.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

The Jews had rejected this truth but the Church lives by this truth!

We can only be saved and our sins forgiven by believing that Christ's blood was shed for our forgiveness.

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

And Jesus said "do this in remembrance of me".

We are to remember how God liberated Israel from the slavery of Egypt, that's what the Passover was all about.

We are to remember how, by the blood of Christ, we are liberated for the bondage of the sin of this world.

We are to remember that this same blood will make it possible for Jesus to return and take us all into the eternal presence of God.

We should also realize that Jesus Christ used this Lord's Supper to reach out one more time to sinners!

*****Luk 22:21  But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
Luk 22:22  And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
Luk 22:23  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

Jesus knew exactly what Judas would do but He also knew that we would be studying these Scriptures and Jesus wants us all to know that He will give every sinner as many opportunities as He can to repent.

Judas knew exactly what Jesus was saying even though the rest of these disciples did not.

Jesus knew what Judas had already done and He wanted Judas to know that He knew.

Jesus knows the same about all sinners.

Jesus also took the time to warn Judas.

This warning extends to all who reject Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Jesus says "woe to those who betray Him"

Judas clearly understood he would face the "judgment" of God, even though he may not have realized the severity of His actions.

The world today knows that God is all about love and through liberal theology they have forgotten about God's "judgment".

In fact there cannot be one without the other!

Terrible judgment is a sure thing for sinners and Judas was made well aware of that this night of the Lord's Supper.

The wages of sin are death and redemption is only by the blood of the Lamb as proven by the Lord's Supper.

God knows the destiny of every sinner and it is not something that makes Him happy!

Each sinner has until the day they die to repent even though just like the Lord knew Judas would not, He knows all sinners who will not ever change their mind.

We should never forget it is also God's "Grace" that warns us of the consequences of sin!

Judas was not forced to turn away from his sin, it was his freedom of choice to decide.

It is by God's "Grace" that He even warns us of the coming "Judgment".

We have a God that respects our will and our desires!

God loves us enough to tell us the truth but He will never force our obedience!

We must understand that there are consequences for going against the Word of God!

So we see that it is the purpose of Lord's Supper to cause a searching of our own hearts.

*****Luk 22:23  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
Luk 22:24  And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

We need to understand that we, especially the men have a natural desire for superiority.

We all desire recognition, prestige, position and honor.

Many even desire power and authority.

We have seen where many people in such positions try to become absolute rulers, or monarchy,  as our President.

So when we hear that these disciples of Christ had such desires then we should better understand these passages.

When a group of men are together many times there are those who want the others to acknowledge them as the greatest.

That desire becomes sinful when it is of the things of this world!

If that desire is aimed at the work of the Lord it then becomes useful as long as we realize that in our person we are no better than anyone else!

What we see is that these disciples argued about these things just like most other men do!

When we try to rise, at the expense of others or the ruin of others or by trampling on others we are going against everything the Word of God stands for.

True greatness consist of a reverent fear of the Lord and our usefulness to Him and His work, that He has given us to do.

The Holy Spirit is not given to us for enjoyment, He is given to us for our "employment"!

The main ability we need in the work of the Lord is "availability"!

That word "strife" means these men were always eager to argue about who was the greatest disciple of the Lord.

Even these disciples were still thinking about an earthly kingdom where the Lord would appoint them into positions of authority, which will one day take place but that is still in ours and in their future.

Self-seeking will always blind our eyes to the true glory that is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Even at this last meal, the Lord's Supper, these men were trying to seat themselves in seats of honor.

On the eve of the cross, these men could still only think of worldly things!

And how did Jesus respond to these things, this is our lesson to.

*****Luk 22:25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

A benefactor is one who is granted favors for charitable things they have done in serving others.

A worldly benefactor wants to be known recognized and honored, for what they have done but that word "called" is a great man who is "known to be" a generous man and who gives of himself simply to help others.

Those around him "know him" for what is is!

Psa 10:3  For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

And Jesus begins to explain the difference between these two lines of thought.

