The Sacrifice of the King Pt 2

responsive reading this morning we are going to be in psalm 20 psalm 20 we'll be looking at the new american standards so we all sound the same if you need a copy should be one in your row and as you're turning to psalm 20 if you would stand in the honor of the reading of god's word i will read the odd verses if you will follow along with pastor allen and the even verses psalm 20 for the choir director the psalm of david may the lord answer you in the day of trouble may the name of the god of jacob set you securely on high may he send you help from the sanctuary and support you from zion may he remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable say la may grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your counsel

we will sing for joy over your victory and in the name of our god we will set up our banners may the lord fulfill all your petitions now i know that the lord saves his anointed he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand some boast in chariots and some in horses but we will boast in the name of the lord our god they have bowed down and fallen but we have risen and stood upright and read verse 9 with me save oh lord may the king answer us in the day we call and father we do want our boast to be in you father that you are the god who saves and so lord as we are looking right now in matthew about that very subject the god who saves lord i pray that you would speak to us

this morning by the power of your holy spirit lord that you would give us eyes to see and hearts to understand exactly what it is that your word is and that you would give us eyes to see and hearts to understand exactly what it is that your word has to say to us and so lord bless us as we study this morning in jesus name amen you may be seated and if you would open up in your bibles to the gospel of matthew chapter 26 matthew chapter 26 today we come to part two in our series the sacrifice of the king last time that we were together we looked at the preparation as jesus was there in the home of simon the leper uh attending a feast on his behalf and of course while he was there

uh there was a woman who took a very costly jar of ointment she broke that open and she anointed his head with it and of course the disciples were like what a waste but jesus said no no she's done a really good thing because what she's done is prepare me for burial and everywhere that the gospel is told this the act that this woman has performed will be told to everyone and so jesus talks about this extravagant aspect of worship and we talked about having a heart of worship but then there was also a really sad thing that we talked about last week jews judas made a deal with the religious leaders he made a deal with them to betray his savior and so that segues us into where we are today because today what we're looking at is the last supper the last

supper as jesus uh lays out not only who his betrayer is going to be lays out not only um referred to as the lord's supper but also talks to his disciples about what they're going to face in the garden of gethsemane and so there's two main subjects we'll cover this morning we're going to call them the passover and the warning and so we pick up in verse 17 of chapter 26 and this is what it says now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to jesus and asked where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the passover and he said go into the city to a certain man and say to him the teacher says my time is near i am to keep the passover at your house with my disciples and the disciples did just as jesus had directed them and they prepared

the passover now matthew as he has seemed to grow in a custom to doing for us as he's given us a time stamp to work off of here he tells us that this is the first day of the feast of unleavened bread now let's paint a little bit of background so you understand what he's talking about here when he talks about the first day of unleavened bread there were two feasts that were back to back for the jewish nation they were the spring feasts and they were feasts that were very important because they marked their deliverance from the nation of israel those two feasts are what are known as passover and unleavened bread on the day of passover they celebrated what happened with the nation of israel and they're being set free from the bondage of egypt back in

the book of exodus the nation of israel had been in bondage there they had been enslaved by the egyptian people god had poured out all kinds of plagues on pharaoh and the egyptians in order to set the people free but pharaoh had refused to let them go so god said one last plague i'm going to bring and this plague will do the job i promise but you need to understand that you're subject to this plague as well moses you and all of the nation of israel and the plague is the death of the firstborn now in order for your homes to be safe from the death angel that will take out the firstborn there's something that you need to do you need to prepare for your prepare yourself a lamb a lamb that is spotless and without blemish

a lamb that you have examined and you're to take the lamb and you're to sacrifice the lamb at twilight you're to take some of the blood of that lamb and you are to paint it on the doorposts of your home so that when the angel passes over and sees the blood your home will be saved from judgment but he also said that's going to be the day that they're going to set you free and so you need to be ready to move and move fast therefore you need to cleanse your entire house of all of the leaven leaven is also yeast it's what allows bread to rise he says there's not going to be time for the bread to rise so you need to purge your house of all of the leaven for the next seven days after passover you will keep what's

known as the feast of unleavened bread you will eat unleavened bread in your homes for those seven days to commemorate your being set free from the bondage of egypt so the first day of unleavened bread is what we refer to as passover now this is important i'll talk about why it's important in just a minute and so it's the first day of unleavened bread and as every jewish male is supposed to do they were supposed to celebrate this passover and so his disciples ask him a question jesus where do you want us to prepare this passover meal once you notice how jesus responds he says go into the city verse 18 to a certain man and say to him the teacher says my time is near i'm to keep the passover at your

house with my disciples and i'm going to prepare this passover meal and he says go into the city that's about the most ambiguous answer you could ever give anyone right you're going to go into town and there's going to be a guy not just any guy a certain guy and you're going to go to a certain guy and you're going to say the teacher he says his time is near we're supposed to celebrate the passover at your house and then you're going to knock three times i'm just kidding he gives us really ambiguous answer now we know that jesus probably came ahead of time and prepared all of this just like we know jesus came ahead of time and he prepared all of this just like we know he came riding into Jerusalem on the donkey. He was like, hey, go into town,

