The Lord’s Supper
Text: Mark 14:12-31
Core Idea: Jesus is worthy of our extravagant devotion. In this story, this woman’s act was described as beautiful by Jesus, but also a complete waste by others – a beautiful “waste.” Then may we have the courage and faith to offer our lives as a beautiful “waste” to the Lord for this is how we honor the Lord.
INTRODUCTION
Well, we are going through the Gospel of Mark – exploring the life of Jesus. Last week, we learned that Jesus is worthy of our extravagant devotion because He alone loves us extravagantly – choosing to give His whole life for us who are utterly sinful, unworthy, and deserving of death. Now, one thing you’ll realize is that beginning in chapter 14, Mark intentionally slows down his narration for one primary purpose: preparation for the crucifixion. The story no longer covers months and weeks but hours and minutes so that we too may slow down our pace to reflect on the steps that ultimately led Jesus to the cross. Then let’s do just that – let’s slow down and allow this text to speak to us as we carefully think through the implications of the truth for our lives. So, please turn your Bibles to Mark 14:12-31. Let me read this for us.
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do You want us to go and make preparations for You to eat the Passover?” 13 So He sent two of His disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, “Truly I tell you, 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 You don’t mean me?” 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, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave 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. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today – yes, tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown Me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You.” And all the others said the same.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
It was Thursday – the fifth day of Passion week. This day was special because it was Passover. And since it was customary for the Jews to eat the Passover lamb, the disciples asked Jesus, “Where do You want us to go and make preparations for You to eat the Passover?” Now, considering the hostility that was in the air, this question was actually loaded with great concern. They were really asking, “Jesus, will there be a safe place for us to celebrate the Passover? Do You think we can find a place where the religious leaders wouldn’t know?” But to their surprise, it seemed like Jesus had already taken care of everything so that all they had to do was just follow His instructions which were all fulfilled accordingly (v.12-16). Now, why does Mark include this in the story? Why didn’t he just go straight into the Last Supper which obviously we know is very important? It’s because Mark wanted to show us that Jesus wasn’t just a helpless victim who was about to be overtaken by these unfortunate events but that He was the sovereign Savior who was in control over all things. Even though darkness was closing in all around Him, Jesus didn’t just react to events, but He orchestrated all things with wisdom and authority. That’s what Mark wanted us to remember. And if I can go on a tangent for a bit, this of course is true in our lives as well. Brothers and sisters, is this how we view Jesus – the One who is wisely orchestrating all things in our lives? This text reminds us that even when it feels like everything is out of control, everything happens according to His plan – which means that nothing that happens in our lives will ever be wasted. He will use everything that’s happening in our lives (the joys and sorrows, the blessings and sufferings, the successes and even failures) for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). So, let’s cling to Christ – let’s choose to trust in His sovereign wisdom. Okay, back to the text. Just as Jesus wisely prepared the place for them to eat the Passover meal, He will intentionally use this meal to prepare and teach His disciples something important about His death. Then let me share three things about this meal.
· THE INVITATION
· THE MEANING
· THE PARTICIPATION
1) THE INVITATION
The Passover meal was actually a very festive occasion. It was characterized by hope and joy because it was a celebration of God’s past intervention (delivering His people from slavery in Egypt) but also an anticipation of God’s future intervention (when the promised Messiah would deliver them from their enemies). So, the scene we see in verse 17 would’ve been filled with excitement – especially for these disciples who still had these misguided messianic expectations for Jesus. Since coming to Jerusalem, they were waiting for Jesus to begin His military revolution at any moment. They thought that Jesus would overthrow Rome and make Israel glorious again – restoring their wealth, power, and fame. So, despite the threats against Jesus, the disciples were just dreaming about all the wonderful changes that will come when Jesus establishes His Kingdom – of course, until He stunned them with these words: verse 18, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
Now, we are not surprised because Mark has already written about this in Mark 3:19, where he introduced Judas this way, “Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.” We knew this from early on, but the disciples had no clue. Then can you imagine how shocking and painful it must have been for them to hear this? Every one of them there left everything they had to follow Jesus. They had spent three years together – doing life with Jesus. They had become friends – going through the ups and downs of life. They persevered and they’re finally in Jerusalem where everything is going to change – and what Jesus said just shattered their hearts. They must have looked at each other and thought, “Who here would betray Jesus now? Why would anyone here betray us?” And we read that they were greatly saddened by the news – probably confused, hurt, and angry at the same time. Now, what’s interesting is that no one there suspected Judas. No one yelled out, “It must be Judas! I knew it! There was something off about him!” The scary thing is that Judas fit in well. Instead, one by one, they went to Jesus and asked, “Surely, You don’t mean me?” (Mk. 14:19). Isn’t that interesting? I would understand if they said, “I will never betray You!” or “Jesus, tell us who he is, and we’ll make sure this doesn’t happen.” But Mark tells us that all of them simply asked, “Is it I?” And again, Jesus simply repeated Himself in verse 20, “It is one of the Twelve – one who dips bread into the bowl with Me. 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.”
