February 18, 2024 • 40 mins
Have you ever felt the warmth and connection that only a shared meal can bring? Our latest episode captures this essence, reflecting on the deeply spiritual and communal nature of dining together - a practice as ancient as the Christian tradition itself. We're not just breaking bread; we're breaking open a conversation about the Last Supper, the profound messages it holds for us today, and how our own church's events, from game nights to wedding showers, are modern expressions of this timeless fellowship.
As we recount the recent bustling activities within our church community, we also delve into the significance of shared meals in forging bonds and fostering dialogue. The discussion goes further, touching on the Passover meal that Jesus shared with His disciples - an event that transcended its historical moment to redefine our understanding of sacrifice and redemption. The embodiment of radical love, Jesus' actions during this meal serve as a powerful example for us all, inviting reflection on the nature of betrayal, forgiveness, and the transformation that occurs when we gather at the table.
This episode concludes with an exploration of Jesus' radical love for humanity and what it means for us as we prepare for communion. We're reminded that the bread and wine are symbols, but also a means to experience His spiritual presence. If you're seeking to deepen your faith or simply curious about the love that drives the Christian community, this discussion is a poignant reminder of the grace that abounds, even amidst our flaws. Come, pull up a chair, and let's share this meal of thought together.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
The following resource is brought to you by
Real Life Community Church inRichmond, Kentucky.
We hope you're both challengedand encouraged by this message
from Pastor Chris May.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So go with me.
Matthew, chapter 26.
We're going to begin in verse17 and I will read through verse
35.
If you don't have your Bible,the word will be on the screen
behind me Now.
On the first day of unleavenedbread, the disciples came to
Jesus saying where will you haveus prepare for you to eat the
(00:40):
Passover?
And he said go into the city toa certain man and say to him
the teacher says my time is athand and I will keep the
Passover at your house with mydisciples.
And the disciples did as Jesushad directed them and they
prepared the Passover.
And when it was evening hereclined at the table with the
12 and as they were eating, hesaid truly, I say to you, one of
(01:03):
you will betray me.
And they were very sorrowfuland began to say to one another
is it I, lord?
And he answered he who hasdipped his hand in the dish with
me will betray me.
The son of man goes as it iswritten of him.
But woe to the man by whom theson of man is betrayed.
It would have been better forthe man if he had not been born.
(01:24):
Judas who would betray himanswered is it I, rabbi?
And he said to him you havesaid so.
Now they were eating and Jesustook bread and after blessing it
, he broke it and gave it to thedisciples and said take, eat,
this is my body.
And he took the cup and when hehad given thanks, he gave it to
(01:45):
them, saying drink of it all ofyou.
Drink of it all of you, forthis is the blood of my covenant
, which is poured out for many,for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you I will not drinkagain of this fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink ananew with you in my father's
kingdom.
And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of
(02:08):
Olives and Jesus said to themyou will all fall away because
of me this night, for it iswritten, I will strike the
shepherd and the sheep of theflock will be scattered, but
after I'm raised up, I will gobefore you to Galilee.
And Peter answered him thoughthey all fall away because of
you, I will never fall away.
(02:28):
Jesus said to him truly, I tellyou, this very night, before
the rooster crows, you will denyme three times.
And Peter said to him even if Imust die with you, I will not
deny you, and all the disciplessaid the same it's the word of
the Lord and you may be seated.
I need one of those big,massive pulpits, that kind of
(03:02):
remember those.
So I'm going to begin thesermon by just taking you on a
quick journey of our church overthe last couple of weeks, you
ready.
A week ago, friday was gamenight.
Our church enjoyed, as Ben wastalking about, the time of
(03:23):
fellowship and board games andcard games and food.
Saturday was Catelyn's weddingshower.
It was a great celebration andwe had some of the best food
I've had in a long time Waffles,all the waffles you could eat,
(03:43):
and that quiche was amazing.
So that was Friday.
Then Saturday, sunday Cillycook off to raise funds for our
missionary, ken Shai-ku.
Sunday night, super Bowl.
Sunday, our small groups gottogether and had fellowship and
food.
(04:03):
All right, you're catching on.
Tuesday men's outing, playingpool and eating food.
Wednesday, I walk out of myoffice and there's the small
group going through the book ofRomans and while they were
studying they were eating.
Friday young at heart, asPastor Ben said, they were
(04:24):
painting and eating.
I think we might have a problem.
Yeah, that's right.
You know I often make jokesabout how much we like food in
this church and but, to be sure,well, let me say this I think
our meals could stand to be alittle bit more healthier at
times.
I think that would be a goodgoal for 2024.
(04:46):
But all joking aside, there issomething actually very
beautiful and wonderful abouthow much we, as a church, like
to dine together, because do youknow that a sign of strong
Christian community and love isthe shared meal.
(05:09):
Emily Malloy articulates wellthe importance of a shared meal
in many different contexts In anarticle that she wrote titled
Reclaiming a Place at the Table.
I just want to read you alittle excerpt from this.
She writes the table is thealtar.
Listen, this is so beautiful.
The table is the altar at whichwe sacrifice the tyranny of the
(05:35):
urgent for the better good ofspending time together.
Let me read that first lineagain the table is the altar at
which we sacrifice the tyrannyof the urgent for the better
good of spending time together.
As we sit side by side, wepermit our lives to intersect,
(05:56):
unifying our days and taking aninterest in one another.
We unpack and process the dayshappenings without distraction,
both giving and receivingencouragement.
It is the place of the soundingboard and affirmation or
direction a safe refuge andharbor.
Listen to these words Plainlystated.
It is where love grows.
(06:17):
There's a popular adage.
She writes that the kitchen isthe heart of the home.
While the kitchen may be theheart, she says the table is the
lifeblood.
The tablescape and preparedfood are tangible displays of
love, as those involved pourthemselves out for the good of
the other.
(06:39):
There's power in a shared meal.
While I was doing research thisweek on the power of the shared
meal, there was a survey doneand you know that a lot of Gen
Xers, you know what they wantmore of Family meal time.
There's power in the sharedmeal and that's becoming in our
(07:03):
culture a lot less frequent.
If this week you labor toprepare a meal and you invite
family or neighbors or churchfolks over, that's not nothing,
it's something that's a greatway to practice loving your
(07:23):
neighbor.
So all this to say that theshared meal is an expression of
friendship, it is an expressionof community, it is an
expression of love thattranscends time and place.
This has been historically true.
So in our text today we findJesus in the final hours of his
(07:44):
life leading up to hiscrucifixion, and he is
expressing here his radical lovefor his disciples as they share
this special meal, passover,together.
It's the meal that we see themcelebrating here, that we now
call the Lord's Supper.
It's the meal that wecommemorate through communion,
(08:08):
the Eucharist, every single weekat this church.