and when you find a guy with a donkey, tell him the master needs it, right? Same thing, you're gonna find a guy, tell him we need his house, and he's gonna be like, okay. And so that's what they do. They go into town, and they find this unnamed man, and they search him out, and they ask to have dinner at his house, and he says yes. Now, I believe that there's something

for us to pay attention to here about this. I have yet to find anybody that knows who this guy is. As a matter of fact, he's just simply referred to as a certain man. I've tried to look at other gospel accounts, and even different commentators have all said the same thing. To our knowledge, we have no idea who this guy is. And yet, his home was used for one of the most pivotal moments in Jesus's ministry.

A pivotal moment where the betrayer was identified, where the Passover was celebrated, where his disciples were taught, and where Jesus showed us what servanthood really looks like. An incredibly important meal, and yet we have no idea who this guy is. He served in anonymity. And may I say, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are many who find themselves serving, and nobody knows about it.

Nobody knows what you do. Nobody knows the intercessory prayer life that you have. Nobody knows the way that you help other people. People are not aware of the way that you serve, but I want you to know something. God is. He's taking note of it, and he will reward you for it. Because we don't need to know everyone's name on this side of eternity, because on the other side of eternity,

it won't matter. We will all just simply be those servants of Jesus Christ. And so if you find yourself in that place, you're like, man, I feel like I'm pouring out my heart in service to God, and nobody pays attention to it. I want you to know God does. You may be that certain man, that certain woman, and God is taking note of the way that you serve in absolute silence.

Absolute silence. Anonymously. And so Jesus tells them where they're to go. And so in verse 19 it says, the disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover. Now in these three verses, there's one last thing I would like to point out to you. And the last thing that I would point out to you is this. It's a phrase that's repeated three different times.

The Passover. The Passover. The Passover. Did you take note of that? At the end of verse 17? At the end of verse 18? At the end of verse 19? Three times in three verses, he repeats the exact same phrase. Why is that important? Well remember, Matthew is writing to the Jewish people. He's writing to the Jewish people who absolutely understood what the Passover was

and all of its significance. Because to the Jewish mindset, the Passover was the most important day of the year. Because everything in the Old Testament always looked back to the Passover. Because that was when the nation of Israel was physically set free from slavery. That was when they, they gained their freedom and became a people set apart unto God. Matthew points this out

because Jesus is to be crucified on the Passover. Why? Because while the children of Israel sacrificed a physical lamb without spot and blemish in order to set them free from their physical slavery, Jesus would be the ultimate Passover lamb, the ultimate sacrifice that wouldn't just set them free from something physical. He would set them free from something eternal and spiritual.

And that's the power of sin in the lives of people. And he needed them to know, what's about to take place is the sacrifice of the ultimate Passover lamb who won't just give you temporary freedom. He will give you freedom for eternity from the penalty and the presence and the power of sin in your lives. And so he points out over and over again, the Passover.

Well, now it's time to celebrate the meal. But before they celebrate the meal, Jesus identifies his betrayer. We pick up in verse 20. It says, Now, when evening came, Jesus was reclining. He was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples. As they were eating, he said, Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me. Being deeply grieved, they each one began saying to him,

Surely not I, Lord. And he answered, He who dipped his hand with me in the bowl is the one who will betray me. The son of man is to go, just as it is written of him. But woe to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed. It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. And Judas, who was betraying him, said, Surely it is not I, Rabbi. And Jesus said to him,

You have said it yourself. It says, Now evening came, in verse 20, and Jesus was reclining at the table with the 12 disciples. Remember we described what a meal looked like at that point in time. They didn't sit up in chairs. They would have lounged on some sort of a pillow on a low table. They would have reclined as they were there at the table together. And as they're all reclining at the table together,

Matthew doesn't tell us all the things that have taken place up to this point in time. Up to this point in time, his disciples have debated about who's gonna be the greatest. Up to this point in time, Jesus has shown what it looks like to be great when he girded himself with a towel and washed all of the disciples' feet, showing them the importance of servanthood. They had celebrated the Passover meal, at least most of it, together.

And now they're lounging around the table together, undoubtedly, talking about the different things that had gone on, perhaps reminiscing about all of the symbolism of the Passover. And as they're doing so, weighing very heavily on Jesus' heart is not only the day that approaches, but is also the knowledge that one of them was going to betray him. And he looks at them all and he says, truly I say to you, one of you will betray me. Now the unfortunate thing about how often we've probably read this story is that over-familiarity sucks the power out of things sometimes.

