Betrayal and Redemption
The Last Super: Betrayal and Redemption
Matthew 26:20-30
“For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin.”
We can only imagine the atmosphere in the room as Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover. Typically, it would have been a time of great celebration and joy as they celebrated God’s deliverance of Israel from the bondage of slavery. But this time, it was different. The shadow of Christ’s impending death descended upon the room. Then, when Jesus informed the disciples that one of them would betray Jesus, they were shocked and distraught. It must have been shocking to the disciples that one of them would do such a thing. However, we can only imagine the absolute shock it must have been for Judas for Jesus to reveal that he knew Judas’ plot. It was hardly a night of celebration.
However, amid the melancholy that filled the room that night, Jesus institutes a new celebration that will be remembered by all Christians regularly throughout the rest of history. It would be a celebration upon which the hope of all humanity would dwell. But to understand the celebration, we must return to Jeremiah 31:31-40. The Mosaic covenant that God established on Mount Sinai was irreparably broken. While God had been faithful, the people had repeatedly broken the covenant and proven that they had a heart of treachery rather than a heart of faithfulness. Rather than cast aside the people as unredeemable, God promises that in the future, he will establish a new covenant that will achieve what the Mosaic covenant could not—the change of the heart. This new ocvenant will bring a complete transformation of the people in which they will live fully righteous before God because God will now imprint his moral law and righteousness upon the hearts of the people. They will fully know the Lord and walk in complete obedience to God.
In this last supper, Jesus now informs the disciples that this covenant is now being inaugerated. Unlike the Mosaic covenant, which was established through the sacrifice of a bull, the new covenant will be ratified through the sacrifice of Christ. In his death, he will validate the new covenant. In his death, Christ paid the penalty for our sins, his body being broken for us so that we are no longer under the judgment of sin. Because of Christ’s death, we are now declared righteous in the sight of God. In his death, Christ not only removed the guilt of our sins, he placed his righteousness on us. No longer are we tainted by the guilt of sin and under the sentence of its judgment. Instead, we are transformed by the righteousness of Christ. However, there is a response required on our part. We need to partake of the new covenant to be fully realized. The word take is a command, and the word has the idea of taking hold of something and taking possession of it. In other words, the new covenant would not be applied to us until we possess it by faith. It must be received and appropriated to us. We must partake of it and, in so doing, become participants in his death and resurrection. When we do so, we have the hope and promise of eternal life.
Even as we celebrate the accomplishment of our salvation upon the cross, we are reminded of the hope we have for eternity. In verse 29, Christ states that he will not eat the fruit of the vine until he celebrates with us in eternity. Jesus is pointing us forward to the end of this world system, broken and dominated by sin and the establishing of his perfect kingdom. Even though Jesus will be leaving his disciples, he affirms that there will be a time in the future when he will personally be present with us, and we will again enjoy his physical fellowship with us. When we celebrate communion, we celebrate what he did for us on the cross and what he will do for us in the future. It reminds us that our destiny is not the present world but our future presence with Christ. And that is worthy of continual celebration. Even today, spend time thanking Christ for what he has done for us in his death and what he will do for us in his future kingdom, for that is our blessed hope.
Matthew 26:20-30
“For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin.”
We can only imagine the atmosphere in the room as Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover. Typically, it would have been a time of great celebration and joy as they celebrated God’s deliverance of Israel from the bondage of slavery. But this time, it was different. The shadow of Christ’s impending death descended upon the room. Then, when Jesus informed the disciples that one of them would betray Jesus, they were shocked and distraught. It must have been shocking to the disciples that one of them would do such a thing. However, we can only imagine the absolute shock it must have been for Judas for Jesus to reveal that he knew Judas’ plot. It was hardly a night of celebration.
However, amid the melancholy that filled the room that night, Jesus institutes a new celebration that will be remembered by all Christians regularly throughout the rest of history. It would be a celebration upon which the hope of all humanity would dwell. But to understand the celebration, we must return to Jeremiah 31:31-40. The Mosaic covenant that God established on Mount Sinai was irreparably broken. While God had been faithful, the people had repeatedly broken the covenant and proven that they had a heart of treachery rather than a heart of faithfulness. Rather than cast aside the people as unredeemable, God promises that in the future, he will establish a new covenant that will achieve what the Mosaic covenant could not—the change of the heart. This new ocvenant will bring a complete transformation of the people in which they will live fully righteous before God because God will now imprint his moral law and righteousness upon the hearts of the people. They will fully know the Lord and walk in complete obedience to God.
