The Last Supper And Us Today

This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2008 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . Click to have messages emailed to you as they are made available. You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.

The Last Supper and Us Today

By Rev. Greg Johnson

Mark 14:17-24

When most in our world today are reminded of “The Last Supper”, they picture in their mind the painting by artist Leonardo Da Vinci which received more attention in our day by the fictional book and movie, The Da Vinci Code. The 15 by 29 foot painting portrays the reactions of the twelve Christ followers as they are told by Jesus that one of them would betray Him.

Let’s pick it up in God’s Word. (Mark 14:17-24 NIV) "When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. {18} While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me." {19} They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?" {20} "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. {21} The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." {22} While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." {23} Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. {24} "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them."

The events at the last supper tell us much about Jesus and His relationship with us today.

Notice the reaction of Christ’s followers to His news that one of them would betray Him. One by one they questioned if they were the one. They were unsure of what they were capable of doing. Or maybe they knew exactly what they were capable of but did not know if they were the one. Judas himself was either unsure or in a state of denial as he too questioned if it were he.

We like the first followers of Christ are unsure of what we are capable of doing. How low is it possible for us to go? What horrid or gross sins are we capable of committing? One thing we can be assured of is that Jesus knows. Jesus knows each of us better than we know ourselves.

Although Jesus knows how low it is possible for us to go and He knows what horrid or gross sin we are capable of committing, Jesus always respects our human freedom. The choice is always ours. It’s not the devil’s choice. It’s not Jesus’ choice. It’s our choice.

Please know that God will never override human freedom even if it means not answering Jesus’ prayer for us. Jesus told Peter that Satan desired to have him and to sift him as wheat, but that Jesus had prayed. And Jesus’ prayer was that Peter’s faith would not fail in the sifting. But we know that Peter’s faith did fail as he denied knowing Christ three times during the crucifixion. God did not answer Jesus’ prayer concerning Peter as it would have dismissed human freedom.

But Peter made the wise choice of repenting of His sin and he became a pillar of the church after the cross. Judas could have made the same choice and repented of his sin, but he did not. Instead, he decided to destroy himself. Human freedom is powerful and God will never override it even though His heart is that none parish and all come to everlasting life. The same choices are before us today. Will we take up our cross and follow Christ or will we deny Him. What do you chose?

What do the events of the last supper tell us about Jesus and His relationship with us today? First of all, Jesus knows what we are capable of doing. Secondly, Jesus respects our human freedom. Lastly, Jesus reminds us of what is important today. (Mark 14:22-24 NIV) "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." {23} Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. {24} "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them."

Jesus is what is important. What He did for us on the cross is what matters. Jesus took our punishment for sin. He offered His body as a living sacrifice. He shed His blood to cover all of our sin. What will we do with Jesus? What will we do with our sin? Will we make the right choice as Peter did and repent of our sinful ways or will we allow our sins to destroy us as Judas did? The choice is ours.