But paint the picture of Jesus being in a room with 12 of his closest friends. And as he's in this room with 12 of his closest friends, he looks at them and says, one of you is going to do one of the most heinous things anyone could imagine, and you're going to turn me over to the authorities. I think the disciples' response is really the best way to describe how they felt. It says that they were all deeply grieved by this.

In other words, this was a shock to their ears, but an even more of a shock to their heart. And they felt deep grief over what had taken place. And there's two things that I'd like to point out to you about their reaction. Both of them are things that they don't do. Because they start to ask a question. They start slowly, but surely, maybe one by one kind of looking at Jesus and going,

surely it's not me. You're not talking about me, are you? I wouldn't do that to you. Would I? That's the response that's going on. But the first thing I take note of is what they did not do is never one time does it say that they looked at each other and said, I bet it's you. I've always not trusted you, Thaddeus. You've never done anything anyway. Your name's hardly mentioned in scripture, right?

Bartholomew, you don't ever do anything, right? It's probably you. Not one time do they look at each other and say, I bet it's you. I bet you're the one. Now listen, we can criticize the discipleship, we can criticize the disciples for a lot of things and we will as we go on for how they react not only in the Garden of Gethsemane but even on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane.

But this is one area where I think we can look at the disciples and say, now that's something to be emulated because Jesus just told them something that was shocking to them and their first reaction was not to blame each other. And I think that that's important because as the church, I don't know that we always act that way. Actually, I think sometimes as the church, our first inclination is to point fingers and blame each other. And it's an unfortunate thing that can happen in the church is that once we hear about something bad that's happened, we go, can you believe they did that?

I've said it before and I'll continue to say it. Church is never intended to be a place where we glorify the saints. It's never intended to be a sanctuary for the saints. Church is always intended to be a hospital for sinners. Because if we all show up with a distinct understanding of the fact that I'm as capable of the most heinous things in the world as anyone else,

then all of a sudden it sucks out of me any judgmental feelings. Because I can't look at you and say, I can't believe you because I know what I've done. And I know what I'm capable of. And as the church, I think that's the greatest thing that we can do. Not point fingers at each other and say, look at what you did. But instead reach out some arms and say, look at what he can do.

Because I was made much, much more aware this week of the frailty of humanity. And I was reminded to an even greater extent this week of the need for God's restoration in the lives of, listen, everyone. And he's so good at doing it. But it's so much harder for him to restore if the church is only pointing fingers instead of opening up their arms. Do you know what the second thing I took note of was?

Not one of them looked at Judas. Not one of them looked at him and thought, I bet it was him. I think that that's important because nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw this coming. Nobody saw this coming because it was such a shock that it would have been Judas. As a matter of fact, in a minute,

Jesus is gonna basically identify Judas and Judas is gonna leave the meal and Jesus is gonna say, what you do, do quickly. And they still aren't gonna pick up on the fact that it's Judas. That's how shocking this is to them that it would have been him that did it.

Jesus goes on to say, as they're all asking, surely not I, Lord. And he says in verse 23, he who dipped his hand with me in the bowl is the one who will be saved. Now, we need to understand something. They had all dipped their hand with him in the bowl. He wasn't pointing out one specific guy when he said this. He was instead pointing to a larger understanding

and that's that the one who betrayed him would be someone who was so close to him. One who would betray him would be one who he considered a really good friend. As a matter of fact, Psalm 41 verse nine, which is one of the Psalms that points to this, says this, even my close friend and whom I trusted who ate my bread has lifted up his heel against me. As another quick sidebar, I'd like to point out something to you.

Many of us have been hurt by people that we're very close to. Many of us have felt betrayed by the people that we thought we could trust the most. And what we find in those situations is we think, can anyone really understand what it's like to be betrayed by someone who is so close? Can I just tell you that Jesus does? Jesus understands what it's like to have somebody that he thought he could trust

turn his back on him and betray him. One of the things that we know about Jesus that we're told in the book of Hebrews is that he is a merciful and faithful high priest. Why? Because he has been tempted in every way that we are yet without sin. So when we come to him with those things that hurt, when we come to him with those hurts that we've had in our life

or somebody that we can't trust, somebody that we've cared about so much, somebody that we thought we could trust, our own good friend, and yet they've turned against us, they've turned on us, and we think nobody can understand. You can still pour out your heart to Jesus because he does. He knows exactly what that's like and he is absolutely able to bring restoration to your life through it. And then we come to verse 24, which I have just simply affectionately titled One Last Call for Repentance.