*****Luk 22:26  But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
Luk 22:27  For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

We already know that there will be rewards and great benefits for serving the Lord which far out weigh and persecution in this life!

So it would pay us to listen to what Jesus says here to His disciples.

It is obvious that Jesus rejects the world's attitude about greatness!

The world says that "he that is being served is the greatest".

Jesus says "it is the one who serves that is greatest".

These are on opposite ends of thought from each other!

True greatness is never a position of power over someone else!

A wise man once said "we are but waiters in the Lord's hotel".

When we acknowledge that we are sinners saved only by the "Grace" of God, it is easy to assume the lowest position in any room because in the end we know that is the highest position after all!

It is true that in most places, age is looked up to and honored, but Jesus says we need to honor those who are His servants no matter their age.

A truly great person will look for people to help and places to help them!

A truly great person will seek for the sake of being a minister to them.

Do we call ourselves Christian or are we known to be Christian?

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

If we are to follow in the example of the Lord, then we must realize the Lord Jesus gave up the glories of Heaven to humble Himself and make a way for our salvation.

Jesus did not ever say we are not to hold a place of authority or a place of honor!

Jesus said "we are to use any place we hold to be servants to the needs of the Church and to Him".

In John's Gospel we are told that it was at this time that Jesus washed the feet of each disciple to prove His point.

Joh 13:5  After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

In those days of the Jews, there was no less menial task than washing the feet of some one else and that was the duty of the lowest slave.

One of the happiest days of Jesus was when He took our sins to the cross.

The same one who would die for our sins would also wash our feet to clean us from the filth of this world.

Then Jesus said if we are His disciples we would continue in all these things with Him.

*****Luk 22:28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
Luk 22:30  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

What is the most important quality of a servant? "That they are faithful"!

It is in our best interest to prove to be faithful servants.

We must continue with Jesus all our days.

We must stand by Him.

We must stick to Him.

We must be like Him.

What are some of the rewards that are set and promised to these disciples?

There would be 12 thrones and each disciple would sit on a throne and be judge to the 12 tribes of Israel.

This promise probably relates to the Millennial Kingdom because it is at that time that Israel will be fully restored to the Promised Land with all the tribes and all the "Resurrected Saints" of the "Church Age" which will include the 12 Apostles and will judge the world.

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

This is what John saw in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

This is also the reason that Jesus said it was not up to Him who was to sit on what throne because this is His Father's plan and God just wants us all to be part of His plan.

Mat 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23  And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

This is also the promise that was made to Israel:

Isa 1:24  Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:
Isa 1:25  And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:
Isa 1:26  And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

There may be no distinction between the Jew and the Gentile in Heaven but during the Millennial Kingdom, The Lord Jesus has made this promise the Apostles.

It was these 12 men who turned the world upside down in the name of Jesus Christ and we have survived by the Doctrine of the Apostles that they gained from the Lord Jesus, why would He not honor them?

These 12 men endured things that most all others will never see in their entire lifetime and all in the name of Jesus Christ.

1Co 4:9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1Co 4:10  We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
1Co 4:11  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Co 4:13  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1Co 4:14  I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

But every true believer will also be rewarded!

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

But none of us should never forget that once we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, we live in the sight of Satan who hates all things of Christ but thank goodness for the Lord.

*****Luk 22:31  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Peter was to carry the load as the leader of these 12 men and we know Peter tripped many times but it should be obvious that Satan paid a lot of attention to Peter and hindered him in every way possible.

When Satan "sifts" any believer he is trying to separate that believer from God!

We need to know and understand these facts!

That word "desired" means that Satan is actually begging God for permission to trip up the disciples of Christ.

Job 1:6  Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7  And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Job 1:8  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Job 1:9  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Job 1:10  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job 1:11  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:12  And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

When God allows these things to happen we must realize it is only a test of our faith!

Satan does not care at all for the believer but he will do anything he can to disgrace and cut the heart of God!

We need to make a firm stand no matter what we are going through, because it is God who is in control and not Satan.

We must be aware of the workings of Satan!

