Matthew 26:26-29

Some events are unforgettable. Certainly this is one of them.

Some individuals change human history forever. Jesus ranks number one.

According to the apostle Paul, Jesus said to His followers to observe the Lord’s Table in remembrance of Him.

Never forget Him.

Never forget the central significance of what He came to do.

Never forget the future He obtained for us at the cross.

Jesus means Yahweh saves. Christ is the Messiah, the everlasting King anointed by God Himself. Hence the Savior-King. 

I. Sacrificial Gift (26-27)

The Passover meal that they were eating memorialized Israel’s deliverance from the death angel and from Egyptian bondage; the blood of the lamb slain a symbol of the coming Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

Jesus blessed and gave the bread as symbolic of His body. He gave the cup as symbolic of His blood. His hands are offering emblems of Himself to His disciples that they in turn are to take and eat and drink. These are symbols of his self-sacrifice—a gift of love to be received by those who are his disciples.

Just as He gave them bread and drink that night, He gives Himself as Savior, the Rescuer, the Deliverer to those who will put their full trust in Him. The cost of this sacrifice is impossible for any sinner to deserve or earn. The only way to have the gift is humbly to receive it with grateful faith.

The Lord’s Table reminds us of God’s costly gift to us. What makes the gift of Himself so priceless? Because of the covenantal purpose of this gift.

II. Covenantal Purpose (28)

Covenants are agreements between two people that bind them together in relationship. The most significant covenants are between God and man—Noah; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; Moses; David, Solomon—covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:12).

This relationship between God and man is amazing because God is infinite and holy, and man is finite and sinful; ever since humanity was exiled from Eden we have suffered hunger for the relationship with God we lost

Even those who remain rebellious and try to remove God from their consciousness cannot escape the God-shaped vacuum in their souls.

God made the first move in these relationships—He must. Unless He makes Himself available man cannot reach Him.

This covenant of blood (Exodus 24:8) is ratification and consecration of Mosaic covenant. It is a picture an innocent life given in the place of the guilty—cleansing and consecration. The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) is changing hearts from the inside out, where God’s Law is changing people.

His blood “poured out for many”—while it is true that not everyone will benefit from the his blood shed for sin—only those who believe—the point here is the one sinless Person is taking the place of the many sinners—vicarious/substitutionary sacrifice (Isaiah 53:12). No one but God can forgive sins. He can do so justly only because the precious blood of Christ satisfied our sin debt.

Sin broke the communion between God and man; before the communion can be restored the sin with its guilt must be removed—only the sinless God-man could do it. Jesus was a great teacher and prophet. He worked astonishing miracles—but these lead to His death and resurrection, without which we have no covenant to unite us with God, no deliverance from sin’s power and penalty, no rescue from death, no hope of eternal life in the city of God.

This Covenant is the basis of relationship between God and man. It was made possible only by shed blood that removes the sin barrier between God and man, restoring the broken relationship (reconciliation) and binding God and man together in an unbreakable relationship.

The Lord’s Table reminds us of God’s purpose in delivering up His Son for us—to restore forever the relationship that sin has broken.

III. Coming Kingdom (29)

The evening is full of somber, heartbreaking significance—predictions that Jesus’ life on earth is about to end violently, agony in the garden, betrayal, denial, court of injustice, torture, mocking, and death. All of this had to create sickening horror in the hearts of these men devoted to Him as the promised Messiah.

But the crown was still coming. It is not cancelled by His death. There will be a resurrection. There will be a future full of joyful celebration at the table of the Savior-King.

If the disciples gathered at the table that night needed to be assured that the kingdom was still coming, how much more do we?

Jesus has risen from the dead and 40 days later ascended into heaven. Pentecost has come with the firstfruits of converts won to Jesus. But history has traveled on for almost 2000 years since Jesus returned to the Father. Is the promise of His coming again a worn-out dream or an approaching destiny?

If Jesus can be trusted, if His work on the cross did procure forgiveness of sins and ratify the new covenant between God and men, if He did in fact conquer death by rising from the dead as well attested by over 500 eye witnesses, then the kingdom is as real as the rest of it. Our hope is rooted not Justin the past but also in future realities that cannot fail to be accomplished.

Jesus said, “I will drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father—and I will not drink it till then.” It is a vow Jesus made. His power and His truthfulness make His promise certain. Who will be there with Him? Besides Father, Son, and Spirit, and all the holy angels? Those who have received His gift of Himself, who have entered the covenant of blood He ratified, their names listed in the registry of the kingdom of heaven known as the Lamb’s Book of Life.

The Lord’s Table reminds us of our hope, the coming everlasting Kingdom of God.

Questions to consider:

Have spurned Christ’s sacrificial gift or received it with humble, joyful faith? How highly do you value His priceless gift of life?

Have you entered the everlasting covenant relationship with God purchased by Christ’s blood? Are you walking close to Him?

Are your greatest hopes and dreams tied to His everlasting Kingdom when all will be set right, sin’s curse removed—or have you settled for the lesser glories of the kingdoms of this world? So immersed in the here and now that you have forgotten the best is yet to come and is worth living for and dying for?

Psalm 65

Why? Why does God deserve both my reverent praise and my deeds of devotion?

Is praise and devotion merely religious duty and ceremonial ritual to be performed on cue every Thanksgiving season, and every Lord’s day each week?

Or is there more? Dutiful praise can hardly be worth anything. Whatever it is, it is certainly not worship. Worship of God rises from hearts moved to do so.

Another way of asking the question: why is it that we find ourselves dull toward praising God and reluctant to devote our strength to Him? What are we missing? Romans 1—when they knew God, they glorified not as God. The wrath of God revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Praise and devotion that honors God rises from the human heart for good reason. If I am paying attention to all God is and all He does, my praise and devotion will follow.