Jesus looks and he says, The Son of Man is to go just as it is written of him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. Now, I don't know how you ever see any of these scenes going down. I know you probably get tired of me saying paint this picture, but paint this picture, right? I don't know how you see this going in your mind,

but this is how I see it going. This and 4.95 will get you coffee at Starbucks. So, I think that as Jesus was saying this and saying, it's the one who dips his hand in the bowl with me. I think he's addressing all of the disciples. He says, and the Son of Man will go even as it says that he will go. But then I think he gets really pointed and just looks at Judas and says,

but woe to the man who betrays him. It would have been better if he'd never been born. You know why I think he makes eye contact with, I can't prove this scripturally. This is just in my own imagination, my own way of thinking. Thinking about how he did this. But I believe, and I'm not the only one that feels this way, that Jesus was specifically looking at Judas

at this point in time. You know why? Because I think Jesus is giving Judas one last out. I think he's giving him one last chance to repent. I think he's giving him one more chance to hopefully make a decision to do the right thing. You know why? Because the bent of Jesus is forgiveness. Because I think if Judas would have said, I don't want to, he would have said,

okay, let's not do this thing. Because that's who Jesus is. Is he is a God who is naturally bent towards forgiveness. Patience is his natural bent. If you don't believe me, read the Old Testament. You know, a lot of people say when they read the Old Testament, how could God have been so mean? Why was God always throwing down so much judgment on people in the Old Testament?

But what they don't realize when they say that is it took hundreds of years for God to come to that point where he would finally judge them. Because God's natural bent is to show patience. God's natural bent is to show forgiveness. We're told in the book of Ezekiel that it's not his will to do that. He would rather show forgiveness than judgment. Because judgment is his strange work.

And God is constantly calling, but let me give you one more chance to repent. And I think that's what he's trying to give Judas here. He's trying to give him one more chance to repent.

And Judas doesn't take it. Judas doesn't take that one last chance. As a matter of fact, we go on to read this. We go on to read this. We go on to read in verse 25. And Judas, and of course Matthew adds, who was betraying him, said, surely it's not I, rabbi. Jesus said to him, you've said it yourself. I think Judas' statement there, his question, if you will,

is a rather telling question. Because did you notice the word he used at the very end? Surely it's not I, rabbi. Do you notice how the rest of them said? Look up in verse 22. It says, being deeply grieved, they each, meaning the other disciples, began saying to him, surely not I, Lord. But when Judas comes around to it, he says, surely not I, rabbi. Why? Because Judas was no longer in a place

where he could call him his Lord. You see, in order to call Jesus your Lord, it means that he is your master. Therefore, you are serving him. And even though the disciples, all of them, are gonna be capable of stumbling worse than they've ever stumbled before, he's gonna tell them that in just a minute. He's still there. They're Lord. Because even in the midst of our weakness,

we still know he's still my Lord. But you see, for Judas, everything had changed. No longer was Jesus his Lord. Now Jesus was just a rabbi. You know what the word rabbi means? The word rabbi means teacher. In other words, for Judas, Jesus had just become a good teacher. Not his Lord.

And of course, Jesus said, you've said it yourself. And after that, and I believe it's John's account, are the most bone-chilling words that are uttered in all of Scripture. Judas went out into the night. Satan entered him.

Bone-chilling because when you reject Jesus, there's really only one other option. We live in a world that wants to think that there's a happy middle ground. There's a happy middle ground. There's a happy middle ground. Where I can just be a good person and live my life and do what I want to do, forgetting that there are two opposite ends of the spectrum. And if you've not chosen one,

you have chosen the other. That's exactly what Judas does. Now I've tried to ask myself the question, and a lot of other commentators ask the same thing. Why did Judas do this? Some suggestions were given. Perhaps Judas was understanding that Jesus was never going to be the Messiah he thought he was going to be. Therefore, he would just be the Messiah. Why did Judas completely abandon him?

I don't know if I agree with that or not. That's what some think. Some think Judas just simply did this because he wanted the money. Potentially, other gospel accounts seem to indicate that that meant a lot to him. But ultimately, we're never really told why Judas did this. And you find yourself going, why would he have done it? It's not like he turned him over

for some significant amount of money. It's not like all of a sudden he could retire in the Cayman Islands, right? I mean, it's not, there's nothing like that. So why did he do it? And can I tell you the conclusion I came to? I have no idea. Because sin doesn't make sense. I don't think that's what most of us understand. I don't think that's what most of the world understands.

Sin is at its very core lunacy because it doesn't make any sense. If I were to look at you and say, here, I have a cup of poison for you. Don't drink it. It'll kill you. And you go ahead and drink that anyway. That's the most idiotic thing you can possibly do. And yet, we all look at sin, a cup of poison, and we're like, boy, that looks fun, right? And we go ahead and walk headlong into it.

Why? Because sin doesn't make any sense. And because sin doesn't make any sense, people caught up in their sins don't understand anything. Which is why when you come to Jesus, you have to come to a whole new, upside-down world compared to what this world looks like. Because now that you realize sin doesn't make any sense, you start going, but Jesus does make a lot of sense.

Why did he do it? I have no idea. Other than the fact that sin will never make sense.