Do you remember the story of David and Bathsheba? When David sinned against God by having Uriah killed in the battle, Prophet Nathan didn’t enter the palace and say, “I won’t say who but one of you here has sinned against God.” No, he looked straight at David and said, “You are the man!” (2 Sam. 12:7). But Jesus didn’t do that here – He remained vague. Why? Why didn’t Jesus just tell the disciples that Judas was the betrayer? Why did Jesus remain ambiguous? Because Jesus didn’t want to condemn Judas but convict him. He didn’t want to humiliate him but melt him. He didn’t want him to be crushed but He wanted him to repent. He was giving him another chance to turn away. Jesus said what He said because He wanted to warn him. He was basically saying, “Judas, I know what you’re about to do. But if you follow through, you would be filled with so much guilt and shame that you would rather be dead. Don’t do it. Turn around. It’s not too late.” Jesus didn’t reveal who the betrayer was because He loved Judas – it was an act of Jesus’ mercy and compassion toward him. This is incredible knowing how treacherous his sins were. Last week, I shared that while the woman in Bethany found Jesus beautiful and gave all she had to Him, Judas found Jesus useful and sought to get all he could in exchange for Him. If anyone deserved condemnation, it was him. But that’s not what we read here. Jesus’ heart went out to him.
This is good news for us – isn’t it? Because the truth is that many of us feel like Judas – especially when life gets tough. We’re willing to devote ourselves to the Lord as long as it’s manageable – but when the pain becomes unbearable, we look for a quick fix instead of turning to Him. And when that happens, we quickly feel like we’re unworthy of His grace – so, we choose to remain in misery because we feel like we deserve it, because we feel like we’re unredeemable. Does that describe you today? You’ve sinned against God; you’ve used God – and now, you’re too ashamed to come to Him. Then listen to something that Dane Ortlund wrote, “Fallen, anxious sinners are limitless in their capacity to perceive reasons for Jesus to cast them out. We are factories of fresh resistances to Christ’s love. Even when we run out of tangible reasons to be cast out, such as specific sins or failures, we tend to retain a vague sense that, given enough time, Jesus will finally grow tired of us and hold us at arm’s length. But we cannot present a reason for Christ to finally close off His heart to His own sheep. No such reason exists. Every human friend has a limit. If we offend enough, if a relationship gets damaged enough, if we betray enough times, we are cast out. The walls go up. With Christ, our sins and weaknesses are the very resume items that qualify us to approach him. Nothing but coming to Him is required – first at conversion and a thousand times thereafter until we are with Him upon death. He says to all of us, ‘Whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.’” Brothers and sisters, don’t let your guilt and shame hold Christ at arm’s length today because He is waiting for you with His arms wide open. Sadly, Judas missed his chance – he refused to turn away from his sins. Then let’s not miss our opportunity because this meal is an invitation to do just that. Think with me. Jesus could’ve talked about this betrayal at any time, but He chose to do it at this meal – just before the Lord’s Supper. Why? Because He wanted to teach us that this meal is for all sinners – He simply asks us to come and repent. Then take the invitation and come to Him today. The Lord’s Supper is a meal for sinners, not achievers.
2) THE MEANING
Remember that Jesus and His disciples were eating the Passover meal. Then what is Passover? It’s the deliverance of God recorded in the book of Exodus. There, we read that the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. So, God came to Moses and said, “I’m going to bring down My justice against all human evil in Egypt. For one night, you’ll see a small preview of Judgment Day.” Now, what’s interesting is that He didn’t say, “When My justice comes down, it’ll come down only on the Egyptians. So, tell the Israelites that everything’s going to be fine.” No, He basically said, “When My justice comes down for one night, it doesn’t matter what race you belong to, it doesn’t matter how good you think you are, everybody will be subjected to My justice. But I will make a way for the Israelites – you just need to do exactly as I say. In every home, you must slaughter a lamb, eat the lamb, and put its blood on the doorpost of your homes – because when the angel of death sees the blood, he will pass over you, and justice will not come against you.” Their only chance of surviving His judgment wasn’t found in their pedigree, their performance, or their morality but only if they took shelter under the blood of the lamb. In other words, when God’s justice came down on Egypt, it either fell on them or the lamb that acted as a substitute for them. They weren’t saved on the basis of their work but only on the basis of their faith in substitutionary sacrifice. Passover was an annual meal that commemorated this defining moment in the history of Israel – to remember that incredible, wonderful, and great liberation that God accomplished.