My problem—so much else tries to push God out of my focus. My godlessness of heart cripples my praise. My blindness to His worth halts my devotion.

Psalm 65 directs our attention to why we give God praise and devotion. It has been called a harvest hymn, but what it turns our hearts toward God’s praise not just at harvest time, but lifelong.

I. Praise God for His Grace! (2-4)

You hear prayer—to you shall all flesh come.

We all know what it’s like to have a desire to share something with someone else only to have that person tune us out. I know for me, it makes me stop mid-sentence with a “never mind.”

Do you sometimes feel that way with God? Perhaps you have prayed to Him in your distress, but could not escape the gnawing feeling that He was not listening and you are talking to the ceiling. There are times the Psalmist cries out that the heavens seem like brass and that God is far off.

Contrast that feeling with those times you have a keen sense of His attentive listening. In His grace He lifts the cover on reality to let you see His answer to your prayer—like a flash of light in your darkness to confirm to your soul that God is there and that He actually cares for you. That is heart-stirring. That creates awe in our souls, to think that the God of heaven and earth would listen to our prayer. Not just ours. All flesh.

God is far more attentive to us than human beings are to God.

You atone for our transgressions—when iniquities prevail against me

The blood of animals could never wash away human sin, only the blood of the God-man Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world.

We could never even come into God’s presence otherwise. As we are we are unfit for worship, unfit for fellowship with God, fit only for His blazing wrath against our rebellion and our twistedness. Our very nature has to be transformed.

You choose and bring near individuals to take up residence in your courts.

God makes the first move to rescue twisted rebels, atone for their sin, and bring them into close fellowship with Him.

Such people are blessed (Psalm 1; the Beatitudes)—happy, enviable position by virtue of relationship.

Who could ever deserve to make a home in God’s courts? The King of Heaven welcomes us home—makes His home ours!

What is the result? We shall be satisfied! The world is driven by unsatisfied desire—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life. It is never satisfied, never at rest, never at peace—like the turbulent sea. Yet, we find rest in God (Psalm 16:11).

God is the God of grace. Grace displayed in restoring us to what we lost in Eden.

Our response is a heart response of humility, love, and satisfaction.

II. Praise God for His Power! (5-8)

These awesome deeds of righteousness are from a God who rescues. He is the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. Our Savior is the Creator—mightier and more secure than the mighty mountains—He is the one who made them firm. He is mightier than the roaring sea because he stills them.

He doesn’t just rule over nature, but humanity—rules history, stills the raging sea of earth’s people (Daniel 7).

Our response is seen in verse 8—so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. People everywhere on the planet see the Creator’s handiwork in nature and cannot but be awed by it. They have to ascribe glory to Someone or something for it—even atheists will praise Mother Nature or evolution. People also perceive that there is some inexplicable force exercising power over the peoples of the earth—rise and fall of nations, of kings, of individuals, unpredictable yet instructive nature of history. God Himself is the Lord of History, governing with absolute power over all the peoples. He who can still the stormy sea with a word can cause all the peoples to be stilled in awe.

You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

Sunrise and sunset are the most breathtaking times of day, full of color and drama—speaks to us of beauty, power, change. We witness it and enjoy it but we cannot control it. God does.

Our response is one of secure hope, reverent awe, and loud joy. Have you practiced loud joy today? If not, you should!

III. Praise God for His Provision! (9-13)

We are not an agrarian society anymore, but God can still bring a nation to its knees just by shutting off the water supply. Our occasional droughts remind us of our constant dependence on God for water, crops, life itself.

Every growing thing, every harvest is a gift from God’s hand. The water is His water. The pastures, hills, meadows, valleys—full of crops and flocks—shout and sing for joy (Isaiah 55:10-13). The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. We eat and drink because He provides. Every living thing looks to Him for survival.

Grace:

Do you take advantage of the privilege of prayer to the God who listens?

Have you come to Christ who makes atonement for your twisted rebellion?

Will you be welcomed home by God?

Power:

Where’s your ultimate hope of rescue?

Are you awed with God’s creative power and sovereign rule over all people?

Does every day’s beginning and end make you want to shout with joy?

Provision:

Have you come to realize that the entire earth, including you, utterly depends on God to supply your needs?

Do you not have reason for great joy at His lavish supply?

O My God,
You fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
My heart admires, adores, loves You,
For my little vessel is as full as it can be,
And I would pour out all that fullness before You in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with You
Ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
Ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
Ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
Crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless You for the soul You have created,
For adorning it, for sanctifying it,
Though it is fixed in barren soil;
For the body You have given me,
For preserving its strength and vigor,
For providing senses to enjoy delights,
For the ease and freedom of limbs,
For hands, eyes, ears that do Your bidding;
For Your royal bounty providing my daily support,
For a full table and overflowing cup,
For appetite, taste, sweetness,
For social joys of relatives and friends,
For ability to serve others,
For a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
For a mind to care for my fellow-men,
For opportunities of spreading happiness around,
For loved ones in the joys of heaven,
For my own expectation of seeing You clearly.
I love You above the powers of language to express,
For what You are to Your creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

“Blessings” by Laura Story
Listen to it here.

We pray for blessings,

We pray for peace,

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep;

We pray for healing, for prosperity;

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things.

’Cause what if your blessing come through raindrops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.

We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.

We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love,

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough.

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we’d have faith to believe.

When friends betray us,

When darkness seems to win,

We know that pain reminds this heart

That this is not our home.

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?

What if trials of this life—

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights—

Are your mercies in disguise?