Well, now it's time to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Judas is gone. It says in verse 26, while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after blessing it, he broke it, gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat, this is my body. And when he had taken a cup, given thanks, he gave it to them saying, drink from it, all of you. For this is the blood, for this is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. The Passover meal was a time when they ate what's known as,

as we mentioned before, unleavened bread. So Jesus took a piece of bread, took a loaf of the unleavened bread. If you've never seen what that looks like, it's basically a square. It's very thin, almost looks like a cracker. And all over this bread is lines where there's piercings. If you will, the bread is both pierced and striped. As well as unleavened. Leavened always speaks of sin.

So thinking about the fact that it's unleavened means that there's a purity to the bread. So if you will, Jesus took a piece of bread that was pure and pierced, striped, and he broke it. And as he broke it, he said, take, eat. This is my body. Now, I don't believe that at that point in time it becomes the body of Christ. That's called transubstantiation. And I don't agree with that.

But I do think that there's something a little bit more than just a piece of bread that you're eating at that point in time. The symbolism alone makes it a little bit more significant than just a simple piece of bread. Because when Jesus took that, he was giving them a visible representation of what exactly was about to take place in him. That his body was literally about to be broken.

As a matter of fact, we read in the book of Isaiah chapter 53, he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement for our peace. It was laid upon him. And by his stripes, we are healed. There's an aspect of that that is so amazing to think that literally our healing came through his brokenness. Our healing, our wholeness came about through the breaking of his body.

So he said, take, eat. This is my body, broken for you. And then he took the cup. Now, in a Jewish Passover, there were several different cups that they drank. And each of those cups was symbolic of something. Many believe that the cup that Jesus took at this point in time was one of the very last cups, known as the cup of redemption. And as he held it up, this cup that would have been filled with wine at that point in time,

he held it up and he said, this is my blood. The blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you. For the forgiveness of sins. Now again, if you don't know very much about the Old Testament, or the Old Covenant, I want to explain something to you. When God made his covenant with the nation of Israel, he gave them the Ten Commandments. They're in the book of Exodus.

It tells us that Moses built the tabernacle. Men helped him. They built the tabernacle, but now it was time to ratify the covenant. And what they did to ratify the covenant is that Moses sacrificed an animal, and he took some of the blood, as well as some water, and he dipped what's known as hyssop, which basically looks like a big bunch of grass, dipped it into the blood, and he took that blood, and imagine, if you will, the congregation of the nation of Israel sitting right here, and he took that blood and he began to sprinkle it on the people.

Why? Why would he have done that? Because what he was doing was sealing that covenant in blood. God said, obey me, and if you do, I'll bless you. And the people said, we promise to obey you. And then the covenant was sealed with blood, as he sprinkled blood on all of them. Well, now a new covenant is about to be established. A new covenant that is not based upon my obedience,

but on my faith. In the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. And so when he takes the cup, it represents his blood that was about to be shed for us, his blood that would guarantee a better covenant. A covenant that was based on his faithfulness, not my own. And so every time now that we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are reminded that the only way that I stand whole before God

is because of his brokenness. The only way that I stand pure before the Lord is because of his faithfulness. The only way that I can stand before God, before him, and go directly into his presence is because the blood of Jesus Christ is enough to cover all of my sin. If you will, he establishes a brand new covenant with his disciples. And then he goes on to tell them,

and I will not celebrate this again. I will not drink the fruit of this vine again until I drink it new in the kingdom. The book of Revelation, that's what's referred to as the marriage supper of the lamb. Well, I think that there's some interesting things for us to pay attention to about this Lord's supper. Number one, he establishes a new covenant based on better promises.

That's what the book of Hebrews tells us that this new covenant is. It's a new covenant based on better promises. You see, the promise of man had failed. I will obey you, except you know what the problem was? They didn't. They constantly broke the old covenant. But this is a covenant that's based on better promises because it's based on the promises of God,

not the weak promises of man. And so what we celebrate every time we take communion, or the Lord's supper, is we celebrate a brand new covenant made with much better promises. But you know what the second thing I take note of is? They had to take and eat. They had to take and drink. In other words, there is a personal aspect of faith. You see, I can't just know that Jesus exists.

I can't just know that he lived and died on a cross. I have to know it for myself. I have to now take that and assimilate it into my own life. You see, the nation of Israel couldn't just have a lamb. They couldn't just sacrifice. They couldn't sacrifice a lamb. They had to take that blood of the lamb and they had to put it on the doorposts of their home. They had to apply it themselves.

And now Jesus is saying, you have to take this and you have to eat it and you have to drink it. Why? Because we have to take him in by faith. It has to be an active faith. And it has to be something each of us does individually. It can't be something that your parents do for you. It can't be something your friends do for you. We can will it as much as we want to,

but until an individual comes and says, that's what I need. I know I'm a sinner and I know he's a savior. And all I know to do is to ask him into my heart to make me brand new again. It has to be a step each one of us takes. But then the third thing I take note of is this. Jesus looks ahead to victory. Did you take note of that? Let me read it to you again.