But on this night, Jesus did something unthinkable by making everything about Him. It would’ve been customary for the host to take the bread and say, “This is the bread that reminds us of our suffering.” But Jesus took the bread and said, “This is My body” which essentially means, “This is the bread of My affliction.” Then He took the cup and said, “This is My blood” which essentially means, “My blood is what delivers you from divine justice.” Do you know what He was doing? He was reinterpreting Passover completely. On this evening, Jesus was basically saying, “I am the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world. I am the One who will be sacrificed for you. And it’s by My blood being marked over the doorpost of your heart that will save you from the wrath of God – My blood, not the blood of a lamb, is the blood of a new covenant.”
Now, what is the blood of a new covenant? What is Jesus talking about here? Let me explain. The reference to “the blood of a new covenant” wouldn’t make sense without looking at “the blood of an old covenant” which was established when the people of Israel made an oath of allegiance to God. Listen to Exodus 24:8, “Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.’” Here, Moses was basically telling the Israelites, “You have committed yourselves to the Lord today. You have pledged yourselves to be His people. Then just as this animal was slaughtered, may your blood be spilled if you break this covenant with the Lord.” In other words, the blood signified their unwavering commitment to the covenant – the promise that they made. But history, of course, tells us that the Israelites have failed miserably – they lusted after other gods and turned their backs on the Lord which means that they all deserved death. The blood of an old covenant was broken. But the gospel tells us that God will not give up on His people – which is why Jesus made a new covenant in His own blood. What does that mean? He was basically saying, “Your commitment will never be enough to keep this relationship unbroken. So, I will make a new covenant with you – and My commitment to you will be unwavering, everlasting, and indestructible. I will never forsake you – never give up on you. Even if I have to die, I will remain loyal to you always. I will never let go of your hands.” Jesus doesn’t just invite us with His arms wide open, He promises that He will be committed to us to the end.
Then what we expect to see is this unbreakable bond between Jesus and the disciples. Is that what we see here? No, literally right after making His covenant with His disciples, Jesus said in verse 27, “You will all fall away.” He was basically saying, “I will be committed to you, but you won’t be committed to Me.” Peter didn’t agree – so, he shouted out, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” He literally threw everyone else under the bus – but he was that confident. But knowing Peter’s heart, Jesus said in verse 30, “Truly I tell you, today – yes, tonight – before the rooster crows twice, you yourself will disown me three times.” Is this discouraging? To some degree, it could be – because it shows how weak and compromising we are. But I pray that this truth will actually give us peace and comfort knowing that despite our failures, our salvation will always be secure in Christ. Brothers and sisters, our salvation doesn’t depend on the quality of our faith, the quality of our obedience, the quality of our commitment to Him but completely on His commitment to us. And to make this possible, He didn’t just say He was willing to die – He did die to pay the penalty of our sins. He died in our place so that our relationship with God will remain unbroken. That’s how committed He is. And that’s what we’re remembering through this meal. The whole point of the Lord’s Supper is to work this gospel truth into our hearts again and again. These elements represent His unconditional commitment to us. Then as you take these elements, say to yourself, “I know that God loves me, and He has a purpose for me. My relationship with God depends not on my past but on His past – not on my record but on His record.”
And this really is why we celebrate the Lord’s Supper weekly – we want to be reminded of His love every single Sunday. Now, some of you might say, “Won’t weekly Communion make it less special?” Yes and no. Yes, this could make the Lord’s Supper less “special” – but this would actually be good for us. The Lord’s Supper is supposed to be one of the defining features of Christian life and marks of the church. Then we ought to experience the Lord’s Supper as an ordinary feature of the service and an integral part of what we do when we gather for worship. At the same time, no, it won’t make it less special because if you understand what the Lord’s Supper truly represents, you will never take it lightly. In fact, we would want to gather for this meal as often as possible. Think of the manna God gave to the people of Israel each day as they journeyed through the wilderness. It was something so simple, so ordinary (this flaky bread) but also so amazing and so extraordinary (bread from heaven). This is what the Lord’s Supper should be. Then let this meal minister to you today as we meditate on Christ’s commitment to us.
