It may be, remember, that God has indeed answered but not in a way that is obvious to us. And it is possible that nothing is amiss in our praying, but that we haven’t yet seen the answer only because God intends for us to persevere in praying about the matter awhile longer. But we must also learn to examine our prayers. Are we asking for things that are outside the will of God or would not glorify Him? Are we praying with selfish motives? Are we failing to deal with the kind of blatant sin that causes God to put all our prayers on hold?
Donald S. Whitney

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How Would You Spend Your Last Evening On Earth?

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#1 · April 16, 2002, 10:09 am

Posted by: jdiaz <jdiaz@...>

 
Luke 22:7-18
 

by

Rev. Warren M. Jones

It was his last evening on earth. He spent it in quiet seclusion with his closest followers, the twelve apostles. Calendar wise it was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He and his friends had met in a large upper room to eat the Passover meal. (Exodus 12) The room was apparently furnished, large enough for 13 men and readied for meal-time.

What was missing in this room was a servant. There was no one to carry out the hospitable act of washing the feet of the guests before the meal began. Apparently none of the disciples were willing to humble themselves enough to undertake this meal-time task. To their intense embarrassment, the Master, arose and placed a slave's apron around his waist, poured water into a basin, and washed each one's feet. Including Judas Iscariot.

Authentic love always expresses itself in humble service. The world would identify these disciples as followers of Christ only if they loved one another. It was in the midst of this sacrificial act of humility and love that Jesus warned them of one that would betray Him. Jesus spoke of His impending departure, the coming of the Comforter and of the Spirit's ministry of teaching and witnessing.

At some point while the meal was still in progress, they watched in utter amazement as Jesus took a loaf of bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it into pieces instructing them to take a piece. He proclaimed, "This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way Jesus after the supper took a cup of wine, gave thanks for it, passed it around for them to sip on and said "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

It is a pity that we are so familiar with these words that they tend to lose their impact. They throw floods of light on Jesus' view of his death. Jesus was teaching at least three things.

  1. The first lesson concerned the centrality of the cross.

    1. He was giving instructions for his own memorial service.
    1. It was not to be a single occasion.
    2. It was to be a regular meal or service or both.
    1. He specifically told them to repeat it: 'do this in remembrance of me.'
    2. They were to copy what He had done, both acts & deeds.

The Lord's Supper dramatizes neither his birth nor his life, neither his words nor his works, but only his death.

It was by His death that he wished above all else to be remembered.

It is safe to say then, no Christianity without the cross. If the cross is

not central to our religion, ours is not the religion of Jesus.

  1. The second lesson taught about the purpose of his death.

    1. Words about the cup referred not only to His blood but to the 'New Covenant’ associated with his blood.
    2. God was taking the initiative to establish a new pact or covenant with his people through the shedding of Jesus' blood in death.
    3. One of the greatest promises would be the forgiveness of sins.

    1. The sacrifice sealed the promise of forgiveness.
    2. The sacrifice was the death of Jesus.

He is going to die in order to bring his people into a new covenant

relationship with God.

 

  1. The third lesson concerned the need to appropriate His death personally.
    1. In the upper room Jesus was not one actor with an audience of twelve.
    2. The drama involved the twelve apostles. They were not just spectators.
    3. The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of participation where everyone participates in consuming the elements, the act of forgiveness, the service of love, and the sacrificial acts of humility.

When you take of the Lord's Supper you are agreeing with Jesus to live under His example as your Master, surrendering to His Lordship, to practice His will in your lives.

As you take of the Lord's Supper, do so with every sin confessed, with love for the family of God, committed to live as a humble servant of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

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