Verse 31. Jesus said to them, nope, I did this first service too. Verse 29. But I say to you, I will not drink, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. There's a fun word that's used in there. And that word is when. Not if. Not I won't drink of the fruit of this vine if I make it into the kingdom.

No, there's a when that's used there. Speaking of a foregone conclusion, a settled conclusion. I won't drink of this again until it's with you when I'm with you in the kingdom. Brothers and sisters, there is a future hope that we have and Jesus talks about it right there. And the future hope that we have is not something that we have to be insecure about. It's something that we can be very settled about.

You know why? Because if Jesus isn't nervous about it, I shouldn't be nervous about it. That future hope, that future victory is something that he declares right there, even in speaking of his own death. And so Jesus establishes this new covenant, this Lord's Supper with his disciples. And as he celebrates Passover together, it's now time to continue on, not only with their night,

but to continue on with God's sovereign plan for redemption. So now we come to a time where he will warn his disciples and I've cleverly referred to this as the warning. Verse 30. After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives and Jesus said to them, you will all fall away because of me this night. For it's written, I will strike down the shepherd

and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. But after I've been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. Peter said to him, even though all may fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, this very night before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you.

And all the disciples said the same thing too. Now they've left the upper room and it's time for them to head to the Garden of Gethsemane. Starts off by saying, after singing a hymn. Probably what they would have sung, almost every commentator agrees, is what's known as the Hallel Psalms. The Hallel Psalms are Psalms 113 through 118. Matter of fact, if you have a translator,

write that down and maybe look those up and read those because they're pretty interesting Psalms. And here's what's kind of interesting. Jesus sang. Now, I never really thought about this too much until I studied this this particular time. I wonder how many times I've read this before. It's kind of crazy to think about Jesus singing, is it not? I just, every time I think about that happy carpenter,

I don't think about him singing. But he did. And here's what I want to know. Was he any good? Or were his disciples all just like, Jesus, shh, you're off key. Right? We all know Peter couldn't sing. That feels like a foregone conclusion, right? You know that guy sang loud and off key. That's all there was to it. But Jesus sang. And they sang these Hallel Psalms.

Now, I've pointed this out before, but I think it's really important to point out again. There is something very powerful about singing, is there not? There is something just really powerful about belting it out to the Lord. Now, for some of us, we're not going to sing it out to the Lord. Now, for some of us, we're not going to sing it out to the Lord. But for some of us, we should sing

a little quieter than others. I'm one of those people, okay? But sometimes I'm like, should we really be singing quieter than others? Because there is just something so powerful about singing out the truth of who God is. There's something so powerful about singing worship songs. I think it's actually one of the best things that you can do. And I know this is my second week in a row

to point this out. But maybe that's because that's what God wants us to do. Is he wants us to spend some time really pouring out our heart and song to him? Is he wants us to spend some time really pouring out our heart and song to him? But sometimes we're like, there's nothing that will release your emotions quite as much as singing to the Lord. There's nothing that will bring a stronger faith quite like singing to the Lord.

There's nothing that will allow you to shed all of the things that are going on in your head quite like singing to the Lord. It's just a beautiful thing. But as good as it is for us to sing on our own, there is something so powerful about the people of God singing together. There's been some times, and I'm just going to be honest, in this church, where it just seemed like the people didn't sing.

And I think over the past couple of years, that's really changed a lot. I especially think over about the past six months to a year, it's changed a bunch. And I try to move to the front sometimes. Usually I sit in the back, but quite frankly, my little hidey hole's gone in the back anyway. Now the sound booth's not there, so I just come on up and I join the crew.

And you know what's amazing? If you're sitting at the very back, you don't hear it. You don't hear all of the singing. And even these guys up on stage, I've had to tell them before, because they wear their in-air monitors, which is really important, so that they know what each other's singing and all that kind of good stuff. I get it. Like, I don't think you guys realize how loud the entire congregation is singing.

Because it has been such a blessing to hear everyone pouring out their hearts to the Lord. Listen, I like when we get a little geeked up in here. I don't think we should start running around in circles in the sanctuary or doing, you know, don't start bringing a flag. or a tambourine with you. Listen, I think that's drawing attention to yourself. But man, when you start throwing those hands up, clapping some hands,

even offbeat, God bless some of you, and just belting it out as loud as you can, there is just nothing quite like it. There is a power that you can feel of the Holy Spirit moving when God's people sing out to the Lord. And so I guess I say that to say, keep doing what you're doing, only maybe just keep doing it louder. Because I just love to hear it. I know there's some of y'all who are just like,

well, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna sing like this. Don't do it, okay? Belt it out. I think that's what Jesus and his disciples did. Just 12 dudes off key, singing it as loud as they possibly could. So they sung a hymn, and they departed for the Mount of Olives. Seems interesting that they went to the Mount of Olives. Do you agree? Because where has Jesus spent most of his time over this last week?

