1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,640 I invite you to come with me to the Gospel of Mark chapter 14 2 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,080 and look with me at verse 22 to verse 25. 3 00:00:22,550 --> 00:00:25,870 Our time will be briefed before we partake of the Lord's Table 4 00:00:27,790 --> 00:00:31,790 and you will see quickly how God's Providence is at work for 5 00:00:31,790 --> 00:00:35,470 this Sunday. As we read verse 22 of Mark 14. 6 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,040 And as they were eating, he took bread and after a blessing it 7 00:00:41,160 --> 00:00:45,800 broke it and gave it to them and said, take, this is my body. 8 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,440 And he took a cup and we had given thanks. 9 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:52,240 He gave it to them and they all drank of it. 10 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:58,040 And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant which is 11 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,840 poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not 12 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,320 drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink 13 00:01:07,320 --> 00:01:14,800 it new in the Kingdom of God. I thank God that in His perfect 14 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,160 Providence He has allowed us to come to this text on the day 15 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,160 that we regularly celebrate communion. 16 00:01:23,320 --> 00:01:28,120 And as you know, whenever we do observe this ordinance, we do so 17 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:32,240 with meditation, sobriety, and joy. 18 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:38,440 And that is because we seek to observe this table the way that 19 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:43,960 the Scriptures tell us to. And to help us do this, we take 20 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:49,720 the time to remind ourselves of what this is about, of why it's 21 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:53,560 important for us, and how we as believers should approach it. 22 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,960 And while this message will will help us indeed prepare to 23 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:01,680 fellowship in this manner, its main focus will be to highlight 24 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,360 particular insights about the first ever Communion 25 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:12,720 observations, reflections from the original Lord's Supper, if 26 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,400 you will. And we've just seen in recent 27 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:21,720 times that this, this celebration is hated by the 28 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,800 world. It's hated by the enemy of our 29 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:27,920 souls. The world saw that on display a 30 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,800 few days ago, right? But God again, in his leading, 31 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,040 has brought us to a time where we are to remember why this is 32 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:42,200 so cherished, precious, important, vital to the life of 33 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,120 every believer in the church as a whole. 34 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,080 And it will be quite simple, because all we're going to do to 35 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,920 grasp this truth is consider one thought from every verse that we 36 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,920 read in Mark's gospel. Shall we do that? 37 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,080 So consider this time as a time of reflection through his word. 38 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:00,840 And immediately after we are going to come to this table 39 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,080 together. So look with me with your eyes 40 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:07,240 again at verse 22. And as they were eating, he took 41 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,640 bread. And after a blessing, it broke 42 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:15,400 it and gave it to them and said, take, this is my body. 43 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:21,840 Matthew, Mark and Luke are in harmony when it comes to 44 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,880 defining and describing the initial movements of Christ 45 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,080 here. So wherever you read this, 46 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:34,160 you're going to find that Jesus took bread, that he blessed it 47 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,040 and that he broke it. And then he gave it to the 12 48 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,840 saying, this is my body. And we previously devoted an 49 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,400 entire message on the misinterpretation of Jesus words 50 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:50,760 here of those who claim that he's speaking about this bread 51 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,280 becoming his actual flesh. And you can find that in our 52 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,280 archives if you'd like. But I, I'm going to assume that 53 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:02,480 all of us in here hopefully believe that what Jesus is 54 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:05,760 speaking about in these elements are symbolic and that He 55 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,360 instituted them to be instruments of recollection of 56 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:17,680 certain realities. So he takes the bread 1st and he 57 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,200 blesses it, and then he breaks it and then he extends it to his 58 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,360 own. But what are we to remember 59 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,840 about the bread which signifies His body? 60 00:04:26,840 --> 00:04:31,200 What about His body? And I believe Luke's elaboration 61 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:33,800 helps us. So go to Luke 22 with me quickly 62 00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:46,840 and look at verse 19, Luke 2219 reads and he took bread and when 63 00:04:46,840 --> 00:04:49,640 he had given thanks. So we know the nature of the 64 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:51,920 blessing there. He's he's giving thanks. 65 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:58,320 He broke it and gave it to them saying this is my body which is 66 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:03,640 given for you. Do this in remembrance of me, 67 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:07,120 that that's an important phrase which is given for you. 68 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:11,960 And so you believer as you come and as you receive that bread, 69 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:17,680 in that moment you are charged to turn your attention and your 70 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:24,000 affection on this truth that God became flesh in the person of 71 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:29,240 Jesus Christ and his body was given for you. 72 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,880 In what sense is the body of Jesus given for me in a 73 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:41,800 substitutionary sense, the body of Jesus Christ was ordained by 74 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:49,160 the Father to be bruised, beaten, pierced, punctured, 75 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:58,520 slashed, ultimately crushed so that by faith you believer would 76 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,720 stand whole and complete before the Father. 