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Jesus wanted Peter to know he had an intercessor!

We all have an intercessor between us and God and it is the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the Lord Jesus Christ that steps in, in our defense when Satan wants to attack!

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

We will definitely suffer as Christians but don't let anyone tell you that Satan can pluck you out of God's hand because that is impossible!

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30  I and my Father are one.

No doubt we will fail and we will fall, but in every case when we return to the Lord, we will be restored!

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

When we have been through these things ourselves we are then to be that added strength for those that are going through these things later in their own lives.

Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

The worst thing we can do is to become over confident in our own strength!

*****Luk 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
Luk 22:34  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Peter was committed to Jesus but he was not considering "spiritual things" at this time.

These men could only think of the material things of this world!

When Peter saw the Lord Jesus captured and beaten his material strength faded away!

Peter's over confidence had made him blind to the cross!

Jesus had explained all these things but these 12 men at this time had failed to believe the Word of God.

There is a great difference in knowing and no knowing the truth!

There are many problems we cause ourselves when we over estimate our own strength!

The strength of the flesh causes weakness in our faith!

It is our faith that makes us strong!

Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

That's why it is called "Grace"!

The Lord's Supper should remind us of all these things when we partake of it as a memorial to the One who died for our sins and saved us from the bondage of sin and gave us eternal life in the glories of Heaven.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Passover Of The Lord Jesus Christ

The Passover Of God's Servant

"Picturing His Sacrifice"

Book of Mark Chapter 14:1-25

As Jesus approached the days of His "Passion", He explained to the soon to be Apostles, of the New Testament Church, to teach the Church to "watch" to see how His Word would be fulfilled.

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we are not to concern ourselves with the turmoils of this world but we are to be aware of their happening!

We are to concentrate ourselves with the work Jesus has given us to do, while still keeping a watchful eye on His coming to get His Bride!

The "death" of our Savior is only a few days away but Jesus would not be our Savior, if He had not risen from that grave.

Jesus Christ was born as a babe, to die for our sins, and to resurrect for our newness of life as babes in Christ!

Let's continue:

*****Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Mar 14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

The "Passover" was both memorial and symbolic!

It was a "memorial" to the memory of that first passover in Egypt.

It was "symbolic" because it's ultimate fulfillment was at Calvary, on a hill called "Golgotha"!

The Bible teaches us with these words:

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ "our passover" is sacrificed for us:

On the 10th day of the month of the Passover, (Abib, now Nisan) each family was to select a perfect lamb and keep it under close observation, to make sure it was perfect, until the 14th day.

These same four days, we will observe as Jesus prepares for His last four days before He is crucified.

We have just witness as Jesus rode that foal of a donkey into Jerusalem on "Psalm Sunday" and the multitudes went before Him and behind Him crying Hosanna.

Jesus has already arrived in Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple.

Jesus has already cursed the fig tree, (representing Israel).

Jesus has already given what is called, the Olivet Discourse.(Last two weeks lessons)

So we will begin our lesson here:

Mat 26:1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2 Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Jesus gives us our time frame.

Two days before the observance of the Feast of the Passover, these things we read will take place.

We should also keep in mind that the day after the Passover Feast would begin the "Feast of the Unleavened Bread".

While also remembering that the Jewish day always begins in the evening (6 o'clock).

The beginning of Passover Feast was celebrated before 6 P.M. with the Feast of Unleavened Bread to begin at 6 P.M.

These two feast were observed in one meal!

It is the "Feast of Unleavened Bread" that symbolizes deliverance and freedom from sin, which was obtained by the offering of the "Passover Lamb"!

There could be no deliverance from sin, nor freedom from sin, until the Lamb was sacrificed and the blood applied!

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

These are a lot of things to consider while Jesus walks with joy to the Cross!

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

While these crafty enemies of Jesus were plotting His death, Jesus was with His friends.

*****Mar 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

We can be sure that this Simon was no longer a leper as he would be breaking the Jewish law. Lepers were not allowed to live among the people.

The Lord Jesus had healed many lepers which is a true miracle as leprosy still has no sure cure in our day.

