THE FOUNDING OF THE LORD‘S SUPPER

Matthew 26:17-29

   17 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?" 18 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."'" 19 The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 20 Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 21 As they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me." 22 Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?" 23 And He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. 24 "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." 25 And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself." 26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

   Jesus has reached the last Easter feast, in His life here on earth. But it is not becoming the last altogether - it shall come an absolute Easter feast, in heaven, one day, as He says here. (v.29).
   And then, He says, He shall drink of the product of the vine, new with us, in His Father‘s kingdom. (v.29). And as we know this, that this is the blood of the new covenant, poured out for us, so that we shall get remission of sins, it becomes a mighty picture.
   Oh, how the thanksgiving shall ascend to Him from untied hearts and untied tongues.

   And you can boldly let it loose already here - you who has taken your refuge in this blood. That is namely those who also will be there, by His table in heaven one day - yes, on that definite day Jesus mentioning here. An everlasting day in our future, a day which comes closer to us for every second that goes by.

   Are you going to be there one day? Certainly, then you must start to drink this blood, and eat this body here and now, while you are still wandering here on earth.
   And then I am not, first of all, thinking of the outer acceptance of the communications wine and bread - we are seeing, among other things, one among them here in the text, who had nothing else than judgement left for it - but I consider whoever eats out of his hearts need for Jesus‘ vicarious life and death, because one admits a heart of a sinner, in there in his bosom. Firstly then one eats and drinks, in the true meaning of the word.

   It is not so much good to say about these disciples - they were cowardly, they failed etc. - but it is peculiar to register what a self-knowledge they already had reached. "The heart notably is so fraudulent," as he says Per Nordsletten (Norwegian revivalist preacher) in one of his most known songs.
   They were become sceptical of themselves! And you know, as long as a person is not sceptical to oneself, and his own hearts thoughts, he does not listen to any others than himself. - At least he is not open for what might cut across his own. And it is difficult of an access by God.

   We shall look some on just this, in the text forth - something that also shows, that this hearts comprehension did not stuck that very deeply yet, in some of them, and especially not in Peter.
   Jesus says in v.31 in the same chapter in Matthew: "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED.'"
   Clear, evident talk from The Lords own mouth! But what does Peter do with this? "Peter answered Him, ”I will never fall away.” (v.33).
   He says, in other words: "You are totally wrong Jesus! I'm not such as you are saying now, and will accordingly never act as you are foretelling."
   Then Jesus takes harder on, and are saying with similar clarity, and in distinctly words, how it will elapse: "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” (v.34). But it only leads to, that also Peter takes harder on, and accordingly are doing rebellion against-, and disclaims The Lords word: "Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told Him, “Peter said to Him, Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too.” (v.35).
   As you see, he was not alone about this, Peter, but it was him who led the word, on the other's behalf.

   They really believed that they should be able to stand. It was no intended wickedness, or rebellion, in this - they simply followed their own hearts thoughts, and belief - and with that the natural rebellion against God, and the spiritual darkness, was revealed.
   You do not have to go out and commit any awful sin - you can just, simply, follow your own hearts thoughts and advices - also when it comes to this to want to wander on the road to heaven – you are on collision course with the Lord.
   We have naturally a heart which do not know The Lord, and nor His way.
   What help is it in your willingness, if you are blind! The Lords Word, and your own hearts thoughts and advices, is two widely different things. They are going totally different ways!
   Haven‘t you read about the Word of God - that it "is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow -" and affirms the hearts thoughts and advices? - Is that what it is doing when it has pierced absolutely in? No! - "and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Heb. 4:12).
   "My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD." (Is. 55:8).

   And so, we know what happened to these disciples, and Peter notably. Yes, how did it end? As The Lord had told!

   But now you are going to get to seize the consolation - that which builds your house upon the rock - namely the Lords faithfulness and truth, expressed in His word and promises. Just listen: "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (v.29).
   Who are these you, He speaks of here - is it only the disciples whom He there has in front of Himself?
   No, it is you - you who have taken your refuge to His body and blood. You who must say from the heart: "I know nothing to my salvation except you The Lamb of God, Solely your righteousness, covers all my disgrace."
   And after this info, you will hopefully hear Jesus‘ words in a new way! Read the verse over again.

   The Word of God is not something impersonal - it talks to you! It preaches unto you that you are out of it, and it preaches you that you are inside, according to as your position is.
   You are the man - whom either is out of it, or inside! And are you out of it - yes, then you are totally out of it - however much pious and spiritual and religious well-intended you strive to be, and is - and are you inside - yes, then you are totally inside - how wretched and sinful and down-and-out you are. It stands or falls with your relationship to this Jesus says unto you here: ""Take, eat; this is My body." And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." (v.26b-28).

   But as mentioned, a comprehension of truth had begun to germinate forth within them - and when Jesus is coming with the terrifically forecast - that one of them shall betray Him – they do not look at the others, but get troubled themselves, and asks heartfelt: "Surely not I, Lord?" (v.22b). It appears to me namely, that it certainly could be me! In other words: I'm surely capable of it.
   Here they had a moment of divine light over their own hearts.
   But then also he is coming, whom in the same divine light, knew that it was himself, and that Jesus (God Himself) already knew it, and says the very same: "And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" (v.25).
   Yes, one can shiver. That hardened had he become. This light was namely Judas' chance. Completely to the last - including during the traitors kiss in Gethsemane - Jesus calls him - friend. "Friend, what are you here for?" Jesus asked him.
   Do not you think you can hear Jesus‘ heartfelt speech in it? It is like a mother who speaks to a lost child, one last outstretched hand, if rescue only were obtainable. But upon Judas it was in vain.
   The hatred, and the disdain, against this one, whom all along, did things on His own - according to Judas - so odd manner had become to big. - He did not grip the power, like he meant He ought to do. He did not use His signs and wonders to win the favour of the great ones in society etc. And additional to that, this secret of several years sin, that Judas lived in - he stole from what was laid in the chest.
   He found no way back, because in his condition he did not hear Jesus‘ word, and was not seeing Jesus‘ way. But you do, who reads now? (Read v.26-28).

   And so accordingly, that promise at the end, which so far is not fulfilled, but stands as steady as the Lord Himself: "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." (v.29)!

   May that day soon arrive!

   See! See! See! And live!
It is life in to glance at the Golgotha cross,
Yes - right now it is life for you too.

E.K.

Holy Bible, New American Standard Version
Translator: E.K.