77 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:08,240 And so as I take this bread, I'm zooming into that reality of his 78 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,480 incarnation. And practically speaking, then, 79 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:20,040 this bread is an emblem intended to strengthen your humility and 80 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,680 your hope. Humility because you are being 81 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:29,880 reminded in dramatic fashion. It's not about what I have 82 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,560 accomplished or failed to perform in my flesh. 83 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,120 This is not about me and what I've done with my hands or my 84 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:41,960 feet or my thinking or my words. What I've done privately, what 85 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,040 I've done secretly. It is the body of another. 86 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,920 It is the life of another that purchased my salvation and that 87 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:55,680 cancelled my punishment. It's the body of another who 88 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:00,040 lived my righteousness and cancelled my sinfulness. 89 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,480 And that's why hope with that humility, is excited. 90 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:08,360 At the same time, you're supposed to tangibly realize 91 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:13,520 that is it, is it accidental that the first expression, the 92 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:17,920 initial response here, so to speak, at the original Lord's 93 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:22,200 Supper is one of gratitude? What did, what did Luke tell us 94 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:26,960 Jesus, that he gave thanks? That was what sprung up 95 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:31,320 initially, and it sets the theme of this table. 96 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:35,360 It's one of gratitude. This is a celebration. 97 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,120 And I can tell you this, that one of the greatest joys for me 98 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:46,800 when we do this every month is that when I stand there and 99 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,440 every one of you approach this table, I don't know if you 100 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,520 realize this, but I've realized this. 101 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,800 Most, if not all of you come with a smile on your face. 102 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,800 And I hope the reason why is not because you're greeting us at 103 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:06,360 the table, but because your heart has been enlarged with 104 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:11,800 Thanksgiving as you are rediscovering what this body 105 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:16,080 means for you. And if you need any verse to 106 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:22,600 help generate that sense of delight and Glee, I I think one 107 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,960 helpful verse is Hebrews 1010, not just because it's an easy 108 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,960 reference to remember, but because of what it says in that 109 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,480 one verse that connects to this truth. 110 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:35,520 What does the author of Hebrew say? 111 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:38,600 He says? And by that will we have been 112 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:45,520 sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 113 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,960 for all. Do you understand the 114 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,800 implications of this, that when I am to think about the body of 115 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:57,720 Jesus Christ, what's supposed to spring up in my soul is that I 116 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:03,120 have been sanctified once and for all, once and for all. 117 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:07,760 So in terms of your standing before God, your justification 118 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,880 is the theological term. What this bread is supposed to 119 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:16,760 convey to you, what it is in a sense preaching to you is stop 120 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:26,840 looking at yourself. Stop trusting in yourself, stop 121 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:34,880 comparing you with others. Instead, savour this promise 122 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,960 that you are the recipient of a gift and that gift is the body 123 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:45,600 of the Son of God. And so as you come here, what 124 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:53,200 you're realizing again is His broken body has made my soul 125 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:58,800 complete and flawless forever, Forever. 126 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,760 It's not determined by your performance that week or that 127 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,960 year or that month. It's dealt with. 128 00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:08,000 And that is what this is telling you. 129 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,240 It's remind you Christ instituted this ordinance so 130 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:13,800 that you can face that glorious truth. 131 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,360 Yes, your heart is prone to doubt. 132 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:20,880 It's prone to get calloused, it's prone to forget and this 133 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:24,200 body in this breath symbolizes it's meant to say, hey, it's 134 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:27,040 this is not about you. This is about what has been done 135 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:31,800 2000 years ago on your behalf. So take this is my body. 136 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,200 Turn your focus not on you anymore on who Christ is on your 137 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,360 behalf. Let's come to the next verse. 138 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,520 So take this is my body. But look at verse 23. 139 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:50,720 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to 140 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:56,800 them, and they all drank of it. Now the cup is a separate 141 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,240 element, but the detail I want to draw your attention to is the 142 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:04,400 last part of this verse. And they all drank of it. 143 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:09,200 Why is that significant? Because there's a possible 144 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,360 interpretation of this that has great significance. 145 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,840 If they all drank of it, then could it be that Judas himself 146 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:20,720 participated in it? Some might object to this idea, 147 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,880 some would say we can't be certain. 148 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,240 And there is justification for that because it's not explicitly 149 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,000 told. But when you go to Luke's 150 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,400 account, he seems to be a little bit more specific to imply one 151 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:36,640 possible answer. So go to Luke again in 22, and 152 00:11:36,640 --> 00:11:42,120 notice in verse 19 of Luke 22 down to verse 21. 