And so what is it that we learnfrom this passage, this
Passover meal, this last supper?
Here's what I think we learn.
We learn two things.
Number one we learn somethingabout sin and we learn something
(08:28):
about Christ's sacrifice,something about sin and
something about his sacrifice.
So what is it that we learnabout sin here?
It is Sin is universal.
Sin is universal.
We see something about the youcould say the breadth of sin.
(08:51):
So the passage, as you know,takes place in the upper room,
hours before Jesus arrest and inhis final moments before his
crucifixion.
Here's what happens Jesus andhis disciples in this room.
They're observing Passover,which is an annual meal that
commemorates the Exodus story,when God brought Israel out of
(09:13):
Egypt.
And here's what's interestingDuring this meal, jesus shares,
finally the purpose of his deathwith his disciples.
Up to this point, he's toldthem several times listen, I'm
going to die and I'm going to beraised, but it's only here, in
the final moments that heexplains the significance of his
(09:35):
death.
In Matthew 26, 28, he says thisis the blood of my covenant,
which is poured out for many forthe what Forgiveness of sins.
Are you grateful for that thismorning?
Now I want you to noticesomething.
Before verse 28, where Jesustalks about giving his, shedding
(09:57):
his blood for the forgivenessof sins, he tells his disciples
that one of them are going tobetray him.
The word betray they'reliterally means to turn over.
One of them is going to turnJesus over to the authorities,
and we know that is Judas.
And so after Jesus foretellsthis part of the Holy Week story
(10:23):
, judas leaves.
One of the other gospelaccounts, tells us he's out of
the room Now.
So that's before Jesus talksabout giving his blood.
But they're shedding his blood.
But they're eating a mealtogether.
And after Jesus explains the,the, the, the significance of
his death, with Judas goneimmediately following that
(10:49):
supper, look what Jesus says tothe remaining disciples.
Look with me at verse 30, ifyou would.
And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of
Olives and Jesus said to themthis is the 11.
This is not Judas.
He says this.
You will all fall away becauseof me this night.
(11:10):
You're all going to fall awaythis night.
For it's written I will strikethe shepherd and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.
Jesus points out here it's notjust Judas, it's going to sin
(11:32):
tonight, it's every single oneof you, every one of you.
I've been with you.
Jesus is saying I've been withyou three and a half years.
You've seen all the greatthings I've done.
I've convinced you, I am yourMessiah.
But tonight I've been there foryou.
I'm shedding my blood for you.
(11:54):
But tonight, every single oneof you are going to abandon me
in my darkest hour.
And I would ask you is that asin?
Well, I think it is, becauseyou might remember, in Matthew
10, 33, jesus said if you denyme before men, I'll deny you
before my father, who's inheaven.
(12:14):
What's the point?
Here's what we see.
We see the breath of sin.
Sin is universal.
When Jesus explains the reasonfor his death to his disciples,
you know what he's saying.
He doesn't bring up thePharisees.
(12:35):
He doesn't say I'm shedding myblood, they're the reason I have
to go to the cross.
He doesn't say that.
He doesn't say oh, it's thetyrants of Rome, that's why I
have to go to the cross.
He says it's you, it's me, it'syou.
Sin is universal.
(12:55):
So we know this right.
We know that the Bible says wecan all quote it for we have all
sinned.
And what, yeah, fall short ofthe glory of God, we've all
sinned, you go?
Oh sure, I know that.
And I know you know thattheoretically, but do you really
(13:16):
believe it?
Do you really believe it?
Maybe we're like the disciples.
Do you remember their reaction?
Look at verses 33 through 35.
Peter answered Jesus, thoughthey all fall away because of
you.
I won't ever fall away.
And Jesus said to him truly, Itell you, this night, before the
(13:39):
rooster crows, you're gonnadeny me Peter three times.
Peter said to him even if Imust die with you, even if I
must die with you, I will notdeny you.
And then it says all thedisciples agree me either.
Lord, that's an interestingtext.
(14:03):
You know what that tells me.
The disciples are not aware ofthe malevolence, the darkness of
their own hearts.
They don't know what they'recapable of.
You know, I'm afraid, that someof us are at times just as
naive.
Do we really believe that sinis universal?
(14:24):
Psychologists, clinicalpsychologist, jordan Peterson,
made this point when he was.
He studied a lot on NaziGermany and he made this exact
point about us not realizing attimes the malevolence that we're
all capable of.
He said that if you were aGerman and you were alive during
(14:45):
that time of World War II, wewould all like to think you
would say, oh, I wouldn't havegone along with Hitler, I would
have been the one to hide AnneFrank.
Have you ever read into historylike that?
Have you ever looked at WorldWar II?
And you go, man, if I were aGerman in that time, I would
have stood up against the ThirdReich.
(15:07):
We'd all like to think that.
But Peterson argues that if youwere in Nazi Germany that is,
the the statistical probabilitythat you would have been a
perpetrator is overwhelming.
Very few people stood up.
If you study the pastors, thechurches across Germany, very
(15:30):
few of them did what Bonhoefferdid and stood up against the
tyranny.
He said so.
If you think you would rescueAnne Frank, he says think again,
think again.
He says those people were very,very rare.
They to put their own lives andtheir family's lives on the
(15:50):
line.
He says you think you wouldhave done that?
He says if you think that youknow nothing of yourself.
You are naive about yourselfand you do not understand
history.
Gulp, some of you hear me saythat right now, and you're going
.
You're saying what Peter said.
Oh, not me.
If I had to die, if I had tosacrifice my family, I would
(16:14):
never go along with that tyranny.
Jesus.
Disciples thought Lord, I mean,we've done some things wrong,
but we would never deny ourMessiah.
Here's the point.
(16:38):
They may not be Judas.
Judas sin was premeditated.
They may not be him.
They may not be Nero, they maynot be part of the third rite.
But I'll tell you what.
Who is to say that, under theright circumstances, under the
right pressures, that theywouldn't have been Judas?
Who is to say that, thank God,you're not Hitler.
(17:00):
Okay, thank God you're.
You're, you're not a tyrant.
Thank God, you have notcommitted those atrocities.
But who is to say that if yougrew up in a certain way and you
were raised on a certaincircumstances, who's to say that
you would not be capable ofsome of those same atrocities?
(17:22):
And again, some of you arethinking right now, just like
the disciples, you've lost yourmind.
That's not me.
We're all way more capable ofmore malevolence than we could
(17:43):
ever think.
Our hearts are darker, apartfrom Christ.
Our hearts are way more wickedthan we can imagine.
Thus we all need the cross ofChrist.
Tim Keller, when he talks aboutthe universality of sin, that
sin that we've all seen, thatsin is universal.
(18:06):
He said.
I'll give you one reason why.
I know that most of us do notreally believe this, though we
say we do.