Some believe, as I do, that this Simon was the relative of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.

Joh 12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
Joh 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

This home would have been just over a mile and a half from Jerusalem.

This was a happy home and a place full of love. They loved the Lord and He loved them. There was no better place for Jesus to spend some of his last moments before He was to die.

We should all strive to have a home where Jesus is welcomed to stop in at any time. This is part of the "watching" that we are supposed to be doing!

Alabaster is a carvable lime stone and at that time was mined at Alabastrom in Egypt from which it gets it's name.

Later most every perfume holding vessel was called an alabaster box.

Spikenard was a very precious and very costly perfume of that day and is made from "a plant" and the smell of it is said to be unequalled.

In fact this fragrance can be considered a type of Jesus Christ:

Eze 34:29 And I will raise up for them "a plant of renown", and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

But also it could be said that the smell of the spikenard is the "aroma" the Lord wants of His Bride:

Son 4:10 How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and "the smell of thine ointments" than all spices!

In either case Mary anointed the Lord Jesus Christ, but there are always those object to things done for the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****Mar 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
Mar 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.

We could have many discussions on why Mary did this thing but we must first make our own selves aware that there is nothing that we can do for the Lord that can equal to what He has done for us.

There is probably not anything Mary would not have done for the Lord.

Simon a relative, maybe even a father had been healed of leprosy.
Lazarus a dear brother had been raised from the dead.
She had felt and see the love that Jesus had for her family.
Why would she not do this thing?

The Lord Jesus Christ has saved us from the pits of the "Burning Lake Of Fire", why should we not do everything in power to please Our Lord?

To the men in that room, pouring perfumed oil on the Lord Jesus just did not seem right.

Not many men want to smell like women, though we love for our women to smell real good!

It was just not a manly thing to do!

But there was one man in that room that had his own motive:

Joh 12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,
Joh 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

A pence was a days wages for the poor worker of that day. This bottle of perfume was nearly a years wages.

Count that by today's standards and we can see that 300 pence was a lot of money in that day.

In fact the money spent on perfume throughout our world today could feed all the poor that are starving to death in our world today.

But Judas was thinking only of himself!

Joh 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

And Jesus said:

*****Mar 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.

Mary realized that these men who traveled with Jesus objected to what she was doing and she became uneasy.

But Jesus said "Let her alone"!

Jesus had looked into Mary's heart and He knew that it was only out of goodness that Mary had done this thing and she had had no other motive. It was just something that she could do and was capable of doing it!

This action of pouring this perfume on the Lord, was a sign of her "faith" in what Jesus had been saying.

Mary had clearly understood that the Lord Jesus Christ was going to die on that cross in her place.

No one else may have realized this but Mary did and Jesus said this would be a memorial to her!

*****Mar 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Mar 14:8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
Mar 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

There are many reasons that there will always be poor people living in this world.

The biggest reason is that the resources of our world are placed, by Satan, into the hands of men that maintain complete control of them.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We should also realize that if there were no poor then, there would be no place to show charity and kindness.

These are those that are poor of no fault of their own.

Deu 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

And there will always some be poor because of their own sinful ways!

Luk 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

And there will always be those that are to lazy to help themselves!

2Th 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

There will be the poor in human flesh on this Earth until the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem!

The Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel(God in human flesh), was only on this Earth for 33 and one half years and He would have been included with the poor under man's standards!

The Lord never had a place to lay His head on this earth!

**********"She hath done what she could".

The Lord Jesus has only one expectation from any of us. He expects us all to do what we can!

Mary did all she could knowing that what Jesus had come to accomplish, was in the hands of God.

Mary greatly loved the Lord and through that love, she knew she wanted to do something for the Lord.

Not out of need. Not out of duty. Not out of request. But only out of "LOVE".

Sometimes we may only be able to pray, especially those that have reached an age when they physically are unable to do many things.

As long as we have a voice, we can all sing songs of praise, and share a kind word.

As long as we have eyes we can offer a kind look.