Mount of Olives. You know why he went to the Mount of Olives? Because it was the most familiar place. He could go to. Not only because it was important for him that it was familiar, but he needed Judas to find him. He needed to not leave any kind of chance that Judas wouldn't know where he was. Because Jesus was the surrendered servant. He was the surrendered sacrifice.

And as they were heading to the Mount of Olives, he's gonna have a discussion with them. Now, throughout different gospel accounts, you read about different things that have taken place on this walk. And I think several really important things took place on this walk. Jesus really talked to his disciples a lot. As a matter of fact, I think that it was on this walk from the upper room to the Mount of Olives

that Jesus gave what I'd call the John 15 discourse, where he talks about the vine. I believe that what happened is that they walked by a vineyard, and he said, I'm the vine, and you're the branches. And I think that's where that conversation took place. I think on that walk is where he had that John 17 prayer, where he poured out his heart to the Lord, that high priestly prayer.

And on this walk is where he's going to warn, his disciples of their potential of stumbling over him that night. May I also say, without overreaching too much, there's nothing quite like going on a walk with Jesus. I'm not much of a walker, but I do like to run a lot. And people used to always want to come with me. Hey, can I go on a run with you? And I'd always tell them the same thing.

No. Only one person's ever really been able to run with me very much, and I married her. And that's just because I thought she was cute. And so I was willing to let her run with me. But after we got married, she said, I thought you liked to go running with me. I'm like, nope, just thought you were cute. I got to run by myself.

The reason why, as I would say, was because I'm not just running by myself. I'm running with Jesus. Because when I'd run with him, I would tell him all the things that are going on in my life. I'd pour out my heart to him. And he would do the same for me. See, there's a physiological truth that when you're doing physical activity like that, not all of the blood can go to your brain.

Now, I know that most of you think most of the blood doesn't go to my brain half the time anyway, but it's easy. Even worse when you're doing physical activity. So I couldn't worry as much while I was running because less of that was going to my brain. My mind would be more clear. Matter of fact, most of my studies get put together officially when I'm running.

There's just something about what God shares with you when you do something like that with him. And that's exactly what takes place with his disciples. He's walking with them. And as he's walking with them, he begins to talk to them. And I want you to notice what he says. Verse 31, and this time might be in verse 31. Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me this night.

For it's written, I will strike down the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. The word fall away could also be translated stumbled. You will all be caused to stumble because of me tonight. He essentially tells them, you're going to blow it worse than you ever have tonight. This is going to be your worst night ever. Because they're going to come after me

and you're all going to die. You're all going to abandon me. You're all going to leave me. Again, I think a difficult thing for the disciples to take in. After all, they'd been with him through everything up to this point in time. They'd been with him through thick and thin. They'd been with him through death threats. They'd seen a lot with Jesus. And he just looked at all of them and said,

you guys are all going to screw up tonight. You're all going to mess up.

He goes on to say, but after I've been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee. That's a great phrase right there. It's a great statement. Because Jesus tells his disciples, you're going to screw up worse than you've ever screwed up before tonight.

It's going to be your night of greatest failure. But I want you to know something. I'm going to go ahead of you to Galilee. And I'll meet you there. Because even though they're going to blow it, even though they're all going to fail, some worse than others, he's still their God. He's still their best friend. And he's still going to be waiting for them. May I say,

I think somebody needs to hear that this morning. I think somebody needs to hear that even, even though you've messed up worse than you thought you possibly could, Jesus is waiting for you in Galilee.

Well, of course, Peter doesn't like to hear this. Notice what Peter says. Even though all, verse 33, may fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Jesus, Jesus said to him, you're an idiot. No, Jesus said to him, how he never did, I don't know. Truly I say to you, this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said, even if I have to die with you,

I won't deny you. And all the disciples said the same thing. You know, the thing about Peter is he was just always who he was. He just said what he thought. He said what he felt. And I think that when Peter, when Peter said, all these other knuckleheads may fall away because of you tonight, but you can always count on me. I'll die for you. I think when he said that, he meant it.

He didn't see it going any other direction, right? He had, I had the tiger playing in his head right then. And he was ready to roll because he didn't take into account who he really was. He didn't take into account how frail he actually was. You see, there's something about Jesus giving us those kinds of warnings. There's something about Jesus showing us what we're really like.

It's the hardest thing in the world. Is it not? It's really hard when you read something in scripture and you're like, I don't want to read that again. That felt like it was talking to me. Right? Y'all been there? And that's exactly what Jesus does with Peter. Is he telling, and Peter's going, no. No, I don't see that in me. Jesus, I'm your boy. I got your back, bro.

Let's do this thing. He says, even before the rooster crows, you'll have denied that you even know me three times. I think that this really hurt Peter's heart. You know, one of the other gospel accounts tells us a little bit more about what Jesus said because it says that Jesus looked at Peter and he said, Peter, Satan's asked for you. He wants to sift you like wheat.

