Introduction: One of the biblical scenes that artists have tried to portray more than any other is the Last Supper scene. Each artist uses his imagination as he paints the scene. In some paintings the mood is festive, the disciples portrayed with smiling faces looking up to Jesus. In others the mood is solemn almost morbid portraying the seriousness of the event. In the same way each Gospel author paints the same scene from their own unique perspective. Today we are going to view the last supper from the eyes of Matthew as we prepare to observe the Lord’s Supper.
Lets look at what happened that night before Jesus died. (Read Matthew 26:17-30)
There are four observations I want to make about the Last Supper and apply them to our observance of the Lord’s Supper this morning.
Notice:
I. THE NECESSARY PREPARATION (17-18)
It was the first day of the feast of unleavened bread. This was an eight day feast that began with the observance of the pass over. Therefore, it was really two feasts combined. There was much preparation that must be done to observe the feast. The disciples inquired of Jesus where they would observe the feast so that they could begin the preparations. Jesus tells them that there is a certain man in the city that they are to go to and inform him that his"time is at hand". This man according to the other gospels would be identified as the man carrying a water pitcher. This was probably a disciple of Jesus with whom he had already made these arrangements.
To observe the Passover meal the disciples would have to obtain unleavened bread, spices, fruit, and a lamb. There was a lot of preparation that went into the observance of the Passover. The borrowed room had to be searched for any trace of yeast. Any crumb of bread had to be removed. Yeast represented the evil influence of Egypt that the Jews were leaving behind at the Exodus. Yeast came to be known as the influence of sin.
Just as the disciples had to prepare for the Passover meal, so must we prepare for the Lord’s supper? We are to observe the Lord’s supper according to Paul with a prepared heart. Paul said we are not to observe the supper in an unworthy manner. We are to come to the table with hearts prepared. The yeast of sin must be removed from our lives through confession and repentance. Paul said, "let a man examine himself". We are not to enter lightly into the observance of the Lord’s supper. There is a necessary preparation. Along these very lines, next we see:
II. SELF EXAMINATION (20-25)
Jesus interrupted the meal with a startling statement. He said, "one of you will betray me." Now the disciples had been told by Jesus that He would be delivered up, but they were not told that it would be one of their number. When faced with this news the disciples were cut to the heart. Each man began to question himself. The Greek words indicate that they were deeply sorrowful, violently shaken by this news.
They each questioned their own genuiness, their commitment to Christ.
Jesus knew who would betray him, but he allowed the other disciples to see the frailty of their own natures, which is always healthy if we allow it to drive us to Christ and a deeper trust of him and not ourselves.
Perhaps here we see the difference between self-doubt and true conviction. There was one here that knew he was not real. The others doubted, they questioned, they dreaded the possibility of it being so.
I believe real conviction that comes from the Lord leaves no room for doubt or question. It is precise and the convicted one knows that the Lord has placed his accusing finger on his heart.
I believe in this scene we see the graciousness of our Lord. Jesus is offering Judas a chance to repent of his evil. Why else would he make these statements.
Jesus appeals to Judas first from the perspective of love and friendship. The Passover meal was to be observed by families according to Exodus. This band of disciples had become a family with their Lord as the head. Each one had dipped his hand in the bowl including Judas as they observed this family feast. The psalmist described this awful betrayal in Psalm 41, "My own familiar friend in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." Therefore, Jesus identified the betrayer as one who shared bread with him. He was appealing to Judas in love and friendship.
Then he appealed to Judas by warning of the consequences of his actions. "Woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born." Christ warns Judas that the consequences of his lack of a true relationship to him would result in a fate so bad that it would be good if he had never existed than to face such a fate.
Finally there is direct identification of Judas by Christ as Judas asks in pretense like the other disciples "Rabbi is it I" Jesus said, "you have said". We see Judas’ problem in his address of Jesus. Rather than call him Lord as the other disciples, he calls him Rabbi, or teacher. This was the problem for Judas; he did not see Jesus as Lord.
The Lord by his statement caused each disciple to examine the nature of their commitment to Him. And in the remainder of the discourse, he demonstrated his willingness to allow even the worst of sinners the space to repent. At this point, Judas left the table and went out to do his evil deed.
Where do you stand with the Lord this morning?
Next, we see:
III>A FITTING REPRESENTATION (26-28)
Jesus again interrupts the Passover meal. This time he interrupts it in order to transform it into the Lord’s Supper. He takes the bread and he tells his disciples that the bread now represents his body. The bread is a symbol of sustenance. Jesus says my body, my life that I have lived, and that I will give is being offered so that you might live.
He takes the cup of wine and he says this wine now represents my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Remission means release. The shedding of Jesus’ blood on the cross was so that his disciples might experience release from the penalty of sin. His bleeding and dying purchased our forgiveness.
The disciples were to "take" or "receive" the bread, which represented the body of Christ, and to drink the wine, which represented the blood.
This represents the wonderful truth that we may have life and forgiveness and release from the power of sin by receiving, taking by faith Christ’s life and blood on our behalf. This is the New Covenant that we remember and celebrate today. This is the strength that we must continue to feed upon, Christ’s life and his blood. Finally there was
IV. A JOYFUL ANTICIPATION (29-30)
This meal would be observed with the disciples again in the Father’s Kingdom according to Jesus. The fellowship would continue. This implies Christ’s resurrection. The fellowship would be restored. In addition, because he was resurrected so shall we be. I believe we will feast with Jesus at the Marriage supper of the Lamb. "Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." We observe the Supper this morning in anticipation of that day in which Christ returns for his bride to fellowship with her forever! There is a church in Millan Italy that was bombed out during WWII. All of the walls of the church fell down during the war except one. The wall left standing has painted upon it none other than Leonardo Da Vinci’s "Last Supper" scene. A wonderful illustration of how this fellowship meal will survive the tumult and the change of this world to be celebrated again with Jesus at his return. Let us prepare to recieve from the Lord’s table.
