Closing In On The Cross Of Jesus Christ - Part 2: Timeless Truth From The Lord’s Supper Series

Closing in on the Cross of Jesus Christ

Part 2: Timeless Truth from the Lord’s Supper

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 26:14-29

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared March 29, 2023)

BACKGROUND:

*Today in Matthew 26, we are closing in on the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the most important things the Lord did in those final hours was institute the Lord's Supper.

*Think back to the scene on the night before the cross. Jesus was with His disciples for the last Passover of His mortal, earthly life. From that Passover meal, Jesus gave us the Lord's Supper to symbolize the new covenant and the sacrifice He was about to make on the cross for us. Let's read about it in Matthew 26:14-29, and as we read, please think about timeless truth we can see in the Lord's Supper.

MESSAGE:

*It seems like everything changes in this world. A couple of times a week Mary and I go to a Neighborhood Walmart a few miles away from our house. And every time we go to the pharmacy, we pass right over the spot where we bought our wedding rings 48 years ago. Back then, it was a shopping center, and Ramsey's Jewelry Store was there.

*Everything changes in this world, -- everything but the most important things. God's Word never changes. In Matthew 24:35 Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." The most important things never change, so think about the timeless truth God gives us in today's Scripture.

1. FIRST: GOD GIVES US TIMELESS TRUTH ABOUT OUR LEADER.

*We can see this truth in vs. 17-19:

17. Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?''

18. And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.'''''

19. So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

*In these verses Jesus gave His disciples some very clear guidance, and that is exactly what they needed. They had known for months that terrible things were going to happen when they went back to Jerusalem. Jesus had told them many times. About 6 to 9 months before this night, in Matthew 16:21 the Bible says, "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." Now, so close to the cross, the disciples were as troubled as they could be. In these verses they all were even wondering if they would be the one to betray Jesus.

*On top of all of this, it was time for the Passover, and that was the most important annual feast on the Jewish calendar. What were they supposed to do? This was the question on the disciples' minds in vs. 17. So they asked for the Lord's leadership, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?''

*They wanted some guidance. And in vs. 18, the Lord told them just the right thing to do. Again, Jesus said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.'''''

*Mark 14:12-16 gives us more detail:

12. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?''

13. So He sent out two of His disciples (Luke 22:8 tells us that it was Peter and John.) . . . So He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.

14. And wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?'''

15. Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.''

16. And His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

*Peter and John took off to find a man carrying a picture of water. That was a very unusual thing to see back then. And I say this because the women usually took care of that chore. Think for example about the Samaritan woman who met Jesus at the well in John 4. Men almost never carried waterpots, so this was unusual, even miraculous guidance from the Lord.