Citywide Baptist Church
The Road to the Cross: The Last Supper
In the leadup to Easter, we begin a new series traveling with Jesus and his disciples through the most consequential week in the history of the world.
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
Over the past few years we have engaged with the five blocks of Jesus teaching in Matthew. In 2019 we spent six months unpacking the Sermon on the Mount and last year we engaged with the other four blocks of teaching:
- Matthew 10 -> being sent into the world
- Matthew 13 -> Jesus' parables of the Kingdom
- Matthew 18 -> the recipe for community
- Matthew 23-26 ->Hypocrisy and the End times
Jesus now brings to an end his teaching times in Matthew
- Matthew 10 -> being sent into the world
- Matthew 13 -> Jesus' parables of the Kingdom
- Matthew 18 -> the recipe for community
- Matthew 23-26 ->Hypocrisy and the End times
Jesus now brings to an end his teaching times in Matthew
We are going to spend the next four weeks engaging with the implications of Jesus' death and what it means for us.
It was manifestly the most famous death in history. No other death has aroused one-hundredth part of the interest, or been remembered with one-hundredth part of the intensity and concern” as the death of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Malcolm Muggeridge
The Passover is two days away” (lit. “after two days”) points ahead to Thursday evening at sundown, when he and the disciples will celebrate the Passover together,
Passover was the time of national pride when Jewish people celebrated their liberation from oppression.
It was manifestly the most famous death in history. No other death has aroused one-hundredth part of the interest, or been remembered with one-hundredth part of the intensity and concern” as the death of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Malcolm Muggeridge
The Passover is two days away” (lit. “after two days”) points ahead to Thursday evening at sundown, when he and the disciples will celebrate the Passover together,
Passover was the time of national pride when Jewish people celebrated their liberation from oppression.
The chief priests and elders saw Jesus as a threat to their influence.
Right here we see the central question of Christianity brought into sharp focus.
Who is going to have influence in your life?
Who is going to have influence in your life?
Simon 'the Leper' must have been someone Jesus had cured.
John 12 tells us that the woman was a woman called Mary, and the perfume was pure nard... worth a year's wages (in Australia the average wage is $68,973)
John also tells us that it was Judas raising the concerns because he was focused on his own needs, the others were worried about the poor they saw every day. Neither were focussed on the right thing.
John 12 tells us that the woman was a woman called Mary, and the perfume was pure nard... worth a year's wages (in Australia the average wage is $68,973)
John also tells us that it was Judas raising the concerns because he was focused on his own needs, the others were worried about the poor they saw every day. Neither were focussed on the right thing.
Jesus was not telling them not to worry about the poor. He was quoting this scripture.
It's easy to focus on many good things, and take your eyes off Jesus.
Jesus understood the significance of the moment.
It's easy to focus on many good things, and take your eyes off Jesus.
Jesus understood the significance of the moment.
There is debate about what motivated Judas to disobey Jesus.
30 pieces of silver is likely equivalent to four months' wages (about $17,000 in our money)
If betrayal is choosing to feather your own nest at the expense of following Jesus, what would it take for you to betray him?
30 pieces of silver is likely equivalent to four months' wages (about $17,000 in our money)
If betrayal is choosing to feather your own nest at the expense of following Jesus, what would it take for you to betray him?
The events of Thursday night
1. Beginning to eat the Passover meal after evening came (Matt. 26:20)
2. Dissension among the disciples as to who is the greatest (Luke 22:24)
3. Washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1 - 20)
4. Identifying Judas as the betrayer, after which he leaves (Matt. 26:21 - 25)
5. Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26 - 29)
6. Messages and prayers in the Upper Room (John 14:1 - 17:26)
7. Walk to Gethsemane (Matt. 26:30)
8. Prediction of Peter’s denials (Matt. 26:31 - 35; cf. Luke 22:31 - 38)
9. Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36 - 46)
10. Betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:47 - 56)
1. Beginning to eat the Passover meal after evening came (Matt. 26:20)
2. Dissension among the disciples as to who is the greatest (Luke 22:24)
3. Washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1 - 20)
4. Identifying Judas as the betrayer, after which he leaves (Matt. 26:21 - 25)
5. Institution of the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26 - 29)
6. Messages and prayers in the Upper Room (John 14:1 - 17:26)
7. Walk to Gethsemane (Matt. 26:30)
8. Prediction of Peter’s denials (Matt. 26:31 - 35; cf. Luke 22:31 - 38)
9. Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:36 - 46)
10. Betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane (Matt. 26:47 - 56)
Imagine the night from the disciples perspective, from Jesus' perspective, from Judas' perspective.
Jesus understood what was written in Isaiah 42-53
Betraying Jesus does not stop God's will unfolding, the only person it affects is the betrayer.