153 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,240 And He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it 154 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:55,120 and gave it to them, saying, this is My body which is given 155 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,360 for you. Do this in remembrance of Me. 156 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,800 So notice He broke the bread and he gave it verse 20, and 157 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:06,480 likewise the cup after they had eaten. 158 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,240 So they already ate, saying this cup that is poured out for you 159 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:17,280 is the new covenant in my blood. But behold, the hand of him who 160 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:21,480 betrays me is with me on the table. 161 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:25,840 So I understand that this can spark some debate. 162 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,000 And again, we can't be certain about this, but let's consider 163 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:34,880 the possibility that if Judas was there that he did partake of 164 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:40,120 these elements. And if he did, then it has a 165 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:44,920 major truth to tell us. One truth that it does tell us 166 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:49,200 is that it dismantles the erroneous idea that the 167 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:50,360 Eucharist. Have you heard the term 168 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:51,440 Eucharist? You know what it means. 169 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,880 It simply means Thanksgiving, that the Eucharist is a 170 00:12:54,920 --> 00:13:01,040 sacrament unto salvation. There are 1,000,000 today who 171 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,680 believe that when you partake of this, it will earn you more 172 00:13:04,680 --> 00:13:09,320 points of righteousness, or that it will better your chance for 173 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:14,040 eternal life. Millions, millions who will not 174 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,600 go to service unless this is a part of it, in thinking that 175 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:22,280 this will in some way contain salvific virtue. 176 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,160 If you are prone to believe that, if you come from a 177 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,160 background that adheres to that view, can I ask you a question 178 00:13:29,400 --> 00:13:31,920 then? How do you explain Judas's fate? 179 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,880 How do you explain that? Because here you have a man who 180 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,600 did what? Who potentially partook, And if 181 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,440 he potentially partook, you reconcile that with what? 182 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,840 The fact that Jesus in the same context pronounces a woe 183 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:51,840 concerning him and says that it would be better that if he had 184 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:55,600 not been born. And in John chapter 6, Jesus 185 00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:00,440 calls the same man a devil, and in John chapter 17, he refers to 186 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:08,880 them as the son of destruction. So if you lean towards the idea 187 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:14,240 that Judas did engage in this exercise, then what a strong 188 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,320 lesson demonstrating that it's possible to participate in 189 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:21,720 communion and be completely lost at the same time. 190 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:27,560 This doesn't save you. This doesn't make you more 191 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:33,160 favourable in God's eyes. It doesn't, and Judas is a 192 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,560 strong illustration of that. So then why did the Lord allow 193 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:38,600 him to partake if he did partake? 194 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,040 We're not explicitly told, but one thing is for certain, that 195 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,320 in no way does it suggest that the Lord, that the Lord allows 196 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:49,880 unbelievers to participate in this ordinance, because 197 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,000 Scripture tells us otherwise. And I'll tell you why that's 198 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:58,120 important because Paul cautions those who wrongfully approach 199 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:59,640 the table in a very known passage. 200 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,920 But let me remind you of it. In first Corinthians 11 verse 201 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:06,760 27, Paul says as he elaborates the revelation of the Lord's 202 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,800 table as an apostle. Whoever, therefore, eats the 203 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:13,920 bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will 204 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,760 be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 205 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,680 And there are, because of the strong warnings, many sincere 206 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,840 overseers, elders, pastors and a church who, in wanting to do 207 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,120 everything possible to ensure that the bread and the cup will 208 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,440 not be distributed in an unworthy manner, will establish 209 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:41,760 certain ideas, severe screenings and standards to determine who 210 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,240 and who cannot come to the table. 211 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:50,880 And if Judas is a hint to anything, it is that overseers 212 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:52,760 in the church do not have ultimate knowledge. 213 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:58,880 What is in people's hearts. Are there regulations? 214 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,240 Yes. Do leaders have the 215 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,680 responsibility to instruct and to warn the people about the 216 00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:11,400 why, the what, the how, the whens of this ordinance? 217 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:15,120 You better believe it. But I want you to also see where 218 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,800 the Holy Spirit of God places the responsibility, the primary 219 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:23,800 responsibility of examination. It's in the next verse of First 220 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,440 Corinthians 11/27. You read it in 28. 221 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:34,360 Let a person examine himself, himself. 222 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:40,680 After all that the church does to ensure that this is treated 223 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,920 and handled the way the Bible tells us to, Examination 224 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:46,840 ultimately falls on the individual. 225 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:52,120 Let a person examine himself then, and so eat the bread and 226 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:54,480 drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks 227 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:58,840 without discerning the body eats and drinks judgement on himself. 