He said because of our lack offorgiveness.
Sit with that for a minute.
You know why you don't forgivequickly.
It's because you don't thinkyou know this person has hurt
(18:31):
you, but you think you're aboveit and so you hold a grudge
because you're above that person.
You would never do it.
You don't know your own heart.
And Keller goes on to say hegives a great example.
He says if somebody lies to you, you get bitter and you say, oh
, that person's just a liar, butif you tell a lie you're
(18:54):
complicated.
If we really understood howuniversal sin was, if we
understood the depths ofmalevolence in our own heart,
beloved, we would be quick toforgive.
That's why you can forgive 70times seven, because you've been
(19:17):
forgiven by Christ.
So the first truth that we seein our text is that sin is
universal.
And if you and I do notunderstand that point.
We will never, ever, in amillion lifetimes, understand
the significance and the beautyof the cross.
So that's what we see about sin.
(19:40):
Sin is universal.
But here's the second truth wesee.
We see the purpose, thesignificance of the cross Three
times in Matthew, chapter 26,jesus, or Matthew, tells us that
this is happening on Passover.
Why is it so important?
(20:01):
Well, what is Passover?
Let me just give you a briefhistory, in case you're not
familiar with it, of what it is.
Passover is an annual Jewishfestival that, as I said earlier
, commemorates the Exodus story,where God delivered the
Israelites out of Egypt.
And, because you remember thestory, Pharaoh refused to let
(20:27):
the people go.
Remember they were, they wereenslaved in Egypt and Moses.
God said, moses, remember, letmy people go.
Like you know the song at least?
Right, but Pharaoh refuses.
And so God shows his judgmentand he brings plagues, tin
(20:47):
plagues, upon this nation.
He brings his wrath upon thenation.
Do you remember the final andworst plague, the tenth plague?
What was it?
Yeah, the killing of thefirstborn.
And so, on the night of thetenth plague, god commanded the
Israelites to sacrifice remember, a spotless lamb, and to mark
(21:12):
their door post in the top ofthe frame with its blood.
And then, when the Lord passesover Egypt, when he brings this
plague, he would pass over thehouseholds that showed the blood
and they would be subject tothat plague.
Now notice here why did God passover the Israelites?
(21:34):
It's not because they weremoral, good, perfect people.
I mean, you just follow them inthe wilderness and you'll know
they're not much better than theEgyptians.
The only reason they were savedwas by faith in putting that
blood of that lamb who became asacrifice and a substitute.
(21:57):
Only they were saved by puttingthat blood on their doorpost.
It's by the blood of the lamb,quite literally, that they were
saved.
So then God instituted thiscommemorative Passover meal
where the adherents were toprepare a roasted lamb and these
(22:19):
bitter herbs, unleavened bread,and there were four cups of
wine that each represented adifferent promise of God given
to Israel.
And every year the Israeliteswould take this and remember the
great things that God has donefor them.
And so, during the Passovermeal, what would happen?
(22:41):
You would have a presider,usually the head of the
household, and that presider.
He would explain.
Children would be present andhe would explain as they went
through each part of the meal,every element of the story.
It was very participatory Jesusin our text, he follows in a
(23:03):
sense the order of Passover, buthis explanation is not typical.
It's not typical Matthew 26,verses 26 through 28,.
Look at that with me.
It says as they were eating,jesus took bread.
This was a part of Passover.
He took bread and, afterblessing it, he broke it and
(23:23):
gave it to disciples.
And here's what he said take,eat, this is my body.
Wow, nobody's ever said thisbefore.
This is my body.
And he took a cup and when hehad given it thanks, he gave it
to them saying drink of it, allof you, for this is my blood of
the covenant, which poured outfor many for the forgiveness of
(23:45):
sins.
So, normally, what has been forcenturies past?
What has been the and decadeupon decade?
What has been the center, focalpoint of the Passover meal?
What story?
The Exodus story.
But now Jesus reframes it andwhat's at the center of this
(24:11):
story?
It's his cross, it's his body,it's his blood.
Jesus is at the center.
So in the traditional Passovermeal you had, as Jesus talks
about here, you had thisunleavened bread that was broken
and according to Deuteronomy16,.
(24:33):
This was called the bread ofaffliction Because, how many
know the Israelites?
They were enslaved and theywere afflicted, and the bread
represented the unleavened breadthat they took with them as
they had to leave, flee Egypt inhaste.
And so that's what they wouldtalk about in Passover.
(24:53):
But Jesus gives a newexplanation.
He says oh, this bread, it's mybody.
And, by the way, it's notliterally his body, it's
symbolic of his body.
It's his body that, in just afew hours, will experience
(25:15):
greater affliction than theworld has ever known.
It's his body that Jesus talkedabout.
It's the bread of life.
It's his body, it's Jesushimself that sustains us in the
wilderness.
That's the bread.
And then it says, afterblessing and he broke it, he
(25:38):
said take, eat, this is my body,receive it.
Jesus does not know, want usjust to know about him.
He wants us to know him, hewants us to receive him.
Take, eat, this is my body.
And then he says he took thecup.
He took the cup.
So, continuing the symbolism,he takes what would be here,
(26:02):
scholars say the third of fourcups of wine, often called here
the cup of redemption.
Jesus takes the third cup ofPassover, the cup of redemption,
recalling God's promise inExodus 6, 6, I will redeem you
with an outstretched arm, in amighty hand or mighty axe.
(26:22):
And it is through in the Exodusstory, it is through the blood
of the Passover lamb that Godredeemed his people.
Do you know that during atypical Passover you know, in
the temple, it was a pilgrimagefeast, the feast of unleavened
bread.
And do you know that so manysome scholars say up to about 2
(26:48):
million Jews would be inJerusalem during this time?
They would come from all over.
And do you know that so youcould have X amount of people
share one lamb, because a lambwould be sacrificed there in the
temple, blessed by the priests,and then you would take it back
.
Do you know that in about a twohour time period, two hour time
(27:10):
period, over 250,000 lambs wereslain and that blood would just
flow down?
What was at the Kidron Valley Inthe Old Testament sacrificial
system?
The shedding of a lamb's bloodor other particular animals?
(27:33):
It was a reminder, even duringPassover.
It was a reminder that withoutthe shedding of blood there
would be no forgiveness of sins.
And so then you ask a questionhow could the blood of an
innocent animal atone for ahuman being's sin.
You know what the answer is itcan't.
(27:56):
It can't.
250,000 slain lambs cannotredeem one person.
Can't, do it, can't do it.
Hebrews 10,4 says for it isimpossible for the blood of
(28:17):
bulls and goats to take awaysins.
You know what those thousandsupon thousands of sacrificial
lambs were?
They were pictures of what wasto come.
They were foreshadows of theperfect sacrifice that Jesus
(28:39):
would become the perfectsubstitute, that Jesus would
become a Calvary.