As long as we have feelings and compassion, we can share those with others.

There is no one is so humble or even so poor that they cannot do something for The Lord!

God has keen eyes and He looks more for the little things than for the greater things, but those that are more able are expected to do more things.

Mary chose to do something probably no man would have thought of doing and it is remembered forever in the Word of God.

But this was the straw that broke the camel's back to one man in particular, Judas Iscariot.

*****Mar 14:10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
Mar 14:11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.

Judas the traitor!

Judas finally realized that Jesus indeed was going to die and as he had been a disciple in His life, he wanted to make sure he was part of His death.

Judas had been rebuked by the Lord for his murmuring against what he said was a wasteful act.

This woman had been praised for what seemed like nothing to Judas.

If Jesus was the Messiah and was about to die, Judas could not see a fulfillment of the scriptures and he no longer believed the Word of God.

Mary had given her best in faith and love, Judas gave his worst in unbelief and hatred!

The Jewish leaders did not know how to arrest Jesus without causing a riot but that problem was now solved.

Judas would lead them to Jesus in a secret place, when He was alone with the other 11 disciples.

If we look back at what God said about Pharaoh, we can see that it would also apply to Judas Iscariot:

Rom 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

And we should also realize that both these men were offered many opportunities to repent and they both chose not to!

Judas sold his Master for the price of a slave:

Exo 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

This also fulfilled prophecy:

Zec 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.
Zec 11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

A freeman could have been ransomed for 60 pieces of silver but these chief priests could only see the price of a slave!

Luke said Judas made this promise to the chief priests:

Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

It was now time:

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, "when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father", having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

*****Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?

The Passover Lamb commemorated the deliverance from Egypt and was to slain and eaten with unleavened bread on the 14th day of the first month.

The unleavened bread was then to be eaten for 7 total days.

Jesus Christ is our passover and was sacrificed for us!

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

So, Jesus had already made these arrangements Himself, for it was furnished and prepared.

*****Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
Mar 14:14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
Mar 14:15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

While Jesus and eleven of the disciples were still in Bethany, He sent John and Peter to prepare the passover meal.

The Passover meal had to be eaten in Jerusalem because the Temple was in Jerusalem!

Luk 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Judas was in the act of betrayal but would return later to travel with Jesus to this upper room.

According to the Laws of Moses, the lamb was to be slain and the meal prepared between the evening of the Passover the 14th and the beginning of the Feast of unleavened bread the 15th.

Before the 15th day ended Jesus would be dead and buried!

A man bearing a pitcher of water would have been very noticeable because this was a job normally done by women.

This guestchamber we know was in the house of Mark, who wrote the Book of Mark, and he was probably young about 12 years old at this time.

Act 12:12 And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

This is the same Mary who was sister to Barnabas, who traveled with the apostle Paul.

Col 4:10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)

To make ready, meant that a lamb had to be bought and carried to the Temple for slaughter, and the fat burnt on the altar.

It would then be brought to the home and roasted whole and served with bitter herbs.

And so Peter and John obeyed the Lord.

The Apostle John will write 9 chapters in the Book of John, describing the events that happened during and after this Passover meal.

*****Mar 14:16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
Mar 14:17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

Peter and John found that things were just as the Lord Jesus had described.

Jesus knew what was about to happen because this was His plan!

Joh 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

*****Mar 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Only Judas knew the truth of what the Lord was saying but Judas kept quiet!

The Lord Jesus already knew what was going to happen next, and He was offering Judas one more chance to repent.

This is something that is very important to us and that is why it was written for those that read the "Gospel".

Jesus Christ never missed an opportunity to teach, even at His last meal, know He was about to die!

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

We need to see what happened just before Jesus said these words.

Joh 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Joh 13:5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Jesus Christ washed the feet of His 12 disciples, including the man who was fixing to betray Him.

Then Jesus said:

Joh 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, "but not all".

There was still one man, Judas, that needed more than just washing away the filth of this world.

Judas kept quiet.

It is then that Jesus had these words:

Joh 13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, "that one of you shall betray me".