228 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,440 So this is a corporate experience, Paul, in the same 229 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:04,720 context as when you come together, when you come 230 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:06,920 together, when you come together, there's the bait. 231 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:12,079 Can I take communion alone? That's not the rule, that's not 232 00:17:12,079 --> 00:17:15,359 the real God intended, that this ordinance draws the church to 233 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,240 come together and we experience this meal as a family. 234 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,839 So I don't think God had in mind virtual communion when he 235 00:17:24,839 --> 00:17:27,760 instituted the supper. He intended for us to be here 236 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:31,160 flesh and blood. And so, though it's a corporate 237 00:17:31,160 --> 00:17:34,600 experience, there is an individual responsibility for 238 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:39,120 examining our own hearts. And though publicly known and 239 00:17:39,120 --> 00:17:43,480 unrepentant, sin helps identify one's spiritual condition and 240 00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:49,080 should be lovingly confronted by the church, A person's heart can 241 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:53,120 only reveal so much, can only reveal so much. 242 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,440 You know what I find so interesting about an observation 243 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,600 of the original Lord's Supper is that there was self examination 244 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,320 taking place. Have you ever considered this? 245 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:07,280 Look at Mark again in 1400 main text. 246 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,320 It's before verse 22 where we started. 247 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,200 Scroll back and look here at verse 18. 248 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:21,040 We touched on this last week. It says here and as they were 249 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,080 reclining at table and eating, Jesus said truly I say to you, 250 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:29,480 one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me. 251 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,600 Now look at this in verse 19. They began to be sorrowful and 252 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,440 to say to him, one after another, is it I? 253 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:41,800 Isn't that fascinating? In the context of the 254 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:46,120 institution of the Lord's Supper, you have self reflection 255 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:52,600 going on, indirectly reminding us that what this is about is an 256 00:18:52,600 --> 00:19:00,760 opportunity for each of us to ruminate, reflect and assess if 257 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:05,320 our hearts are rightly aligned with the will of the Lord. 258 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,440 Because this call to self examination is primarily for the 259 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:14,320 church. It's primarily for believers. 260 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,840 Yes, even the believer can invite a particular discipline 261 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:20,520 in their lives. And the way that they treat 262 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:23,640 this, this is very holy. It breaks my heart. 263 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,560 And I've been in those services when I was first a believer of 264 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,000 how the Lord's table is treated like a drive through thing. 265 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,040 It's like, OK, open it up, let's eat, drink, OK, and then just 266 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:36,160 let's just rush out. That's not what the Lord had in 267 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:37,640 mind. The Lord had in mind that this 268 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:42,440 would be a sanctifying agent for the people of God. 269 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:48,680 It calls for us to pause and reflect, yes, joyfully reflect 270 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:52,880 and remember the positional promise of Jesus Christ being 271 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,480 our Savior. But it also challenges us and 272 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:01,720 calls us to reflect on our practical allegiance to Jesus as 273 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:06,800 Lord. So it's this paradoxical kind of 274 00:20:06,800 --> 00:20:09,600 thing. We are coming with smiles. 275 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,040 We are looking at one another as family. 276 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,520 We are. We are rejoicing in that. 277 00:20:14,640 --> 00:20:18,720 It's not about this body. It's about another body, the 278 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:22,480 Holy 1, the righteous one who lived and died on my behalf. 279 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:28,560 And yet this positional promise also asks us to reflect on our 280 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:32,480 practical allegiance. If I claim that to be true now, 281 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,360 is my life aligned to that? Now, here's the thing. 282 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:38,960 I have to say this there are some who take this a little too 283 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,560 far, and as they reflect, they realize that there's always 284 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:48,840 leftovers of sin somewhere, and they come to this point where 285 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:51,280 they feel as though they're never worthy to come to the 286 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:56,040 table. Worthiness is not sinlessness. 287 00:20:57,640 --> 00:20:59,600 That's not what the Holy Spirit is trying to convey. 288 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:01,880 The whole point of the table is you confessing that you're not 289 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:07,240 worthy. In a sense, worthiness is 290 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,360 ultimately determined by you and your heart determining that you 291 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:13,840 renounce sin and that there's nowhere in your life that you 292 00:21:13,840 --> 00:21:18,960 are justifying disobedience and that you want to fight and war 293 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,120 against the things that break your God's heart. 294 00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:25,960 That's what worthiness is. Unworthiness would be to come to 295 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,680 this table in a callous, cavalier manner, without 296 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,280 thought, without reflection, without consideration of where 297 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:35,480 you're at today with your walk with Jesus Christ. 298 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:40,120 That's what breaks God's heart. That's what would invoke and 299 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:43,680 invite His discipline in His child's life when they are 300 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,200 absent minded as they come to this table. 301 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:49,520 Absent minded and how this reminds you that you're not 302 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:53,560 saved by works, and also absent minded and how this also reminds 303 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:57,160 you that you live differently because of what Christ has done 304 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:02,160 for you. And so there is even in the 305 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:07,520 institution a model of sorts, though not directly implied. 306 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:12,720 It's there by inference. Let's come to verse 24. 