And we read that in Hebrews 10,12.
When Christ had offered for alltime a single sacrifice for
sins, he sat down at the righthand of God, which means is
finished.
One sacrifice, 250,000 lands ayear, could not cleanse one
(29:05):
person, truly forgive one person, atone for one person.
But the spotless Lamb of God towhich those sacrifices pointed,
one day at Calvary, goodpurchase, forgiveness For
everyone who would receive himthroughout time.
(29:29):
Notice in the story you know, inthe traditional Passover meal
you had the roasted lamb.
Right, that was a like youdon't want to just have bread
and herbs and and wine, unlessyou're a vegan, I guess.
No, you had the, you had thisroasted lamb.
(29:49):
The family would eat the lamb,signifying the sacrifice again
that saved the people from thattenth plague and brought them
out of Egypt.
But here, notice, and none ofthe gospel accounts, do the
writers mention that a lamb waspresent here, at least that they
(30:09):
feasted on the lamb.
John 1, 29 what?
Why no lamb?
John 1 29 the next day this isthe first time John the Baptist
saw Jesus coming toward him andhe said behold the Lamb of God
who what takes away the sins ofthe world.
(30:32):
Behold the Lamb of God whotakes away the sins of the world
.
You know why there's no lamb.
You know why they're not eatingthe lamb here because Jesus is
the lamb.
He is the sacrificial lamb.
This is about to be crucifiedfor the sins of many.
(30:54):
The one who's freely going togive his life is a ransom for
many.
And in doing that, you know whatJesus did.
He fulfilled the Passover.
All of those, year after year,those celebrations, those
commemorations were fulfilled inone moment, so that another
(31:15):
lamb never had to die.
It's why we don't have tosacrifice a lamb here today, or
any other animal.
Thank God for that.
Our veterinarian said amen, weno longer take Passover.
(31:37):
Why?
Because it's been fulfilled.
But instead of taking theLord's supper, here's what Jesus
does.
This night is what we celebrateevery single Sunday we're gonna
do in just a moment.
Here's what we do the thePassover commemorated the Exodus
(31:59):
from Egypt.
Out of Egypt.
You know what Jesus is teachinghere.
He came as a new and betterMoses To give us a new and
better Exodus.
On the cross, his blood wouldbe shed, put on the beams of the
cross, not to deliver us fromsome social injustice though
(32:25):
that will come in the end butsomething much greater.
He didn't come to deliver usfrom Rome, as the disciples may
have thought at one point.
He came to deliver us from ourgreatest problem, our greatest
bondage, namely sin.
A new and better exodus.
(32:46):
And so what he did on thisnight?
He gave us a new meal thatwe're to take as often as we
would, so that every time we do,we would remember this new
(33:06):
exodus.
The reason we are saved is notbecause we're more moral or
ethical or better than anybodyelse.
We're saved for one reason,redeemed for one reason, brought
out for one reason the blood ofthe Lamb Jesus on the cross.
(33:32):
He became our substitute, wasus, who deserves not just to die
physically but to bear thewrath of God, as the Egyptians
did.
But you and I, if we're inChrist will never bear his wrath
.
Because of Jesus.
Why was the cross necessary?
Was it necessary just becauseof Hitler?
(33:56):
Was it necessary just becauseof Nero?
It wasn't necessary justbecause of your mean boss.
It was necessary because of you, because the 11 disciples
(34:17):
around this table in the text,the early 1900s, the times of
London, the times of Londonposed this question.
This is so great.
They posed this question toseveral prominent authors.
Here it is what's wrong withthe world today?
The well-known author GKChester-Sin.
(34:41):
So all these authors wrote inright, here's the problem with
the world today.
The well-known Catholic authorGK Chester-Sin is said to have
responded with a one-sentenceessay what's wrong with the
world today?
Here's his answer.
Dear sir, I am Today, then youcan go ahead and come up Today.
(35:11):
As we come to the Lord's table,the bread and the cup remind us
that the problem of the world isnot the them.
Only you say, oh, everything iswrong.
(35:31):
It's the hyper liberals or, ifyou're on the other side, it's
the hyper conservatives.
That's what's wrong, or it'sthis people group or it's that
people group.
You're missing it.
I'm not saying they're notwrong and they don't contribute,
but as we come to the Lord'stable, here's what we remember.
(35:52):
Remember with Peter and Johnsitting around that table.
The problem with the world is us.
That's why Jesus came.
It's you, it's me, it's yoursin, it's my sin.
Until we grasp this truth,until we come to terms with the
level of darkness in our ownhearts, our own failures, we'll
(36:15):
never appreciate this last mealand this sacrifice that Jesus
gave.
We'll do it In the meal.
Not only are we reminded of oursin, that's the bad news.
It's like you're like man, gladI came to church today.
That's the bad news.
But you know what?
We're also reminded of the love, the radical love, that Jesus
(36:36):
has for us.
I mean every disciple gonnabetray you.
You're gonna die for them.
Who does that?
I mean the chew, and I wouldbetray him time and time again.
He gave his life A shared meal,the greatest expression of love
(37:00):
in our culture and throughouthistory, one of the greatest
expressions of love.
And every week Jesus invites usto the table, the betrayers
that we've been, just like thedisciples, and he says hey, eat
with me, come to my table.
(37:21):
So I'll close with the quotefrom Tim Keller.
It's his beautiful summation ofthe gospel and it goes like
this, and it so encapsulateseverything I've just said.
He says the gospel is thiswe're more sinful and flawed in
ourselves than we ever daredbelieve, yet at the very same
(37:45):
time, we're more loved andaccepted in Jesus Christ than we
ever dared hope.
We are more sinful and flawedin ourselves than we ever dared
believe, yet at the very sametime, we're more loved and
accepted in Jesus Christ than wehave ever dared hope.
(38:09):
It's what we see in the text,and I hope that makes us take
communion today with a whole newlevel of gratitude.
Let's pray, god, we love you.
Who are we, god, that you wouldsend your son to do this for us
(38:30):
?
Remind us today that Jesusdidn't just come for them, he
came for us.
He came for us, lord, if there'sone here today that doesn't
know you, we're reminded thatit's not everybody who gets the
(38:52):
benefits of this sacrifice.
It's only those who receive whotake the bread and the cup, and
it's not communion that savesus, but it's taking Christ,
receiving Christ, and this mealthat we're about to share is a
sign that we are Christ.
We thank you that.
The Bible teaches that in somemystical way that we don't
(39:15):
really understand, we know thatin this meal, that the Lord is
with us.
The bread and the wine do notliterally turn into the body and
blood of Christ, but we knowthat spiritually, in some sense,
he is especially present withus at the table as we die, and
so we take this with gratefulhearts.
