1. Groundhog Day
Punxsutawney Phil is a groundhog that comes out of his burrow on Gobbler's Knob, Pennsylvania, each February 2 to predict the weather. According to legend, if Phil sees his shadow, there will be 6 more weeks of cold weather. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring will come early.
This is all humbug and good humor, of course. No one to my knowledge takes Phil's predictions seriously. Furthermore, he's unreliable--more often wrong than right, I'm told. [Source: Our Daily Bread]
2. Wouldn't it be fun if we really could know the future?
* When wars would end; who kids would marry; stock market; Numbers for the lottery
* If we knew the future we would be calmer, richer, more self-assured
* This is why we buy books that predict future trends; why palm readers & astrologers stay in business;
* 900 ad on TV -- get daily horoscope for a few dollars a day
3. Actually, life would be terrible if we knew the future
* God tells us not to consult mediums, etc. about the future
* It would be a waste of time and would not be to our benefit
* It would take the joy and excitement out of life -- don't date her, she will break your heart in three months; don't go to that game, we lose by 12; don't go to church, the sermon is no good
* Instant replay is never as exciting as the live action
* If we knew the future, we would put off until the last minute things we should do in advance
* Depressed about future -- I dread 2017 -- year of serious surgery; mother's passing, I dread it and therefore, would fail to enjoy 2016
God was protective when he created us without the ability to know tomorrow
4. Missed Predictions
Some people have thought they had a window into the future. For example, back in 1967, experts predicted that by the turn of the century technology would have taken over so much of the work we do that the average American work week would be only 22 hours long, & that we would work only 27 weeks a year. As a result, one of our biggest problems would be in deciding what to do with all our leisure time. How's that working out for you? -- Many have wrongly predicted the next coming of Jesus.
5. Jesus knew what was going to happen in the future -- he lived knowing he would be crucified
Matthew 26.2 2 "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified."
a. What would be like to be on Death Row and know the exact day and hour of your execution? Final hours horrible; final steps buckle the most proud
b. "The only way to predict the future is to have power to shape the future." -- Jesus did!
* Jesus knew when and how he would die -- he predicted it and prepared for it
* Jesus knew he would bear the weight of the sins of the world on his shoulders
* He would experience separation from Father -- hell on our behalf
6. In spite of pressure he demonstrated concern for followers -- when he could have expected people to comfort him, he was comforting them (Daughters do not weep for me weep for yourselves. . . )
7. He showed calmness under pressure when he instituted the Lord's Supper Mark 14.22-26
I. The Imaging of the Death of Jesus -- Bread and Wine
A. Representative in Nature
1. [If I showed you a picture of my mother and said, "That's my Mom." You would know that it was only a representation/image of my mother, it was not really her.
2. The same is true of the bread -- it is a display/image/representation of the body of Jesus
3. The cup is a representation of the Blood of the New Covenant -- Jeremiah 31.31-34
31 "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
* The people broke the original covenant
* Jesus keeps it for us
B. Weekly Reminder
1. Tendency to forget the things of God
2. Lord's Supper helps us REMEMBER
II. The Intellect of God
A. God Thinks Differently than we Do -- Isaiah 55.8-9; 1 Corinthians 1.25-29
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1. We make monuments of steel and stone for lasting remembrances [Washington Monument; Pyramids; Saddam Hussein Monument; Twin Towers; Titanic
2. God chose matzah and grape juice
a. Matzah -- looks like flesh; striped; holes
b. Juice -- blood-like; made by crushing grapes as he was crushed for us
c. Available to virtually all; inexpensive;
B. The Beauty is this memorial is seen in its simplicity -- portable, no temple required
III. The Instruction of God
A. Jesus used Visual Aids -- [PPT slides used today as a teaching aid
1. Memory -- "Remember"
2. Action -- 1 Corinthians 11.26
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
The famous Dutch artist Rembrandt painted an interesting picture of the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a work which depicts the suffering of Jesus, the indifference of the soldiers, the sorrow of the women at the cross. But the most unusual aspect of the picture is that if you look closely you will see that Rembrandt painted himself back in the shadows.
This is what the Lord Supper does for us, it helps us see ourselves at the foot of the cross, to remember the suffering of Jesus on our behalf. We can come around this table in reverence, thanks giving, humility, awe or we can come here in indifference and pride.
B. Power of the Senses -- All used in Lord's Supper as well as in Passover
1. The Senses -- Do you have Favorites?:
a. Auditory -- Favorite sounds? Ocean waves on a beach; sound of garage door when our daughter came home from a party or school; appropriate laughter in church of children; communion sounds of bread breaking; cups in trays;
b. Visual -- Favorite sights -- sunrise over the ocean
c. Taste . . .
d. Smell . . .
e. Touch . . .
2. In addition to TELLING, the Passover meal included:
* Karpas -- a green vegetable (usually parsley) dipped in salt water near the beginning of the meal symbolizing spring and rebirth
* Haroset -- a mixture of chopped apples, nuts, wine, and spices symbolizing the mortar the slaves had to make for the bricks in Egypt
* Maror -- the bitter herbs (usually horseradish) to symbolize the bitterness of slavery
* Salt Water as a symbol of the tears of slavery
IV. The Inspiration of Believers
A. The Lord's Supper Inspires Our Patience:
1. is NOT a just Memorial to a Long Ago Martyr; It IS a Reminder of a Conqueror who WILL Return
2. [Family kept its Xmas lights burning into the Spring; Neighbors began questioning why; soon they saw a sign on the front door: "Welcome Home Johnny"; their son was returning from Vietnam, they did not know exactly when, but the lights were to welcome him home;
3. LS is a silent vigil we do to welcome Jesus when he returns for us
B. The LS Inspires Our Persistence
1. The world under stress eats and drinks to forget.
2. Christians under stress eat and drink to remember -- Jesus came to save, forgive and will return to set all things right
C. The LS Inspires Our Praise -- Mark 14.26 (sang a hymn)
1. Singing is Prayerful -- James 5.13: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
2. Singing is Powerful -- an outward expression of inward joy --
James 5.13: Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
3. The great classical composer Joseph Hayden, was criticized because his church music was too cheerful.
He replied: "I cannot help it. I give forth what is in me. When I think of the Divine Being, my heart is so full of joy that the notes fly off as from a spindle. And as I have a cheerful heart, He will pardon me if I serve Him cheerfully."
4. The group would have sung the "Hallel" (Psalms 113-118 or the "Great Hallel" Psalms 113-136). Jesus is clearly seen in them Notice a few verses of Psalm 118:
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
"His steadfast love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
"His steadfast love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,
"His steadfast love endures forever."
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has disciplined me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.
29 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Conclude with "Give Thanks to the LORD" as our Invitation song