307 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:20,320 Here's the third observation. And he said to them in Mark 308 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:26,840 1424, this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out. 309 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:32,040 For many, this is a very important statement that the 310 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:36,560 Lord Jesus Christ makes. This is my blood of the 311 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,800 covenant. Luke records it differently by 312 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:46,360 saying the new covenant in my blood, the new covenant in my 313 00:22:46,360 --> 00:22:49,400 blood. Now this word covenant, it's the 314 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:53,760 first time that Jesus utters it in the Gospel of Mark, at least 315 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,640 recorded. What is a covenant? 316 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:58,440 Can I give you the simplest definition? 317 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:04,240 It's an agreement that it's oath bound between two or more 318 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:05,880 parties. It's a contract. 319 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:10,080 That's what a covenant is. And Christ now is coming to his 320 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:15,400 own, and he's letting them know that he is establishing a new 321 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:22,120 covenant with fresh terms of agreement for all of humanity, 322 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:24,800 not just the 12. That's why he says here what 323 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,640 that he had did it for many. It was poured out for many, not 324 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,400 just you. Matthew elaborates for the 325 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,680 forgiveness of many. And so here's Jesus now 326 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:41,240 establishing a new covenant with humanity. 327 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:48,040 And it's about his promise of forgiving humanity. 328 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:52,640 Those who would apply themselves to faith repented faith on the 329 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:56,760 grounds of Christ's sacrifice. But why blood? 330 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:00,800 Why does he say here, this is my blood of the covenant? 331 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:04,240 Because when you study the Bible carefully, you'll realize that 332 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:08,920 whenever God makes a covenant with man, it's confirmed with 333 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,400 blood. It's confirmed with blood being 334 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,280 shed. You'll see it in Genesis 8 with 335 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:20,840 Noah, you'll see it in Genesis 15 with Abraham, and you'll see 336 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:25,360 it in Exodus when Moses, as the mediator of the Old Covenant, is 337 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:27,760 establishing an agreement between the people of Israel and 338 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,520 God Almighty. In fact, it's there. 339 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:34,520 It's particularly there in Exodus 24, eight. 340 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:38,640 Turn there quickly. It's an Exodus 24, eight where 341 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,560 you have Jesus echoing the words of Moses. 342 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,920 I want you to see it. Exodus 24, verse 8. 343 00:24:56,370 --> 00:24:58,530 So what did Jesus say? This is my blood of the 344 00:24:58,530 --> 00:25:01,890 covenant. And this is what Moses said in 345 00:25:01,970 --> 00:25:05,610 Exodus 24, eight. And Moses took the blood and 346 00:25:05,610 --> 00:25:10,210 threw it on the people and said, behold the blood of the covenant 347 00:25:11,730 --> 00:25:14,690 that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these 348 00:25:14,690 --> 00:25:16,090 words. If you haven't paid attention to 349 00:25:16,090 --> 00:25:21,440 anything, please pay attention. Now here's Moses as a mediator 350 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,600 of a covenant under the law, and he takes the blood of animals. 351 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:29,160 And what does he do? The Bible is so precise. 352 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:35,080 It says here that he took the the blood and he threw it on the 353 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:39,120 people. He threw the blood on the 354 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,640 people. And now Jesus comes to establish 355 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,800 a new covenant with man, and he takes this cup and he says this 356 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,600 symbolizes my blood. But he doesn't sprinkle it on 357 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:52,440 people. He tells his people to do what 358 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,520 with it? Drink it. 359 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:01,320 Signifying what? Signifying that the covenant 360 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:06,080 under the law provides cleanliness only for the 361 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,720 external. But the new covenant that Jesus 362 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:12,040 establishes purifies the inner man. 363 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:20,320 And that is precisely the feature of the new covenant that 364 00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:25,400 was foretold by the prophets while the old covenant was in 365 00:26:25,400 --> 00:26:28,080 effect. Jesus didn't just come out of 366 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,280 nowhere and say, you know, I think I'm going to establish a 367 00:26:31,280 --> 00:26:35,840 new covenant with mankind. He fulfilled what was foretold 368 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:40,920 ages ago, and ages ago the prophets, as they were being led 369 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:45,160 by the Spirit, couldn't help but highlight that the feature of 370 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:49,200 this new covenant is something happening inside, not outside. 371 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,840 And whatever happens outside out of this new covenant is a result 372 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,120 of what springs out from the inner man. 373 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,400 So if you have any doubt about that, let me remind you of one 374 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,480 of the clearest prophecies about the new covenant and Jeremiah 375 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,080 3131. A lot of easy references today. 376 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,320 Hebrews 10/10. Jeremiah 3131. 377 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,240 Here's what the prophet says about this new covenant that you 378 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:21,460 and I are enjoying today. I'll wait for the wrestling of 379 00:27:21,460 --> 00:27:25,380 the leaves to settle. It's a good habit to bring the 380 00:27:25,380 --> 00:27:35,040 Bible to church. Jeremiah 3131 Behold, the days 381 00:27:35,040 --> 00:27:39,440 are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant 382 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:43,960 with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, not like the 383 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:47,720 covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took 384 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,320 them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. 