(39:35):
May we each reflect on our ownhearts today, and if there be
anything in our lives before wecome to the table and partake in
this wonderful meal, may werepent of anything not pleasing
to you.
We just say again thank you,thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Thank you for listening.
If you'd like to know moreabout how you can have a
relationship with Jesus Christ,or if you have questions about
our church, you can email us atinfo at myrealchurchorg.
Real Life Community Church islocated at 335 Glendon Avenue in
Richmond, Kentucky.
We invite you to join us forworship Sunday at 10.45 am or
(40:21):
Wednesday at 7 pm.
Visit us online atmyrealchurchorg.
The following resource is brought to you by
Real Life Community Church inRichmond, Kentucky.
We hope you're both challengedand encouraged by this message
from Pastor Chris May.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
So go with me.
Matthew, chapter 26.
We're going to begin in verse17 and I will read through verse
35.
If you don't have your Bible,the word will be on the screen
behind me Now.
On the first day of unleavenedbread, the disciples came to
Jesus saying where will you haveus prepare for you to eat the
(00:40):
Passover?
And he said go into the city toa certain man and say to him
the teacher says my time is athand and I will keep the
Passover at your house with mydisciples.
And the disciples did as Jesushad directed them and they
prepared the Passover.
And when it was evening hereclined at the table with the
12 and as they were eating, hesaid truly, I say to you, one of
(01:03):
you will betray me.
And they were very sorrowfuland began to say to one another
is it I, lord?
And he answered he who hasdipped his hand in the dish with
me will betray me.
The son of man goes as it iswritten of him.
But woe to the man by whom theson of man is betrayed.
It would have been better forthe man if he had not been born.
(01:24):
Judas who would betray himanswered is it I, rabbi?
And he said to him you havesaid so.
Now they were eating and Jesustook bread and after blessing it
, he broke it and gave it to thedisciples and said take, eat,
this is my body.
And he took the cup and when hehad given thanks, he gave it to
(01:45):
them, saying drink of it all ofyou.
Drink of it all of you, forthis is the blood of my covenant
, which is poured out for many,for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you I will not drinkagain of this fruit of the vine
until that day when I drink ananew with you in my father's
kingdom.
And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of
(02:08):
Olives and Jesus said to themyou will all fall away because
of me this night, for it iswritten, I will strike the
shepherd and the sheep of theflock will be scattered, but
after I'm raised up, I will gobefore you to Galilee.
And Peter answered him thoughthey all fall away because of
you, I will never fall away.
(02:28):
Jesus said to him truly, I tellyou, this very night, before
the rooster crows, you will denyme three times.
And Peter said to him even if Imust die with you, I will not
deny you, and all the disciplessaid the same it's the word of
the Lord and you may be seated.
I need one of those big,massive pulpits, that kind of
(03:02):
remember those.
So I'm going to begin thesermon by just taking you on a
quick journey of our church overthe last couple of weeks, you
ready.
A week ago, friday was gamenight.
Our church enjoyed, as Ben wastalking about, the time of
(03:23):
fellowship and board games andcard games and food.
Saturday was Catelyn's weddingshower.
It was a great celebration andwe had some of the best food
I've had in a long time Waffles,all the waffles you could eat,
(03:43):
and that quiche was amazing.
So that was Friday.
Then Saturday, sunday Cillycook off to raise funds for our
missionary, ken Shai-ku.
Sunday night, super Bowl.
Sunday, our small groups gottogether and had fellowship and
food.
(04:03):
All right, you're catching on.
Tuesday men's outing, playingpool and eating food.
Wednesday, I walk out of myoffice and there's the small
group going through the book ofRomans and while they were
studying they were eating.
Friday young at heart, asPastor Ben said, they were
(04:24):
painting and eating.
I think we might have a problem.
Yeah, that's right.
You know I often make jokesabout how much we like food in
this church and but, to be sure,well, let me say this I think
our meals could stand to be alittle bit more healthier at
times.
I think that would be a goodgoal for 2024.
(04:46):
But all joking aside, there issomething actually very
beautiful and wonderful abouthow much we, as a church, like
to dine together, because do youknow that a sign of strong
Christian community and love isthe shared meal.
(05:09):
Emily Malloy articulates wellthe importance of a shared meal
in many different contexts In anarticle that she wrote titled
Reclaiming a Place at the Table.
I just want to read you alittle excerpt from this.
She writes the table is thealtar.
Listen, this is so beautiful.
The table is the altar at whichwe sacrifice the tyranny of the
(05:35):
urgent for the better good ofspending time together.
Let me read that first lineagain the table is the altar at
which we sacrifice the tyrannyof the urgent for the better
good of spending time together.
As we sit side by side, wepermit our lives to intersect,
(05:56):
unifying our days and taking aninterest in one another.
We unpack and process the dayshappenings without distraction,
both giving and receivingencouragement.
It is the place of the soundingboard and affirmation or
direction a safe refuge andharbor.
Listen to these words Plainlystated.
It is where love grows.
(06:17):
There's a popular adage.
She writes that the kitchen isthe heart of the home.
While the kitchen may be theheart, she says the table is the
lifeblood.
The tablescape and preparedfood are tangible displays of
love, as those involved pourthemselves out for the good of
the other.
(06:39):
There's power in a shared meal.
While I was doing research thisweek on the power of the shared
meal, there was a survey doneand you know that a lot of Gen
Xers, you know what they wantmore of Family meal time.
There's power in the sharedmeal and that's becoming in our
(07:03):
culture a lot less frequent.
If this week you labor toprepare a meal and you invite
family or neighbors or churchfolks over, that's not nothing,
it's something that's a greatway to practice loving your
(07:23):
neighbor.
So all this to say that theshared meal is an expression of
friendship, it is an expressionof community, it is an
expression of love thattranscends time and place.
This has been historically true.
So in our text today we findJesus in the final hours of his
(07:44):
life leading up to hiscrucifixion, and he is
expressing here his radical lovefor his disciples as they share
this special meal, passover,together.
It's the meal that we see themcelebrating here, that we now
call the Lord's Supper.
It's the meal that wecommemorate through communion,
(08:08):
the Eucharist, every single weekat this church.
And so what is it that we learnfrom this passage, this
Passover meal, this last supper?
Here's what I think we learn.
We learn two things.
Number one we learn somethingabout sin and we learn something
(08:28):
about Christ's sacrifice,something about sin and
something about his sacrifice.
So what is it that we learnabout sin here?
It is Sin is universal.
Sin is universal.
We see something about the youcould say the breadth of sin.
(08:51):
So the passage, as you know,takes place in the upper room,
hours before Jesus arrest and inhis final moments before his
crucifixion.
Here's what happens Jesus andhis disciples in this room.
They're observing Passover,which is an annual meal that
commemorates the Exodus story,when God brought Israel out of
(09:13):
Egypt.