3) THE PARTICIPATION
The truth is that we can have a meal in front of us that’s cooked to perfection but still starve to death if we refuse to eat it. It wouldn’t help us unless we take the food into ourselves. And this is why Jesus didn’t just say, “This is My body,” but He also said, “Take it.” We must receive it. What does this mean? Three things:
First, remember. Now, what does it mean to remember? Does it simply mean that we’re recalling and thinking about the suffering and death of Christ? Partially, but there’s more. Michael Horton said, “Remembering means participating here and now in certain defining events in the past and also in the future.” To put it simply, biblical remembering is recalibrating. Let me give you an example. We all know the importance of remembering our wedding anniversaries. Now, all of us would agree that remembering our anniversary takes much more than just a mental acknowledgment. I would never just go to Alicia and say, “Honey, it’s our anniversary today,” and just walk away. No, I would do a number of things like preparing a bouquet of flowers, writing a thoughtful card, and taking her out to a nice restaurant as a way to show that I am still cherishing the vow that we made on our wedding day. Then this is how we remember the cross. At the Table, we’re remembering the gospel and reapplying its implications to our lives so that we may recalibrate ourselves to Christ again. What does this mean practically? It means that we’re deeply grieving knowing that it was our sins that led Jesus to the cross. It means that we’re choosing to repent and renounce our sins. It means that we’re offering our gratitude for His mercy and forgiveness in our lives. And it also means that we’re recommitting to love God and love others with extravagant devotion. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.” Then may we do just that as we come to the Table today – let us remember, reflect, and recalibrate.
Second, receive. It’s true that Jesus is not physically present each time the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. But when He instituted the Lord’s Supper, He didn’t say, “This represents My body,” but, “This is my body.” What does this mean? It means that though Jesus may not be present in His physical body, He is present in His Spirit – and He wants to serve you, strengthen you, and comfort you. Then come to the Table in faith knowing that it is Christ Himself ministering to you. Receive the meal that He has prepared for you and be nourished in your souls.
Lastly, rest. Jesus said in verse 25, “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” When we say, “I won’t eat or drink until I finish this,” what we’re really saying is, “I’m going to get this done no matter what. Nothing’s going to distract me from finishing this.” Then when Jesus said these words, He meant, “I will do everything I can to see the Kingdom of God come on earth as it is in heaven. I will do everything I can to bring you home.” Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is passionately committed to blessing us, to bring us to the Father’s arms, and to usher us into the ultimate banquet with Him. Think about how wonderful that will be – to know that we will be with Christ face to face eating this meal together. Brothers and sisters, when we participate in this meal today, we’re thinking of the meal that’s to come. But this isn’t just wishful thinking. As real as this bread and juice are, so real and sure is the meal that is to come. The simple bread and cup assure us that Christ came for us, Christ died for us, and Christ will come back for us. Then in light of this truth, we can rest and be comforted in all circumstances knowing that this is not the end – our story will continue, and it will be glorious for those who trust in the Lord.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, the Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). And He is inviting all sinners like you and me to come and take this meal for this is where our souls will be nourished. Pastor J.C. Ryle wrote, “He that eats the bread and drinks the wine in a right spirit will find himself drawn into closer communion with Christ.” Then as we come to the Table, let’s remember, receive, and rest in Christ. May it bring us closer to the Lord and give us peace knowing that our salvation is secure in Him. And after we finish, just as the disciples did in verse 26, let us sing a hymn to our Lord – proclaiming that He alone is worthy of our praise.
Then I want to invite all the devoted followers of Jesus Christ who are baptized or confirmed to come up. If you’re not yet a believer, we ask that you refrain from coming up, but I pray that one day you will as you realize in your own hearts the depth of God’s love for you. Believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. You too can have forgiveness of all your sins and eternal life with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Then as much as it’s an opportunity for the believers to examine their hearts, I invite you to examine your own hearts and realize that your heart will never be satisfied with anything of this world but only in Jesus Christ. Then with that said, let’s have the people from the back come up first – and we’ll consume it together when everyone has taken the elements. Join me at the Table.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Why didn’t Jesus reveal who the betrayer was? How does this truth comfort you when the weight of guilt and shame is crushing your soul?
2) During the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. What is the connection between Passover and the Lord’s Supper? What does the Lord’s Supper say about the death of Jesus?
3) Jesus said, “Take it; this is My body” (Mk. 14:22). What does it mean to take His body? What are we called to do at the Lord’s Supper? How can the Lord’s Supper minister to us?