385 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,880 When did that happen? You read it earlier when Moses 386 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,600 was used as the instrument to bring Israel into the wilderness 387 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,440 at Mount Sinai to establish that covenant, and he sprinkled the 388 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,440 blood on the people. And Jeremiah says there's coming 389 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:07,280 a covenant that's not going to be like that. 390 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:12,840 My covenant that they broke, though I was their husband 391 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,240 declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I 392 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,160 will make with the House of Israel after those days, 393 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:23,240 declares the Lord. I will put my law within them. 394 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:28,000 The law is not going to be written on tablets of stone. 395 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:29,960 No, no, no, the tablet of your heart. 396 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:35,160 I will put my law within them and I will write it on their 397 00:28:35,160 --> 00:28:39,480 hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people. 398 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:45,600 This is this cup signifies my blood and I'm symbolically 399 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,760 showing you that it's not applied externally. 400 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:50,600 No, no, no, it's applied internally. 401 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:52,560 I deal with the innermost part of your being. 402 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:55,760 When you put your faith in this blood, it changes you. 403 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:01,080 It really changes you. And so when you and I come to 404 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,520 this table, what are we doing? We're remembering, yes, Christ, 405 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:06,520 but we're also remembering other things connected to Christ. 406 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:09,200 And here's this one thing. You are coming to this table and 407 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:11,040 you're remembering, and you are recollecting and you are 408 00:29:11,040 --> 00:29:13,480 rehearsing this. We have a greater covenant. 409 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:19,760 We have a greater promise. We have a greater agreement with 410 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:21,240 God. Oh, yeah, I know you want to see 411 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,080 the miracles. And I wish I lived in this time 412 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,440 to see God move in this way. Do you realize that the people 413 00:29:25,440 --> 00:29:27,680 that you envy are the ones who envy you? 414 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,600 Do you realize that the prophets of old and the miracle workers 415 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,360 were were looking and investigating to see when these 416 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:40,640 things would be, when God would do a supernatural work in the 417 00:29:40,640 --> 00:29:42,320 human heart? That's why I believe when a 418 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:46,360 person becomes a Christian, it's a supernatural thing because the 419 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:48,200 Bible describes it as a supernatural thing. 420 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,680 It's not a superficial thing. It's not a surface level thing. 421 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,640 It's not just mere words coming out of somebody's mouth. 422 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,240 Something happens in the heart when this blood is applied. 423 00:29:57,240 --> 00:30:03,520 Surgery takes place. So I come to this table every 424 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:08,880 time, as often as you do and I and I realize God in his perfect 425 00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:13,160 wisdom, his sovereignty has allowed me to be a part of in 426 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:17,240 this time of history, a greater covenant, a greater covenant. 427 00:30:17,800 --> 00:30:22,240 And with that you also say and think to yourself, he keeps his 428 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,720 promises. He keeps his promises because 429 00:30:26,720 --> 00:30:28,760 the prophet said there was a new covenant coming. 430 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:31,920 Jesus comes into the world and he inaugurates it. 431 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,600 God is faithful. He keeps His word, which is an 432 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,120 important point for the last one in our study of Mark. 433 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:43,320 Look at Mark 14 as we consider the last verse. 434 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:54,960 Jesus says, truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the 435 00:30:54,960 --> 00:31:00,160 fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the 436 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:06,240 Kingdom of God. So you and I as we celebrate God 437 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:11,320 fulfilling His promise of giving us a new covenant, we are given 438 00:31:11,320 --> 00:31:15,080 another promise to embrace and believe in. 439 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:21,320 Do you see the part that says until that day when I drink it 440 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,880 new in the Kingdom? Matthew adds 2 very important 441 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:27,840 words that I'm sure will warm your heart. 442 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:33,720 Matthew says in Matthew 2629. Until that day when I drink it 443 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:42,040 new, hear the two words with you, with you in my Father's 444 00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:46,040 Kingdom. So this for the disciples would 445 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:48,240 have been very reassuring because what they're about to 446 00:31:48,240 --> 00:31:51,440 experience in a very few moments, the brutal death of 447 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,360 Jesus Christ would not be the end of the story. 448 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,760 They would remember what Christ had said and realizing that he 449 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:01,640 is going to return. This is not the end of it. 450 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,600 There is another thing that he is going to fulfill. 451 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,840 And this means that the bread in the cup, as we come and eat and 452 00:32:09,840 --> 00:32:18,720 drink is a foretaste of a banquet in the future, a feast 453 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,320 that Christ listen to this. This is astounding to me, a 454 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:27,960 feast that Christ himself will abstain from until his church is 455 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:32,520 gathered again with him. I will not drink until you and I 456 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:36,400 are gathered together again in the fulfillment of the Kingdom. 457 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:40,600 So every time we gather, you know what's taking place here. 458 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:43,360 When you take a piece of that bread and a little bit of that 459 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:50,480 cup, it's a sample. It's an appetizer of a future 460 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:55,640 feast that you and I will enjoy with the very person of Jesus 461 00:32:55,640 --> 00:33:00,040 Christ. Is there any window in the Bible 462 00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:03,000 that gives us a little glimpse of what that feast will look 463 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:05,680 like? Yeah, you can find it in a 464 00:33:05,680 --> 00:33:10,160 revelation, but my heart was reminded of a text in Isaiah. 