In The Upper Room - Betrayed! Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). The Practical arrangements (vs 13-15)

(2). The Passover arrangements (vs 16)

(3). The Passover meal (vs 17-21)

(4). The Passover transformed (vs 22-16)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Many years ago A.J. Gordon went to the World’s Fair.

• From a distance he saw a man pumping water with one of those old hand pumps.

• The water was pouring out and he said as he looked,

• “That man is really working hard at pumping water.”

• But when he got closer, he discovered that it was a wooden man;

• Connected to a pump that was powered by electricity.

• The man was not pumping the water,

• The water was pumping him.

Ask the average person regarding the latter part of the life of Jesus:

• They will probably tell you that he was an innocent victim of his times.

• That circumstances got the better of him,

• After all verse 1 of chapter 14 tells us that:

• “Chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him”.

• Also verse 10 tells us that: Judas had agreed to betray Jesus.

• The casual reader might assume that circumstances had gotten the better of him,

Yet to anyone who studies the Bible, and reads a bit more carefully:

• Will know that

• Circumstances were not driving Jesus, but Jesus was driving the circumstances!

• This passage yet again shows us that it is Jesus who is calling the shots;

• It is Jesus who is in ultimate control.

(1). The Practical arrangements

• At that time Jesus was on planet earth.

• The Jewish people had been celebrating Passover for over 1,500 years;

• Passover for the Jews was a huge occasion;

• As big a date in their diary as Christmas day is for us.

Ill:

Talking of Christmas.

• Years ago a sign was seen hanging in a shop window during the Christmas season.

• The message said: “Let’s make this the best Christmas ever.”

• Underneath, some perceptive person had scribbled the question:

• “How will we top the first one?”

Well for the Jewish people Passover was a huge occasion;

• As big a date in their diary as Christmas day is for us.

• And just like we have to make arrangements for Christmas;

• i.e. we decorate the house, buy a tree, buy a turkey etc.

• So the Jews made preparations for Passover;

• We prepare for Christmas motivated by our traditions.

• The Jewish people prepared for Passover;

• Because God in the Old Testament had commanded them to do so.

• Now Jesus was very efficient with his Passover arrangements:

• Again and again we see that he did not leave things until the last moment.

• Those preparations involved….

(a). A Person (vs 13):

“So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.”

• In answer to the disciples question (verse 12);

• Where they ask him; “Where they would eat the Passover?”

• Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with unusual instructions;

• Luke chapter 22 verse 8;

• Tells us it was Peter and John who were the two disciples sent.

• According to Passover regulations:

• Only two people were allowed to take the lamb into the temple to the sacrifice;

• Therefore only two were needed to go on ahead.

At Passover Jerusalem was full to overflowing:

• The experts say it swelled to almost 2 million people in size;

• That’s four times its usual size.

• And the disciples are concerned that they might night find their contact;

• The person Jesus wants them to meet.

• So in verse 13 Jesus gave the disciples an important clue.

• “A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him.”

• Note: A man carrying a jar of water was a pre-arranged signal.

• To carry a water-pot was a woman’s duty. It was something a man never did.

• A man with a water-pot on his shoulder would stand out in any crowd;

• ill: Just like a man on a sunny day with his umbrella up.

• Verse 16 tells us that plan of Jesus worked (not really surprising!):

• They followed the man and found the upper room.

Question: Why the secrecy?

Answer:

• I think it is because the upper room would make a great place for Judas to betray Jesus.

• Matthew chapter 26 verse 16 tells us Judas was looking at every opportunity.

• As to when Jesus would be betrayed and handed over to the Romans.

• That would be decided by Jesus when the time was right,