And here's what's interestingDuring this meal, jesus shares,
finally the purpose of his deathwith his disciples.
Up to this point, he's toldthem several times listen, I'm
going to die and I'm going to beraised, but it's only here, in
the final moments that heexplains the significance of his
(09:35):
death.
In Matthew 26, 28, he says thisis the blood of my covenant,
which is poured out for many forthe what Forgiveness of sins.
Are you grateful for that thismorning?
Now I want you to noticesomething.
Before verse 28, where Jesustalks about giving his, shedding
(09:57):
his blood for the forgivenessof sins, he tells his disciples
that one of them are going tobetray him.
The word betray they'reliterally means to turn over.
One of them is going to turnJesus over to the authorities,
and we know that is Judas.
And so after Jesus foretellsthis part of the Holy Week story
(10:23):
, judas leaves.
One of the other gospelaccounts, tells us he's out of
the room Now.
So that's before Jesus talksabout giving his blood.
But they're shedding his blood.
But they're eating a mealtogether.
And after Jesus explains the,the, the, the significance of
his death, with Judas goneimmediately following that
(10:49):
supper, look what Jesus says tothe remaining disciples.
Look with me at verse 30, ifyou would.
And when they had sung a hymn,they went out to the Mount of
Olives and Jesus said to themthis is the 11.
This is not Judas.
He says this.
You will all fall away becauseof me this night.
(11:10):
You're all going to fall awaythis night.
For it's written I will strikethe shepherd and the sheep of
the flock will be scattered.
Jesus points out here it's notjust Judas, it's going to sin
(11:32):
tonight, it's every single oneof you, every one of you.
I've been with you.
Jesus is saying I've been withyou three and a half years.
You've seen all the greatthings I've done.
I've convinced you, I am yourMessiah.
But tonight I've been there foryou.
I'm shedding my blood for you.
(11:54):
But tonight, every single oneof you are going to abandon me
in my darkest hour.
And I would ask you is that asin?
Well, I think it is, becauseyou might remember, in Matthew
10, 33, jesus said if you denyme before men, I'll deny you
before my father, who's inheaven.
(12:14):
What's the point?
Here's what we see.
We see the breath of sin.
Sin is universal.
When Jesus explains the reasonfor his death to his disciples,
you know what he's saying.
He doesn't bring up thePharisees.
(12:35):
He doesn't say I'm shedding myblood, they're the reason I have
to go to the cross.
He doesn't say that.
He doesn't say oh, it's thetyrants of Rome, that's why I
have to go to the cross.
He says it's you, it's me, it'syou.
Sin is universal.
(12:55):
So we know this right.
We know that the Bible says wecan all quote it for we have all
sinned.
And what, yeah, fall short ofthe glory of God, we've all
sinned, you go?
Oh sure, I know that.
And I know you know thattheoretically, but do you really
(13:16):
believe it?
Do you really believe it?
Maybe we're like the disciples.
Do you remember their reaction?
Look at verses 33 through 35.
Peter answered Jesus, thoughthey all fall away because of
you.
I won't ever fall away.
And Jesus said to him truly, Itell you, this night, before the
(13:39):
rooster crows, you're gonnadeny me Peter three times.
Peter said to him even if Imust die with you, even if I
must die with you, I will notdeny you.
And then it says all thedisciples agree me either.
Lord, that's an interestingtext.
(14:03):
You know what that tells me.
The disciples are not aware ofthe malevolence, the darkness of
their own hearts.
They don't know what they'recapable of.
You know, I'm afraid, that someof us are at times just as
naive.
Do we really believe that sinis universal?
(14:24):
Psychologists, clinicalpsychologist, jordan Peterson,
made this point when he was.
He studied a lot on NaziGermany and he made this exact
point about us not realizing attimes the malevolence that we're
all capable of.
He said that if you were aGerman and you were alive during
(14:45):
that time of World War II, wewould all like to think you
would say, oh, I wouldn't havegone along with Hitler, I would
have been the one to hide AnneFrank.
Have you ever read into historylike that?
Have you ever looked at WorldWar II?
And you go, man, if I were aGerman in that time, I would
have stood up against the ThirdReich.
(15:07):
We'd all like to think that.
But Peterson argues that if youwere in Nazi Germany that is,
the the statistical probabilitythat you would have been a
perpetrator is overwhelming.
Very few people stood up.
If you study the pastors, thechurches across Germany, very
(15:30):
few of them did what Bonhoefferdid and stood up against the
tyranny.
He said so.
If you think you would rescueAnne Frank, he says think again,
think again.
He says those people were very,very rare.
They to put their own lives andtheir family's lives on the
(15:50):
line.
He says you think you wouldhave done that?
He says if you think that youknow nothing of yourself.
You are naive about yourselfand you do not understand
history.
Gulp, some of you hear me saythat right now, and you're going
.
You're saying what Peter said.
Oh, not me.
If I had to die, if I had tosacrifice my family, I would
(16:14):
never go along with that tyranny.
Jesus.
Disciples thought Lord, I mean,we've done some things wrong,
but we would never deny ourMessiah.
Here's the point.
(16:38):
They may not be Judas.
Judas sin was premeditated.
They may not be him.
They may not be Nero, they maynot be part of the third rite.
But I'll tell you what.
Who is to say that, under theright circumstances, under the
right pressures, that theywouldn't have been Judas?
Who is to say that, thank God,you're not Hitler.
(17:00):
Okay, thank God you're.
You're, you're not a tyrant.
Thank God, you have notcommitted those atrocities.
But who is to say that if yougrew up in a certain way and you
were raised on a certaincircumstances, who's to say that
you would not be capable ofsome of those same atrocities?
(17:22):
And again, some of you arethinking right now, just like
the disciples, you've lost yourmind.
That's not me.
We're all way more capable ofmore malevolence than we could
(17:43):
ever think.
Our hearts are darker, apartfrom Christ.
Our hearts are way more wickedthan we can imagine.
Thus we all need the cross ofChrist.
Tim Keller, when he talks aboutthe universality of sin, that
sin that we've all seen, thatsin is universal.
(18:06):
He said.
I'll give you one reason why.
I know that most of us do notreally believe this, though we
say we do.
He said because of our lack offorgiveness.
Sit with that for a minute.
You know why you don't forgivequickly.
It's because you don't thinkyou know this person has hurt
(18:31):
you, but you think you're aboveit and so you hold a grudge
because you're above that person.
You would never do it.
You don't know your own heart.
And Keller goes on to say hegives a great example.
He says if somebody lies to you, you get bitter and you say, oh
, that person's just a liar, butif you tell a lie you're
(18:54):
complicated.
If we really understood howuniversal sin was, if we
understood the depths ofmalevolence in our own heart,
beloved, we would be quick toforgive.