465 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,640 Even Isaiah gives us not just the promise of a new covenant 466 00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:18,720 that we are a part of, but of the promise within that new 467 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:21,840 covenant of something to come. OK, here's our final text before 468 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:25,280 we actually experience this together in Isaiah 25. 469 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:39,870 And look at verse 6. Meditating on these passages in 470 00:33:39,870 --> 00:33:43,670 Isaiah made me extra excited for today. 471 00:33:44,190 --> 00:33:48,070 Extra excited for today. Notice what the prophet says in 472 00:33:48,070 --> 00:33:51,400 Isaiah 25. Six on this mountain the Lord of 473 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:55,440 hosts will make for all peoples. This is a universal thing for 474 00:33:55,440 --> 00:33:57,720 all peoples. Not just the nation of Israel, 475 00:33:57,880 --> 00:34:00,240 not just the people of Jacob, for all peoples. 476 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:05,920 A feast of rich food, a feast of well aged wine, of rich food 477 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,360 full of marrow of age wine well refined. 478 00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:11,679 Who's the one who's setting up this feast, by the way? 479 00:34:12,360 --> 00:34:17,679 The Lord himself, the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples. 480 00:34:19,760 --> 00:34:22,480 He's saying really, Yes, really. And you get a little glimpse of 481 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:24,760 it when Jesus makes breakfast for his, the sum of his 482 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:27,960 disciples in John 21, right? Oh, it's going to be far greater 483 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:31,080 than some fish and bread, though, far greater than that. 484 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,080 Look at the description of this, a feast of rich food. 485 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:37,080 This is not going to be a cheap thing. 486 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:41,960 It's going to be a lavishing thing, a glorious thing, a 487 00:34:41,960 --> 00:34:45,400 wedding that you have never seen before, that no magazine that 488 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:49,239 nothing could ever put together. But look at verse 7. 489 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,400 And he will swallow up on this mountain, the covering that is 490 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:57,960 cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 491 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:00,800 He will swallow up death forever. 492 00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:05,800 And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the 493 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,400 reproach of his people He will take away from all the earth. 494 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:14,280 For the Lord has spoken. So there's something permanent 495 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,600 about this feast. So you and I, every time we 496 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:22,920 partake of this, we get a little glimpse, just just a wafer of 497 00:35:22,920 --> 00:35:25,360 what's happening, what's going to happen. 498 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:28,280 And then we go back into this world and what happens, We're 499 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:34,520 exposed to trials, tribulations, pain, betrayal, sin, satanic 500 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,640 forces. But there's something about this 501 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:43,400 feast that as we come to it and as we enjoy it, there's going to 502 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:49,280 be the removal of tears forever, forever and ever and ever. 503 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:52,640 And what will we say at that feast? 504 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:53,960 This is how specific the prophet is. 505 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:56,960 You want to get an idea of what you're going to utter and what 506 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:00,840 I'm going to utter in unison, verse nine, It will be said on 507 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:03,440 that day, behold, this is our God. 508 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:06,640 We have waited for Him that He might save us. 509 00:36:06,640 --> 00:36:09,360 This is the Lord. We have waited for him. 510 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:12,040 Let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation. 511 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:19,080 Finally here. The Lord kept His word that we 512 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,040 would feast together, that we would come together. 513 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:29,760 We are pilgrims. You're a Pilgrim and constantly 514 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:33,560 exposed to all these fractured elements of our universe. 515 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:36,920 But you know what happens when we come together, what we're 516 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:41,200 about to do in a few minutes. We escape that briefly. 517 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:46,520 Please listen to this. We escape that briefly, and we 518 00:36:46,520 --> 00:36:49,440 are almost transported to this truth. 519 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:57,000 And what is this truth? There is a feast coming, and 520 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:02,400 Jesus Christ purchased my seat at that table. 521 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:05,840 When's the last time you thought about that? 522 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,880 When you held these elements and ate them? 523 00:37:09,160 --> 00:37:11,080 Has that ever run through your mind Where you where you thought 524 00:37:11,920 --> 00:37:18,680 there is a banquet coming and the blood of Jesus has purchased 525 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:24,000 my reservation. I will sit at that table, a 526 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:29,120 table that will commemorate and will celebrate the fact that 527 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:33,600 death has been defeated forever. I will come to a banquet that 528 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:38,680 toast the arrival of my inheritance of unending joy in a 529 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:44,600 new world, and I will feast not merely on food, but with 530 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:51,720 unhindered, untainted fellowship with God himself and God's 531 00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:57,760 people for eternity. Are you ready to partake? 532 00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:02,440 I hope your heart is stirred. I I hope that these truths 533 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:07,440 didn't skim over your mind and just kiss the surface of your 534 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:09,880 heart. I I pray that you would bind 535 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:13,600 these things on your heart and you would realize Jesus in 536 00:38:13,600 --> 00:38:19,240 student this for the church has so much to say so much grace to 537 00:38:19,240 --> 00:38:23,560 dispense in me. And so here's my call for you 538 00:38:23,560 --> 00:38:27,920 and I as we're about to sing and then line up and feast together. 539 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:31,640 Examine yourself at this time. Examine yourself. 