Looking Back, Looking Forward (Luke 22:7-23)
Rev. David Huffman, July 28, 2024Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
A plot against Jesus is afoot. Judas has gone to the authorities to initiate the trial and execution of Jesus. Yet Jesus did not permit the betrayal to occur during His last meal with the disciples. This illustrates Jesus' double desire to be with His disciples. The disciples exhibited some failings and contentions among themselves. Yet, this did not overcome His desire to be with His disciples. This encourages us with all our failings. Every year, Jesus and the disciples had observed the Passover feast. Passover reminds us of God's greatness and deliverance of His people. Part of the feast was the shedding of blood, reminding them of their deliverance from the death angel the night before their departure. This Passover was going to be a farewell feast before His suffering. He was teaching them about looking back and looking forward. This is similar to David as a type or foreshadowing of Jesus coming. The Exodus foreshadowed the coming release from the slavery of sin. The next Passover meal will be the marriage supper of the lamb. The Passover in between would be fulfilled in the resurrection and would no longer be observed until the marriage feast of the lamb. He loves them and desires to give Himself up in their place. In the institution the bread points to His body crucified to death in our place and the blood instituting a new covenant in the remission of our sins. Jesus' sacrifice took place only once for all, never to be repeated. The old covenant was the Mosaic covenant made in blood. This was promised in Jeremiah 31. Both covenants were of grace. In vs. 21 Jesus gives a warning that not everyone at the table is in Christ, and woe comes to those. We must ask ourselves if we truly realize that we need a savior. The table points us back to the promises and ahead to the heavenly feast.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Judged According to Works? | None | The Fairness of God's Judgment » |
Luke 22:7–23 (Listen)
7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” 10 He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters 11 and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” 13 And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had 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.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
(ESV)