That's why you can forgive 70times seven, because you've been
(19:17):
forgiven by Christ.
So the first truth that we seein our text is that sin is
universal.
And if you and I do notunderstand that point.
We will never, ever, in amillion lifetimes, understand
the significance and the beautyof the cross.
So that's what we see about sin.
(19:40):
Sin is universal.
But here's the second truth wesee.
We see the purpose, thesignificance of the cross Three
times in Matthew, chapter 26,jesus, or Matthew, tells us that
this is happening on Passover.
Why is it so important?
(20:01):
Well, what is Passover?
Let me just give you a briefhistory, in case you're not
familiar with it, of what it is.
Passover is an annual Jewishfestival that, as I said earlier
, commemorates the Exodus story,where God delivered the
Israelites out of Egypt.
And, because you remember thestory, Pharaoh refused to let
(20:27):
the people go.
Remember they were, they wereenslaved in Egypt and Moses.
God said, moses, remember, letmy people go.
Like you know the song at least?
Right, but Pharaoh refuses.
And so God shows his judgmentand he brings plagues, tin
(20:47):
plagues, upon this nation.
He brings his wrath upon thenation.
Do you remember the final andworst plague, the tenth plague?
What was it?
Yeah, the killing of thefirstborn.
And so, on the night of thetenth plague, god commanded the
Israelites to sacrifice remember, a spotless lamb, and to mark
(21:12):
their door post in the top ofthe frame with its blood.
And then, when the Lord passesover Egypt, when he brings this
plague, he would pass over thehouseholds that showed the blood
and they would be subject tothat plague.
Now notice here why did God passover the Israelites?
(21:34):
It's not because they weremoral, good, perfect people.
I mean, you just follow them inthe wilderness and you'll know
they're not much better than theEgyptians.
The only reason they were savedwas by faith in putting that
blood of that lamb who became asacrifice and a substitute.
(21:57):
Only they were saved by puttingthat blood on their doorpost.
It's by the blood of the lamb,quite literally, that they were
saved.
So then God instituted thiscommemorative Passover meal
where the adherents were toprepare a roasted lamb and these
(22:19):
bitter herbs, unleavened bread,and there were four cups of
wine that each represented adifferent promise of God given
to Israel.
And every year the Israeliteswould take this and remember the
great things that God has donefor them.
And so, during the Passovermeal, what would happen?
(22:41):
You would have a presider,usually the head of the
household, and that presider.
He would explain.
Children would be present andhe would explain as they went
through each part of the meal,every element of the story.
It was very participatory Jesusin our text, he follows in a
(23:03):
sense the order of Passover, buthis explanation is not typical.
It's not typical Matthew 26,verses 26 through 28,.
Look at that with me.
It says as they were eating,jesus took bread.
This was a part of Passover.
He took bread and, afterblessing it, he broke it and
(23:23):
gave it to disciples.
And here's what he said take,eat, this is my body.
Wow, nobody's ever said thisbefore.
This is my body.
And he took a cup and when hehad given it thanks, he gave it
to them saying drink of it, allof you, for this is my blood of
the covenant, which poured outfor many for the forgiveness of
(23:45):
sins.
So, normally, what has been forcenturies past?
What has been the and decadeupon decade?
What has been the center, focalpoint of the Passover meal?
What story?
The Exodus story.
But now Jesus reframes it andwhat's at the center of this
(24:11):
story?
It's his cross, it's his body,it's his blood.
Jesus is at the center.
So in the traditional Passovermeal you had, as Jesus talks
about here, you had thisunleavened bread that was broken
and according to Deuteronomy16,.
(24:33):
This was called the bread ofaffliction Because, how many
know the Israelites?
They were enslaved and theywere afflicted, and the bread
represented the unleavened breadthat they took with them as
they had to leave, flee Egypt inhaste.
And so that's what they wouldtalk about in Passover.
(24:53):
But Jesus gives a newexplanation.
He says oh, this bread, it's mybody.
And, by the way, it's notliterally his body, it's
symbolic of his body.
It's his body that, in just afew hours, will experience
(25:15):
greater affliction than theworld has ever known.
It's his body that Jesus talkedabout.
It's the bread of life.
It's his body, it's Jesushimself that sustains us in the
wilderness.
That's the bread.
And then it says, afterblessing and he broke it, he
(25:38):
said take, eat, this is my body,receive it.
Jesus does not know, want usjust to know about him.
He wants us to know him, hewants us to receive him.
Take, eat, this is my body.
And then he says he took thecup.
He took the cup.
So, continuing the symbolism,he takes what would be here,
(26:02):
scholars say the third of fourcups of wine, often called here
the cup of redemption.
Jesus takes the third cup ofPassover, the cup of redemption,
recalling God's promise inExodus 6, 6, I will redeem you
with an outstretched arm, in amighty hand or mighty axe.
(26:22):
And it is through in the Exodusstory, it is through the blood
of the Passover lamb that Godredeemed his people.
Do you know that during atypical Passover you know, in
the temple, it was a pilgrimagefeast, the feast of unleavened
bread.
And do you know that so manysome scholars say up to about 2
(26:48):
million Jews would be inJerusalem during this time?
They would come from all over.
And do you know that so youcould have X amount of people
share one lamb, because a lambwould be sacrificed there in the
temple, blessed by the priests,and then you would take it back
.
Do you know that in about a twohour time period, two hour time
(27:10):
period, over 250,000 lambs wereslain and that blood would just
flow down?
What was at the Kidron Valley Inthe Old Testament sacrificial
system?
The shedding of a lamb's bloodor other particular animals?
(27:33):
It was a reminder, even duringPassover.
It was a reminder that withoutthe shedding of blood there
would be no forgiveness of sins.
And so then you ask a questionhow could the blood of an
innocent animal atone for ahuman being's sin.
You know what the answer is itcan't.
(27:56):
It can't.
250,000 slain lambs cannotredeem one person.
Can't, do it, can't do it.
Hebrews 10,4 says for it isimpossible for the blood of
(28:17):
bulls and goats to take awaysins.
You know what those thousandsupon thousands of sacrificial
lambs were?
They were pictures of what wasto come.
They were foreshadows of theperfect sacrifice that Jesus
(28:39):
would become the perfectsubstitute, that Jesus would
become a Calvary.
And we read that in Hebrews 10,12.
When Christ had offered for alltime a single sacrifice for
sins, he sat down at the righthand of God, which means is
finished.
One sacrifice, 250,000 lands ayear, could not cleanse one
(29:05):
person, truly forgive one person, atone for one person.
But the spotless Lamb of God towhich those sacrifices pointed,
one day at Calvary, goodpurchase, forgiveness For
everyone who would receive himthroughout time.
(29:29):
Notice in the story you know, inthe traditional Passover meal
you had the roasted lamb.