540 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:37,880 Examine the truth of His body. Your humility and your hope 541 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:40,320 should be exploding at this time. 542 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:44,360 And at the same time that if you're not walking in a manner 543 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:48,160 worthy of the Lord, God wants you to turn. 544 00:38:49,520 --> 00:38:53,560 Jesus Christ is inviting you to repent, to be made right with 545 00:38:53,560 --> 00:38:57,120 Him, and He would find greater pleasure in you taking the time 546 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:01,120 to examine yourself. And if you've made right with 547 00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:03,240 that sin, if you've repent of that sin, then to come. 548 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:06,160 If you can't let go of that sin, if you're still trying to 549 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:09,240 justify it or try to debate with God of why you should be doing 550 00:39:09,240 --> 00:39:10,960 what you're doing or thinking the way you should be thinking, 551 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:16,600 then just stay and remain and come when you're ready. 552 00:39:18,680 --> 00:39:21,520 The same time as you're standing there and as you're following 553 00:39:22,280 --> 00:39:27,480 the other person, remember this. It's not about you, it's about 554 00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:33,320 him. And this, this is a snapshot of 555 00:39:33,320 --> 00:39:37,280 a glorious thing that is coming. And if you believe in Christ, 556 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:41,200 you're going there. And Jesus Christ, listen to 557 00:39:41,200 --> 00:39:46,280 this, is excited for that feast. I hope you are because he wants 558 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:48,320 you to be. This is not your world. 559 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:50,920 This is not your permanent residence. 560 00:39:51,360 --> 00:39:53,720 This feast reminds you that a Kingdom is coming. 561 00:39:53,720 --> 00:39:57,160 It will rule everything. And if you're in Christ, you 562 00:39:57,160 --> 00:40:01,000 will rule and reign with him if you're an unbeliever in this 563 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,440 place. Respectfully, it is my duty and 564 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:08,360 it is our responsibility as leaders to remind you that yes, 565 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,160 you're welcome here. We're so glad that you're here 566 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:14,240 to reserve yourself from participating and instead to 567 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:18,560 participate in this way by observing a people who believe 568 00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:20,880 that they've been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ of 569 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:24,560 Nazareth and that they have assurance of salvation. 570 00:40:25,120 --> 00:40:27,560 And if you do the same as they did, then one day you can 571 00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:29,400 partake of these elements for yourself. 572 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:33,960 But until then, watch and realize that we are people who 573 00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:38,360 have been purchased by God, and that invitation is extended to 574 00:40:38,360 --> 00:40:42,880 you as the priest name comes up to prepare us to sing. 575 00:40:44,200 --> 00:40:46,160 Let us not treat this as a drive through experience. 576 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:49,120 Take some time to commune with the Lord. 577 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:51,760 Take some time to reflect on what He's done for you. 578 00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:54,320 Take some time to realize the treasure that is your 579 00:40:54,320 --> 00:40:56,600 inheritance. It's your portion, and it will 580 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:57,760 come together. Can you do that? 581 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,440 If you're going to look at one another, look at each other with 582 00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:07,760 joy and realizing this is my family, not in a distracting 583 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:10,280 way. Let's, let's prepare our hearts 584 00:41:12,480 --> 00:41:20,440 and come to this table together. I'm going to join you in that. 585 00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:48,260 But we think about our salvation and Lord, we choose to trust in 586 00:41:49,060 --> 00:41:53,900 the saving work of Christ. We think about our shortcomings, 587 00:41:53,900 --> 00:41:57,060 our failures. We think about the things that 588 00:41:57,060 --> 00:41:58,780 we would never want anybody else to know. 589 00:42:01,340 --> 00:42:04,660 And perhaps even at this moment we feel the condemnation, the 590 00:42:04,660 --> 00:42:09,280 shame, the guilt, the filth below. 591 00:42:09,280 --> 00:42:11,600 Your word says that when our hearts condemn us, God is 592 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:13,640 greater than our hearts and he knows all things. 593 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:22,640 Thank you that when you see us, you see the spotless record of 594 00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:27,280 Jesus. Thank you that when you see us 595 00:42:27,280 --> 00:42:31,240 and you look for debt, there's no debt that we owe. 596 00:42:32,440 --> 00:42:35,960 Thank you that when you look for all our wrongs, you will not 597 00:42:35,960 --> 00:42:39,160 find us. You'll find that record nailed 598 00:42:39,480 --> 00:42:43,040 on that cross. Thank you that though we do not 599 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:48,440 deserve it, you've extended it to us, this gift. 600 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:55,120 So, Lord, we don't reflect in terms of our salvation how we 601 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:59,800 can earn it, how we might have weakened our security for it. 602 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:04,280 We rest in Jesus. Help us rest in Jesus. 603 00:43:05,720 --> 00:43:09,640 And now look, we, we Lord, we do look to our lives as professors 604 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,720 of Jesus, of confessors of the Christ, or if there's anything 605 00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:19,800 in our hearts that grieve the Spirit, if there's anything that 606 00:43:19,800 --> 00:43:25,600 we're justifying that we excuse, we renounce it. 607 00:43:27,120 --> 00:43:29,360 Lord, if we can be perfectly holy at the snap of the finger, 608 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:32,440 we would want it. We want to be pure. 609 00:43:32,440 --> 00:43:35,160 We want to be blameless. We want to be the way you've 610 00:43:35,160 --> 00:43:48,160 designed and called us to be. Help us really believe that 611 00:43:48,160 --> 00:43:51,520 you're coming back. Help us really believe. 612 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:57,280 With all the busyness, the bills, the plans, this is all 613 00:43:57,280 --> 00:44:01,960 going to come to an end one day. And we're going to, with our own 614 00:44:01,960 --> 00:44:05,960 eyes, see Jesus establishing his Kingdom on the earth. 615 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:09,840 That is, that is our destination. 616 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:15,080 Help us really believe that there's a feast being prepared 617 00:44:17,080 --> 00:44:19,520 and the same people that will be sitting with in this room will 618 00:44:19,520 --> 00:44:21,960 be the same people we'll be sitting with at that table, 619 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:29,080 glorified, perfected, in the unfiltered presence of God. 620 00:44:29,920 --> 00:44:33,200 Help us believe that. Help us remember to not plant 621 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:36,200 our feet too strongly on the earth. 622 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:43,280 We sing to you with Thanksgiving, knowing that we've 623 00:44:43,280 --> 00:44:47,720 been purchased, that we're free, that we're secure forever. 624 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:55,080 In Jesus name, Amen. Let's stand, let's sing, let's 625 00:44:55,080 --> 00:44:55,680 give thanks.