Two Year Gospel Study Week 68

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 10
Scripture Luke 22, Exodus 6:6-7, John 13 & 14, Psalm 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118

Jesus’ Last Supper - 
Pastor opens with an interesting piece of history. Based on writings from Rabbis during the time of Jesus - the Passover lambs were actually “crucified.” What we know from Rabbinic writings is that when the priests killed the Lambs at the Temple in preparation for the Passover meal - they then took a thin stave and ran it through the shoulders of the killed lamb and then another stave was driven through its mouth and down its spine forming a cross, making it ready for roasting.

As our story opens - Jesus and His disciples gather in the upper room that Peter and John have prepared.

Passover - how it may have been in Jesus’ Day
- Passover Table - banquet style meal, low table surrounded by couches or pillows for reclining on, head supported by left hand, ate with right hand, was a lengthy meal that started at sunset.

- Four Cups
Kiddish Cup (to set apart - Sanctify)
Plagues Cup (story of the Passover was shared followed by singing of Psalms 113 and 114)
Blessing Cup (during the meal followed by singing of Psalms 115-118)
Hallel Cup (Praise cup with singing of Psalm 126. Also referred to as Elijah’s cup)

Jesus shares that He will not have this meal again until the meal finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God (following His return).

There’s a possibility that Jesus ended the meal early. But here’s a possible order of the sequence of the events of the meal
    - the seating - bickering about who sits where
    - Jesus washing the disciples feet
    - Jesus tells that one of them will betray Him
    - Judas leaves

There is uncertainty around when the meal was actually eaten.  Was Judas there or not. Based on text from Luke and John it appears Judas was present for the meal. Pastor shares that Jesus is still merciful to Judas - to the very last He is trying to help Judas see what he is doing.

When considering Judas’ worthiness to be at the meal, the question becomes were any worthy of participating in this meal? The meal was attended by traitors and cowards. It is a table not of merit but of GRACE. Our God is a merciful and gracious God. His own disciples would run away that very night and leave Him in the garden - abandoning Him in His hour of need and yet Jesus still loved them. He knew what was going to happen and He still gave His disciples this meal as an indication of His incredible love.

This meal - the Lord’s Supper - is something we have turned into law rather than grace.  None of us can stand before a Holy God and say, “Look how good I am.”  The moment we do that we walk away from the Gospel of Grace.

We come to God as sinners, covered by the blood of His Son, made new by Him and when we receive the meal - the very meal He has with His disciples, we are being reassured of His incredible love, a love not based on our merit, accomplishments or achievements, but a love that is based upon the incredible love of The Father for those He has made and those He has redeemed with the blood of His Son.

It is NOT a table of merit.
IT IS A TABLE OF GRACE.

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Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries.  Up to Jerusalem is part four of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father’s plan. As we study Jesus’ final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us. 

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.