Right, that was a like youdon't want to just have bread
and herbs and and wine, unlessyou're a vegan, I guess.
No, you had the, you had thisroasted lamb.
(29:49):
The family would eat the lamb,signifying the sacrifice again
that saved the people from thattenth plague and brought them
out of Egypt.
But here, notice, and none ofthe gospel accounts, do the
writers mention that a lamb waspresent here, at least that they
(30:09):
feasted on the lamb.
John 1, 29 what?
Why no lamb?
John 1 29 the next day this isthe first time John the Baptist
saw Jesus coming toward him andhe said behold the Lamb of God
who what takes away the sins ofthe world.
(30:32):
Behold the Lamb of God whotakes away the sins of the world
.
You know why there's no lamb.
You know why they're not eatingthe lamb here because Jesus is
the lamb.
He is the sacrificial lamb.
This is about to be crucifiedfor the sins of many.
(30:54):
The one who's freely going togive his life is a ransom for
many.
And in doing that, you know whatJesus did.
He fulfilled the Passover.
All of those, year after year,those celebrations, those
commemorations were fulfilled inone moment, so that another
(31:15):
lamb never had to die.
It's why we don't have tosacrifice a lamb here today, or
any other animal.
Thank God for that.
Our veterinarian said amen, weno longer take Passover.
(31:37):
Why?
Because it's been fulfilled.
But instead of taking theLord's supper, here's what Jesus
does.
This night is what we celebrateevery single Sunday we're gonna
do in just a moment.
Here's what we do the thePassover commemorated the Exodus
(31:59):
from Egypt.
Out of Egypt.
You know what Jesus is teachinghere.
He came as a new and betterMoses To give us a new and
better Exodus.
On the cross, his blood wouldbe shed, put on the beams of the
cross, not to deliver us fromsome social injustice though
(32:25):
that will come in the end butsomething much greater.
He didn't come to deliver usfrom Rome, as the disciples may
have thought at one point.
He came to deliver us from ourgreatest problem, our greatest
bondage, namely sin.
A new and better exodus.
(32:46):
And so what he did on thisnight?
He gave us a new meal thatwe're to take as often as we
would, so that every time we do,we would remember this new
(33:06):
exodus.
The reason we are saved is notbecause we're more moral or
ethical or better than anybodyelse.
We're saved for one reason,redeemed for one reason, brought
out for one reason the blood ofthe Lamb Jesus on the cross.
(33:32):
He became our substitute, wasus, who deserves not just to die
physically but to bear thewrath of God, as the Egyptians
did.
But you and I, if we're inChrist will never bear his wrath
.
Because of Jesus.
Why was the cross necessary?
Was it necessary just becauseof Hitler?
(33:56):
Was it necessary just becauseof Nero?
It wasn't necessary justbecause of your mean boss.
It was necessary because of you, because the 11 disciples
(34:17):
around this table in the text,the early 1900s, the times of
London, the times of Londonposed this question.
This is so great.
They posed this question toseveral prominent authors.
Here it is what's wrong withthe world today?
The well-known author GKChester-Sin.
(34:41):
So all these authors wrote inright, here's the problem with
the world today.
The well-known Catholic authorGK Chester-Sin is said to have
responded with a one-sentenceessay what's wrong with the
world today?
Here's his answer.
Dear sir, I am Today, then youcan go ahead and come up Today.
(35:11):
As we come to the Lord's table,the bread and the cup remind us
that the problem of the world isnot the them.
Only you say, oh, everything iswrong.
(35:31):
It's the hyper liberals or, ifyou're on the other side, it's
the hyper conservatives.
That's what's wrong, or it'sthis people group or it's that
people group.
You're missing it.
I'm not saying they're notwrong and they don't contribute,
but as we come to the Lord'stable, here's what we remember.
(35:52):
Remember with Peter and Johnsitting around that table.
The problem with the world is us.
That's why Jesus came.
It's you, it's me, it's yoursin, it's my sin.
Until we grasp this truth,until we come to terms with the
level of darkness in our ownhearts, our own failures, we'll
(36:15):
never appreciate this last mealand this sacrifice that Jesus
gave.
We'll do it In the meal.
Not only are we reminded of oursin, that's the bad news.
It's like you're like man, gladI came to church today.
That's the bad news.
But you know what?
We're also reminded of the love, the radical love, that Jesus
(36:36):
has for us.
I mean every disciple gonnabetray you.
You're gonna die for them.
Who does that?
I mean the chew, and I wouldbetray him time and time again.
He gave his life A shared meal,the greatest expression of love
(37:00):
in our culture and throughouthistory, one of the greatest
expressions of love.
And every week Jesus invites usto the table, the betrayers
that we've been, just like thedisciples, and he says hey, eat
with me, come to my table.
(37:21):
So I'll close with the quotefrom Tim Keller.
It's his beautiful summation ofthe gospel and it goes like
this, and it so encapsulateseverything I've just said.
He says the gospel is thiswe're more sinful and flawed in
ourselves than we ever daredbelieve, yet at the very same
(37:45):
time, we're more loved andaccepted in Jesus Christ than we
ever dared hope.
We are more sinful and flawedin ourselves than we ever dared
believe, yet at the very sametime, we're more loved and
accepted in Jesus Christ than wehave ever dared hope.
(38:09):
It's what we see in the text,and I hope that makes us take
communion today with a whole newlevel of gratitude.
Let's pray, god, we love you.
Who are we, god, that you wouldsend your son to do this for us
(38:30):
?
Remind us today that Jesusdidn't just come for them, he
came for us.
He came for us, lord, if there'sone here today that doesn't
know you, we're reminded thatit's not everybody who gets the
(38:52):
benefits of this sacrifice.
It's only those who receive whotake the bread and the cup, and
it's not communion that savesus, but it's taking Christ,
receiving Christ, and this mealthat we're about to share is a
sign that we are Christ.
We thank you that.
The Bible teaches that in somemystical way that we don't
(39:15):
really understand, we know thatin this meal, that the Lord is
with us.
The bread and the wine do notliterally turn into the body and
blood of Christ, but we knowthat spiritually, in some sense,
he is especially present withus at the table as we die, and
so we take this with gratefulhearts.
(39:35):
May we each reflect on our ownhearts today, and if there be
anything in our lives before wecome to the table and partake in
this wonderful meal, may werepent of anything not pleasing
to you.
We just say again thank you,thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
Thank you for listening.
If you'd like to know moreabout how you can have a
relationship with Jesus Christ,or if you have questions about
our church, you can email us atinfo at myrealchurchorg.
Real Life Community Church islocated at 335 Glendon Avenue in
Richmond, Kentucky.
We invite you to join us forworship Sunday at 10.45 am or
(40:21):
Wednesday at 7 pm.
Visit us online atmyrealchurchorg.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.