The other disciples call Jesus Lord, Judas calls him Rabbi (teacher)
The NIV makes Jesus accusation of Judas less pointed than it actually is... A better rendering might be "You yourself have said."
Judas leaves at this point... and John 13:31 tells us that Jesus says "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him."
The other disciples call Jesus Lord, Judas calls him Rabbi (teacher)
The NIV makes Jesus accusation of Judas less pointed than it actually is... A better rendering might be "You yourself have said."
Judas leaves at this point... and John 13:31 tells us that Jesus says "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him."
The “Haggadah of Passover” was the set form in which the Exodus story was told on the first two nights of Passover as part of the ritual Seder (lit., “order”). Central to the meal were three foods — unleavened bread, bitter herbs, and the Passover offering (a lamb in temple days) — along with the four (traditional) cups of wine..
During the meal proper the host blessed the unleavened bread, broke it, and shared it with those around the table.
But Jesus gives it a wholly new significance — he identifies himself with the Passover sacrifice
During the meal proper the host blessed the unleavened bread, broke it, and shared it with those around the table.
But Jesus gives it a wholly new significance — he identifies himself with the Passover sacrifice
The Passover meal was always intended to be a communal event
The new meal Jesus institutes is also a meal to be shared with others.
He chooses the unleavened bread to symbolize his body rather than the lamb because no animals need to die anymore because his sacrifice is once and for all.
The unleavened bread symbolized a willingness to let go of security and trust God's provision
For Jesus, yeast was also a symbol of contamination of faith
When we take the bread, as Jesus instructed us to do:
- We are reminded that Jesus sacrifice is once and for all
- We are reminded of our need to let go of our security and trust him
- We are reminded that our faith is to be expressed with others
- We are challenge to reflect on what other influences may have slipped into our lives
- We are reminded that Jesus sacrifice is once and for all
- We are reminded of our need to let go of our security and trust him
- We are reminded that our faith is to be expressed with others
- We are challenge to reflect on what other influences may have slipped into our lives
There are normally four cups of wine in a Passover celebration.
This is most likely the third cup which is called the cup of blessing or sometimes the cup of redemption corresponding to God's third promise:
This is most likely the third cup which is called the cup of blessing or sometimes the cup of redemption corresponding to God's third promise:
Jesus tells his disciples that his blood establishes the promised New Covenant:
With a contract, the signers of a contract agree to hold up their ends as long as the other signatories hold up theirs too.
With a covenant, both parties agree to hold up their ends regardless of whether the other party keeps their part of the agreement.
God had made a covenant with Abraham, Noah and Moses and now he makes a new covenant.
With a covenant, both parties agree to hold up their ends regardless of whether the other party keeps their part of the agreement.
God had made a covenant with Abraham, Noah and Moses and now he makes a new covenant.
As we drink the cup as Jesus instructed, we are reminded that he has saved us by grace.
Communion is actually a meal in three parts, but the final part is being held back until Jesus returns.
When we take part in communion we "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11) it is always a moment to place ourselves between the two great moments of history.
When we take part in communion we "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11) it is always a moment to place ourselves between the two great moments of history.
Small Group Questions:
1) Scan back over the five blocks of Jesus' teaching in Matthew (Chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 23-26). What parts of Jesus teaching have spoken most clearly to you?
2) The chief priests didn't like losing influence to Jesus. What things in our lives seek to influence us away from Jesus?
3)Mary probably gave all of her worldly wealth to bless Jesus. Have you ever felt tension between doing good things and doing God's things? How do you resolve that tension?
4)Read through the events of the Thursday night of Easter. How were the disciples feeling? How was Jesus feeling? What do you think was motivating Judas?
5)Read through the four reminders contained in the unleavened bread of communion. Which of those reminders do you most need when you come to communion? Why?
6) Discuss the difference between a covenant and a contract and what it means for the cup to represent the blood of the covenant. What does it tell you about God and his love for you?
7) Did you realise the implicit promise of Jesus' return in communion? What are you looking forward to the most when Jesus comes back?
1) Scan back over the five blocks of Jesus' teaching in Matthew (Chapters 5-7, 10, 13, 18, 23-26). What parts of Jesus teaching have spoken most clearly to you?
2) The chief priests didn't like losing influence to Jesus. What things in our lives seek to influence us away from Jesus?
3)Mary probably gave all of her worldly wealth to bless Jesus. Have you ever felt tension between doing good things and doing God's things? How do you resolve that tension?
4)Read through the events of the Thursday night of Easter. How were the disciples feeling? How was Jesus feeling? What do you think was motivating Judas?
5)Read through the four reminders contained in the unleavened bread of communion. Which of those reminders do you most need when you come to communion? Why?
6) Discuss the difference between a covenant and a contract and what it means for the cup to represent the blood of the covenant. What does it tell you about God and his love for you?
7) Did you realise the implicit promise of Jesus' return in communion? What are you looking forward to the most when Jesus comes back?