Peter, I've prayed for you. And when you're restored, bring the boys with you. That last part was my paraphrase. When you're restored, bring the other disciples too.

Last night as I was studying this, there was a Rich Mullins song running through my head. And I looked up the lyrics to make sure I had them correct.

I was gonna write out the whole paragraph of lyrics I decided not to. This Rich Mullins song was running through my head, so I ended up going down a little bit of a rabbit hole of Rich Mullins songs. Which Rich Mullins was writing songs from about 88, 96-ish, maybe 95. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Almost like a modern day prophet. So if you ever wanna go down a rabbit hole, just go start listening to some Rich Mullins songs because they're just really, really good.

But two lines just kept running through my head as I was studying this. And the two lines are this. We must be awfully small and not as strong as we think we are. And brothers and sisters, I think it's important for us to hold on to that knowledge. Because the moment that we say, I will never, we will find ourselves nevering all over the place like we've never, never before.

Because the moment we say, I will never, pride has crept in. And we think somehow, I'm not capable of that. We find ourselves boasting, but I'll never. And Jesus goes, but you will. It should keep us constantly dependent upon the Lord. It should keep us constantly at the feet of our Savior saying, Lord, I have no strength because I must be awfully small and not as strong as I think I am.

Matter of fact, 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 12 says, let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

We have to take heed to the warnings that Jesus gives us in our lives. We have to have the understanding of what I'm actually capable of. You know, Paul sort of brought us to this understanding in the book of Romans, did he not? When he said, I know that in me, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. The moment that we stop believing that is the moment that we are as susceptible as ever

to the worst things. Because the moment that I stop believing that is the moment that I will end up giving into something horrific. I want to just constantly keep myself close to Jesus in these things because I'm not capable of that. I don't want to be someone's sermon illustration someday.

I don't want someone to have to stand up on a pulpit and say, I used to know this pastor. I don't want you to be somebody's story of warning someday.

So take heed lest you fall. But lest I heap on condemnation to somebody who's already found themselves fallen, I want to just repeat the words of Jesus. Jesus. After I've been raised, I'll go ahead of you to Galilee. If you found yourself in that place today where you've sinned worse than you thought was possible, where you have fallen in some way, you have stumbled in some way,

I just want to tell you, Jesus is waiting for you in Galilee. And he's waiting for you to come home. Because I do believe that there's some broken hearts here this morning. I do believe that there's some hearts that need to hear this. I hear that this morning. That Jesus is just waiting for you.

Well, there will be more things that take place on this night. There's prayers that will be made in the Garden of Gethsemane. There's surrender that will take place in the Garden of Gethsemane. A lot of sleeping by the disciples that we'll take in the Garden of Gethsemane. There will be an arrest, some trials, and a crucifixion. But for today, we're going to leave the disciples right there.

And we'll pick up with them in a couple of weeks. Would you all stand?

We're coming into the week of Thanksgiving. And as we come into the week of Thanksgiving, I don't know what your family traditions look like. I don't know if you take time as a family to say what you're thankful for. But as we're gathered here today, right now, I just want to tell you what I'm thankful for. Today, I am thankful for restoration. I am so thankful that God is a God who restores.

That word's been going through me. It's been going through my head a lot this week. That thought has been going through my head a lot this week that God is the God of restoration. And I am so thankful for that. Every year when it comes to the month of November with my high school Bible class, I make them do thankful Thursdays, which they roll their eyes about and say,

Mr. Nichols, that's super cheesy. I'm like, I super don't care. And I make them do it anyway. And so that's what I told them on Thursday too. I'm like, listen, I'm just thankful for restoration. That God takes broken people and he makes them whole again. Amen? Father, we come to you. And Lord, I just thank you so much for who you are. Lord, I thank you for the things that you do for us.

And Lord, I thank you that no matter what, you're waiting for us in Galilee. And so Lord, I just lift up the hearts of everyone that's here this morning. I just ask that you would move on them as you see fit. Bring about your healing. Bring about your restoration. And give us hearts that are thankful for everything that you are. In Jesus' name. Amen. Be blessed.

And the mountains that I face Stronger than the power of the grave Constant in the trial and the change Never fails and never gives up Never runs out on me Your love never fails and never gives up Never runs out on me Never runs out on me Never runs out on me Never fails and never gives up Never runs out on me Never gives up Never run, never fails Never gives up Never runs out on me Never fails and never gives up Never runs out on me Jesus Lord God, I just thank you for your faithfulness, Lord. God, I just thank you that you're always faithful even when we're not, Lord. God, no matter how many times I'm messed up, Lord. God, you're always there.

You're always faithful. Lord, you're strong where I am weak. Lord, I just thank you. Lord, I just thank you for your faithful love. We love you and we praise you, God. And we just ask that as we leave here today, Lord, just pray that your Holy Spirit go with us and just be ever-present in our lives. Lord, we love you and we praise you in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.

You guys have a wonderful week. Be blessed.