Remembering Jesus – The Last Supper
Tonight we recognize, remember, and commemorate Jesus’ last supper. In Matthew 26 we see how Jesus sent His disciples ahead, told them WHO to talk to so they would find THE room, and they spent the day preparing the Passover meal, (no small feat). Jesus then joined His friends in the Upper Room in the evening to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. This was their time to remember God’s faithfulness, retell the story of the exodus from Egypt; and reclaim the promise of His covenant.
Tonight I’d like us to think about the atmosphere in the room the night Jesus instituted this amazing meal as recorded in Matthew 26. Can you imagine it? It was probably loud with everyone talking at the same time, much like it was in the Fellowship Hall earlier, or at our feasts with friends and family at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter. These are the times we remember God’s faithfulness, retell stories, and reclaim the promise of love in our relationships.
So, in the room that night, the disciples were celebrating, laughing, sharing stories, enjoying their meal, when suddenly Jesus interrupted them with some “show stopping” news. He said, “I tell you the truth. One of you will betray me.” Say what? Picture the mood change at that moment suddenly shifting from celebratory to sorrowful. The Bible tells us they were all greatly distressed at this news. Of course they were. They LOVED Jesus. How could this be? So, one by one, all except one, Judas, they asked their Friend, Jesus, “Is it me? Am I the one, Lord?” “Lord” shows us the reverence they had for Jesus as they acknowledged His power and authority over them. He was their Lord, their Master. Yes, they were friends, but He was the boss.
Though Jesus didn’t reveal who would betray Him at their questioning, He reiterated one of them in the room, one who had just eaten out of the same bowl as He, was the one. He went on to say the Son of God needed to die as it was written, but how terrible it would be for the one who betrayed Him; so dreadful in fact it would have been better if he were not born.
It was THEN Judas spoke up and said, “Rabbi, (or Teacher), is it I?” Judas identified with Him as teacher, not as Lord, as One who had authority over him. He would later regret that decision as well as his actions.
Judas’ betrayal ought to serve as a warning to us, as to how easy it is to be “on board” one minute and “out of the boat” the next, how easy it is for us to dip our fingers into the bowl with Jesus, to worship Him in public, serve Him, walk with Him, and yet betray Him with our words and actions. Every time we prepare to receive communion, we ought to remember how this one man who walked with Jesus, met with Him face to face, served by His side, was still able to betray Him.
In Matthew again, we read Jesus merely responded to Judas, “It is as you say.” He didn’t beat him over the head with the truth or try to further embarrass him. He knew what Judas was thinking even though Judas wasn’t admitting it. Jesus knows what you’re thinking right now. He knows what I’m thinking. He knows what we’ve done right and what we’ve done wrong. He isn’t going to beat us over the head with His truth or try to embarrass us. Instead, He invites us to His table. He provides the meal and asks us to remember Him as we come to commune. What we do with His invitation and how we remember is up to us.
After unfolding the big news, they went back to eating. That’s rather odd to me but it is what it is. As they did, Jesus instituted the last supper, also called communion or Eucharist. It is a “means of grace”; a “way” we get to experience God’s grace tangibly here on earth. It is a way of meeting and communing with God and each other, as we literally dip our fingers into His body and blood. As we celebrate this meal, we remember the relationship we share with Him. After all, we do this in remembrance of Him.
It reads like this in Matthew 26:26-28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this IS My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. (remember, Judas is still there) For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’"
Now, if you think about it, this whole evening was a roller coaster of emotions. First they are having a great meal! Then they find out someone is going to betray Him but don’t know who. Then they get back to eating again. Then Jesus talks about eating His body and drinking His blood! Umm… Okay! Then they finished eating and sang a hymn of praise! Then they recessed to the Mount of Olives where Jesus had more bad news for them. They would all stumble and fall asleep while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, and then they would all deny Him. Up and down and up and down.
And that is sometimes how life is right? A roller coaster of emotions! Up and down, up and down. But we can enjoy the ride a little more if we journey this life in faith, including when we come to the Lord’s table. Sometimes, unfortunately, we come to receive without much preparation. We’re more focused on life, than on Jesus. We’re remembering lots of other things instead of remembering the price Jesus paid for us. Thus we commune without giving Him much thought; we quickly motor through it, or take it out of habit, or because its offered, without being cognizant of it’s significance. When we do this, we are really missing a grace opportunity; really missing the privilege of communing with Jesus.
We’ve got to take time to remember and God uses bread and wine to help us remember Jesus paid the price for us, Jesus made the greatest sacrifice of all time so that as often as we eat and drink, we remember His body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins.
When you hold a piece of bread or wafer in communion, when you take and eat it, take time to remember through Christ’s brokenness you are made whole. Remember how much He loves you! So much so, He was willing to hang on that cross, be beaten, whipped, mocked, scourged, laughed at, humiliated, rejected and forsaken for you and me, so we will never be left alone, never be forsaken by Him.
When you hold a cup in communion, when you take and drink, take time to remember it is the cup of His love spilling over into your heart and life. Remember through the shedding of His blood, we get to know and experience forgiveness and restoration.
When you commune, take time to remember and receive it as a means of experiencing His grace. It is God doing a miracle in you. As such, we come in complete sobriety and total humility, after having fully examined ourselves, remembering the price paid for us. Then we leave the table with exuberant, thankful hearts, because we’ve remembered and experienced His grace, His favor, and His acceptance!
In a few moments, we are going to commune with God and each other at His table. We are going to share in His meal, just like Jesus and His disciples did that night so long ago. Take time to consider the depth God reaches IN you, to communicate TO you, how much He wants to commune WITH you! It is breath taking.
And as you take time to remember, be cognizant of heaven touching earth the moment you take, eat, and drink. You see, it is then that the full impact of His sacrifice is made real. The exchange is overwhelming; His suffering and death for our eternity; His great sacrifice for us to live in the new covenant in His blood shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins.
Tomorrow night, our spiritual journey continues, and it too is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride because we’ll take time to remember and relive His gruesome death on the cross. You might be thinking, “Really? Another church service?” You might think it is not necessary to remember and relive such a horrid event. You might be tempted to skip it and rush ahead to the resurrection, thinking of Easter dinner and celebrations. But please don’t. Take every step of the journey, taking the time to truly experience and appreciate your life in His.
Tonight and every time you come to the table, take time to remember Jesus lived, Jesus died, and Jesus rose again. Remember the price was paid! Remember you are forgiven! Remember Jesus!