In this last supper, Jesus now informs the disciples that this covenant is now being inaugerated. Unlike the Mosaic covenant, which was established through the sacrifice of a bull, the new covenant will be ratified through the sacrifice of Christ. In his death, he will validate the new covenant. In his death, Christ paid the penalty for our sins, his body being broken for us so that we are no longer under the judgment of sin. Because of Christ’s death, we are now declared righteous in the sight of God. In his death, Christ not only removed the guilt of our sins, he placed his righteousness on us. No longer are we tainted by the guilt of sin and under the sentence of its judgment. Instead, we are transformed by the righteousness of Christ. However, there is a response required on our part. We need to partake of the new covenant to be fully realized. The word take is a command, and the word has the idea of taking hold of something and taking possession of it. In other words, the new covenant would not be applied to us until we possess it by faith. It must be received and appropriated to us. We must partake of it and, in so doing, become participants in his death and resurrection. When we do so, we have the hope and promise of eternal life.
Even as we celebrate the accomplishment of our salvation upon the cross, we are reminded of the hope we have for eternity. In verse 29, Christ states that he will not eat the fruit of the vine until he celebrates with us in eternity. Jesus is pointing us forward to the end of this world system, broken and dominated by sin and the establishing of his perfect kingdom. Even though Jesus will be leaving his disciples, he affirms that there will be a time in the future when he will personally be present with us, and we will again enjoy his physical fellowship with us. When we celebrate communion, we celebrate what he did for us on the cross and what he will do for us in the future. It reminds us that our destiny is not the present world but our future presence with Christ. And that is worthy of continual celebration. Even today, spend time thanking Christ for what he has done for us in his death and what he will do for us in his future kingdom, for that is our blessed hope.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
The Coming JudgmentThat is My KingThe Certainty of Christ's WordsThe Uncertain CertaintyThe Importance of Spiritual PreparednessThe Danger of Spiritual ComplacencyChrist's Measure of SuccessThe Unpopular TopicRejection, Confusion, Betrayal, and WorshipBetrayal and RedemptionThe Inexplicable Act of LoveBetrayal, Bravado, and FearBetrayal, Bravado, and FearThe Unlikely Witnesses of Jesus' DietyRemorse, Repentance and ForgivenessThe Power of the Crowd and the Power of FaithThe Irony of the CrucifixionThe Cost of SinThe Cure for SinThe Reality of the ResurrectionLiving a Life of SignificanceThe Attitude of a SlaveThe Basis for Confident LivingThe Basis for Confident Living
February
The Prayer God AnswersWhen Adversity Becomes a TriumphFinding Joy in the Ministry of OthersPursuing the InsignificantPerspective in SufferingThe Sacrifice of SelfIf God can do it, then why can't we.The "Kenosis" of Christ"THE NAME"Divine Initiative and Human ResponsibilityThe Age of ComplaintReorienting our Focus Pt 1
March
Reorienting Our Focus Pt 2The Basis of SalvationDetermining ValueSetting the Right Goal in LifeFollowing the Right PeopleRecognizing our CitizenshipResponding to ConflictThe Keys to PeaceLearning to Think RightlyThe Secret of ContentmentThe Blessing of GivingA Life without SignificanceThe Futility of LifeThe Endless PursuitThe Futility of PleasureThe Limits of WisdomEvaluating Our WorkFinding Joy in LifeThe Doctrine of Right Time
April
May
Finding BalanceThe Folly of AllObeying Those in LeadershipWhen Injustice ReignsKeeping Perspective in an Upredictable WorldFinding Success in the World of VanityThe Value of Wisdom in the Struggles of LifeThe Danger of Foolish ThinkingTrusting in God's Unseen HandEnjoy the MomentAct before it is too late.The Geneology of Christ: A Testimony of God’s Grace and SovereigntyChrist the KingThe Authority of Christ
June
The Compassion of ChristThe God who cares for us.The Power of JesusThe ServantChrist the JudgeThe Compassion of ChristScandalous GraceThe Power of Christ Over DeathWho Is Jesus?The Majestic KingThe TIming of GodThe Value of NothingThe Basis for Security in LifeThe Joy of The FatherThe Grace of JesusThe Divine WordThe Greatest Prayer
Categories
no categories
No Comments