Judas kept quiet.

And even after this Jesus still allowed this traitor another opportunity:

*****Mar 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Mar 14:20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

And Judas kept quiet.

We know that John sat next to Jesus and Peter told John to ask who the traitor was.

Joh 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Joh 13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

Jesus whispered back to John:

Joh 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

Judas again kept quiet but the Lord Jesus, knowing that the Devil was in control Judas, told him to go and get it done!

But Luke describes to us an even greater thing for the New Testament Church, during this last meal:

Luk 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Luk 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Luk 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Luk 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

*****Mar 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

The soul of man is immortal!

Humans can only be immortal because "immortality is a gift from God"!

Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

But man in his human flesh will perish!

1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Humans in their earthly life are mortal beings subject to death and their are no means to extend death to immortality by human methods!

Eternal life is the gift of God and because God is no respecter of persons, He has given this eternal life to every soul.

BUT, While we are yet living we must decide where our soul will spend eternity!

Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Judas Iscariot passed up an opportunity to spend eternal life with the Lord in Heaven and by doing so, he insured he would spend eternity in damnation!

Jesus says, it would be better to have never lived than to spend eternity in everlasting punishment!

We have no control over whether we are born or not born but we do have some say in where we will spend eternity!

We can conclude that it is because of this life in the flesh, that we get this chance to spend eternity in a place we call Heaven, in eternal bliss, the highest degree of happiness.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

When we get a taste of Heaven while we are living, we will be glad we had this opportunity!

Thank You Jesus!

Next the Lord's Supper

*****Mar 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

As these future apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ were eating the Passover meal, Jesus did something that was different from the normal passover ritual.

The "unleavened bread" eaten with the passover meal symbolized the deliverance and the freedom from sin to the Jew.

That freedom from sin could only occur by the offering of the passover lamb!

Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and [without shedding of blood is no remission].

Deliverance and freedom was not obtained until the Lamb was offered and the "blood applied"!

But this day Jesus said we are going to do something new.

This unleavened bread then signifies our need of the spiritual food of Jesus Christ!

Jesus had already taught this:

Joh 6:48 "I am" that bread of life.
Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

We are not only physical beings but more important "we are spiritual beings" because God has already decided our spiritual being will live forever.

Our spiritual being must have nourishment just as does our physical side!

To the disciples, that bread signified their need of the spiritual food from Christ Jesus.

A soul that is starving from this nourishment, that only the Lord Jesus can provide, "is lost"!

Jesus blessed this bread and this signified that God the Father was also recognized as having a part in the work of His Son!

Jesus broke that bread to remind us of how He had to suffer in payment for our sin debt. Christ Jesus had no sin of His own!

It is important for us to notice that Jesus broke this bread Himself and not some other person:

Joh 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Man is incapable of taking the life of Jehovah God!

Jesus then gave a portion of this bread to each disciple which signifies our complete dependence on Him!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

And the Lord continued.

*****Mar 14:23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
Mar 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

The two necessities of physical life are food and drink!

The use of the "cup" shows "the completeness" that comes from Our Lord. This is then the cup of salvation!

Psa 116:13 I will take the "cup of salvation", and call upon the name of the LORD.

This cup is then symbolic of the Blood of Jesus Christ.

The blood of Jesus Christ is then "the blood of eternal life".

Lev 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: "for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul".

But not the blood of some animal:

Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

It is the blood of Jesus alone that can cleanse us of all sin!

What is the New Testament?

A testament, is the last act and will of a person to assign the things he owns before he dies.

The Bible says:

Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Heb 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

Heb 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Heb 9:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself

We must remember, to be saved is to have a home in Heaven:

Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

This where we belong, this is our real home:

Psa 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

This Heaven is where the Lord lives:

Psa 102:19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

We have a place in Heaven and there is nothing on Earth we have to compare to our home in Heaven!

*****Mar 14:25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

That cup that symbolizes so many things to the believer also speaks of the joy that we will behold at the time of the Lord's return to take us home.

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And we soon will be back home:

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Questions?

Let's Pray!