It was a meal to end all meals. And yet it was just a taste of the great meal to come.
The Passover was finished and they were lounging around the table, and talking in hushed tones. They had reverently taken part in the ceremony, in the service. They enjoyed the lamb, the bread, bitter herbs, the karosheth, the matzoh balls, the four glasses.
Now, as things were winding down, Jesus was almost ready. If His disciples had noticed, they would have seen a look of intense anticipation in his face. This was the moment that He had waited for his entire ministry; yes His entire life. Tonight He would initiate the new meal. The Old had been celebrated for the last time; the New had come.
As His loved ones chatted, he carefully searched each face. How recently they had reflected jealousy, revenge, pride, hatred, self-sufficiency. Strangely enough, in all their selfishness, His disciples were looking forward to the Great Meal, just like He was. The only problem was, they were looking, they were thinking more about the seating arrangement than anything else. Where were they going to sit, next to Jesus, or how close to Him. He was glad He had washed their feet. In a way it had helped to prepare them for this moment.
As Jesus looked at them, I think He might have compared this meal with the first of the Passovers. Like that meal, this one was taken just before a night of anguish. Yet both meals celebrated an act of deliverance. Like the first Passover, it was the first of many meals to come. But most importantly, both meals were a reminder of the sacrifice He was about to make.
As He was comparing the two services, He must have recalled one particular similarity. The original Passover had been canceled sometime after the first time it was celebrated, the passover. The children of Israel had stopped celebrating it when they were rejected by God, out there wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. The Bible tells that they didn’t circumcise their children and they didn’t celebrate the Passover until they arrived in the promised land. And when they arrived in that promised land, and they celebrated it once again, it was a symbol that they were now accepted once again.
And as He thought about it, this new meal would also be canceled, in a way. Not this time for all of Israel, but for Him. Before, it was Israel that couldn’t eat the meal. Now it would be Him. He would bear the symbol of rejection.
Perhaps he recalled the words of the Law. “But if a man . . . fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the Lord's offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.”
You see, this time, He was that man. He would not celebrate the Passover with His people. For thousands of years. He would be counted as cut off. Except He would bear the consequences of everyone else’s sin.
And this is why He had longed for this day. Today was the beginning of the Great Role Reversal. The start of the amazing switch-off. After today, He would be the Rejected One. Yet, those who had wandered would eat the meal of acceptance as if they were already in the Promised Land.
What an amazing irony. He who would stand closest to the Father would bear the mark of rejection, while those who were separated from God would eat the meal of acceptance.
And yet, as He looked into their distracted faces, He was filled with joy. Because He knew that this very role-reversal that separated them would finally unite them, once again.
Because He knew, from the story from before, when Israel was rejected, it didn’t last for forever. 40 years passed, they entered the promised land, and they could eat the meal once again. And He Who now bore a similar rejection, just like Israel, the time would come when He would eat the meal again, too. And He would be joined by those that He loved.
What a thrilling thought! Those who were estranged would now join Him. No longer would they eat the meal of acceptance while being separated. They would eat the Lord’s Supper with the Lord!
And so, with joy in His heart he turns to this longed for moment. Catching their attention, he asks for silence. And then fervently He says, “’I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God. . . . Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’"
You need to know that He is waiting with anticipation again. The time has almost come. Perhaps the Great Table is already set. Jesus is checking each place. His vineyard is full of dewy grapes ready to be pressed. His wheat fields are bursting with ripened grain ready to be milled. Gabriel is wearing his apron and his chef’s cap. Soon Jesus will invite us to His Upper Room. And there, once again, He will sit with His disciples.
But not the same number. Before, you know, not 11 or 12, or a hundred and fifty. That table will be crowded with trillions of His closest friends.
There will be miles and miles of table loaded with bread and choice wine. Angels will be flying back and forth carrying trays of toasted bread.
And once again He will serve. The deacons aren’t going to know what to do with themselves. Jesus Himself will welcome each friend and place the food before them. To each one He’ll give a special word. “Well, done Peter. Glad you made it.” “John, it’s good to eat with you again.” “James, my brother. I have missed you so much.” “Mary, Martha, Joseph, Mother.”
And then to us. “David, Kim, Lorraine, Mia, Daltrey, Paul. I’ve waited so long for this day. I have earnestly desired to eat this meal with you.”
It’s now time for us to separate for the Ordinance of Humility.
I’d like to read from God’s Holy Word, First Corinthians 11:23 through 26. "For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take eat. This is My Body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My Blood. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes."
Let’s kneel as far as possible for prayer.
Oh heavenly Father, it is such a privilege to kneel before Your throne of grace. Send Your Holy Spirit into each one of our hearts, for we kneel on the common ground of our own need. Each one of us, Lord, are so much in need of Your grace, and Your love, and Your forgiveness. We’re so thankful that You reveal in Your Word, that in the garden of Eden, You came looking for our first parents. That day by day You come looking for us, seeking us. That You long for us to be home in heaven one day with You. We’re thankful for the scenes in the upper room, when You, the King of the universe, the One Who said, “Let there be life on this earth”, and there was life. You knelt before those whom You created. We think of the scenes of calvary’s cross and we really can’t get our minds around it. The whole idea is so huge. The King of the universe allowing His created beings to nail Him to that tree. It breaks our hearts. It’s almost incomprehensible to us, but we see Your love. You emptied heaven. What more could You do? We’re so thankful for these emblems that are going to be served to us today, that remind us of that special day, when You provided for us. So we ask Your blessing on these emblems. As we partake of them, all we can think of is You on the tree. Bless us through Your Holy Spirit with full repentance, that we’ll want to be like You, because we trust You, and we know that Your way is best. So bless each aspect of this service, we pray in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
You know, we are encouraged to make the communion service a happy time, a celebration. Sometimes it’s easy to turn it into a funeral, and it’s not, because we’re celebrating a risen Saviour. Certainly what He did for us, we’re celebrating a risen Saviour. And so now I want to encourage you, as we partake of the emblems, that we remember, and we rejoice, in what He’s done for us.
“When He had taken some bread, and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is My Body, Which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’”
“In the same way, He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This Cup Which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My Blood.’”
We’ll close with a hymn, just as Jesus and His disciples did. Hymn number 411.
Hymn of Praise: #187, Jesus, What a Friend For Sinners Scripture: Luke 22:14-16 Hymn of Response: #411, The Son of God Proclaim
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McDonald Road Sermon transcribed by Pastor David Cook 10/13/07.