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Matthew 26:17-30 (Last Supper)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called “Lead Me to the Cross,” and in this series we are following Jesus’ last days to the cross as recorded in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus purposefully followed his Father’s plan, as God the Father led God the Son to the cross of Calvary. In all of his actions it is as though Jesus were praying, “Father, lead me to the cross.” And so, as we approach Lenten season this year, we are also asking God to lead us to the cross – that we may better understand what Jesus did for us and that we may take up our own cross and follow Christ. Today we will look at the foreshadowing of the cross as found in the Last Supper. (Read Matthew 26:17-19 and pray.)

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The first Sunday of every month at our church we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. We break the bread, and we pass the cup as together we share this meal focused on Christ and the cross. For us the Lord’s Supper looks back to the cross and what Jesus did for us there. But for Jesus and his disciples, the cross was still in the future. And so, for them, rather than a meal of remembrance, the Lord’s Supper was a foreshadowing of that which was yet to come.

This was Jesus’ last supper with his disciples before the cross. Each of the gospel writers emphasize different aspects of this meal, but Matthew especially focuses on the plan of God as revealed in the Last Supper. As we shall see, this was all part of God’s plan for Jesus and for us. God’s long plan of salvation was being worked out even as Jesus worked his way to the cross.

Jesus’ death on the cross was no accident. It was a divine appointment. And in today’s passage, as we shall see, Matthew draws attention to Jesus’ appointed time, his appointed betrayal, and his appointed death.

I. Christ’s appointed time (17-19)

First of all, let’s look at Jesus’ appointed time. The Bible tells us that God sent Jesus “when the time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4). Jesus was born at the exact time God appointed. Jesus also died at the exact time God had appointed. And we see this at the Last Supper when Jesus chooses the time and the place of his last meal before the cross.

   A. Jesus chooses the time (17-18)

First of all, Jesus chooses the time. Look at verses 17-18:

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near.’” (Matthew 26:17-18)

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was an annual feast for the Jews which began with the Passover Meal in the evening and then continued for seven days. On this particular year the Passover fell on a Thursday evening, so sometime during that day, the disciples approached Jesus and asked him where he wanted them to make preparations for the meal. Interestingly, before giving them instructions on the place, Jesus first points to the timing of the event. He says, “My appointed time is near.”

There is great significance in Jesus’ choice of time for the Last Supper. The Passover meal was symbolic of God’s great deliverance of Israel from Egypt. It pointed back to the night of the final plague when God took the lives of the firstborn sons of Egypt. But God protected the Israelites during this plague. He instructed each household to slaughter a lamb and to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses. He told them,\: “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt” (Exodus 12:13). And so, the Israelites were protected when God executed judgment on Egypt that night.

Jesus chose the Passover for his last meal not only because it pointed back to this great act of redemption, but because it also foreshadowed God’s great act of redemption at the cross. Jesus lived his whole life in the shadow of the cross. He often spoke of his hour that had not yet come. But now the hour was drawing near. It was time for the Passover, and Jesus chose the Passover as the time for his last meal before the cross. His appointed time was near.

   B. Jesus chooses the place (18-19)

Jesus not only chose the time, but he also chose the place. Look at verses 18-19 again:

“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. (Matthew 26:18-19)

Jesus has been anticipating this meal, and he has already worked out all the details. He tells the disciples exactly who to contact and exactly what to say. He knows exactly where they will eat and all that will happen. Once again, as we saw last week, Jesus is the one in charge. The religious leaders may plot to take his life and Judas may conspire to betray him, but Jesus goes willingly to the cross. He chooses the time and the place of the Last Supper. He has a divine appointment to keep, and he will keep it at God’s appointed time.

II. Christ’s appointed betrayal (20-25)

But not only did Jesus have an appointed time. He also had an appointed betrayal.

   A. Jesus announces his betrayal (20-22)

Look at verses 20-22 now where Jesus announces his betrayal:

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:20-22)

Picture the scene. It is evening, and Jesus is eating the Passover meal with his disciples. Notice the emphasis on the Twelve here. These are not just any disciples. These are the Twelve Jesus specifically chose at the beginning of his ministry. These are the ones who left everything to follow him. For three years they have traveled and ministered and shared life together. And now Jesus drops a bombshell on them: “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Jesus has already told them several times before that he would be betrayed. But this is the first time he tells them that it will be one of them. It is one of the Twelve who will do the betraying.

The disciples are stunned. One of them? How is that possible? Whatever laughter or celebration may have been taking place during the feast is immediately replaced with sadness. And one by one the disciples begin asking Jesus, “Surely not I, Lord? Surely not I?”

It is interesting that each of the disciples looks first at himself instead of each other. Their first concern is not “Who is it?” but “Surely not I?” The only thing worse than one of their number betraying Jesus would be if they were the betrayer themselves.

It is also interesting that none of them look at Judas. Judas has hidden his treachery well, so well that each of the disciples examines his own heart rather than immediately pointing their finger at Judas. We do well when we follow the same practice in communion today. Communion is a time to examine your own heart before God, not to point the finger at someone else.

   B. Jesus identifies his betrayer (23-25)

Jesus not only announces his betrayal. He also identifies his betrayer. Look at verse 23 where Jesus responds to the disciples’ questions:

Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.” (Matthew 26:23)

Here Jesus does not specifically identify Judas as the betrayer so much as confirm that the betrayer is indeed a close friend. There was a common bowl at the table, so they all would have dipped in the bowl. Jesus is simply talking about sharing a meal, and sharing a meal is a sign of trust and friendship.

Jesus’ words here remind us of King David’s words in the Old Testament in Psalm 41:9: “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9) Jesus confirms that his betrayer is in the room at that very moment, and that he is indeed a close friend.

Jesus goes on to say: “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. (Matthew 26:24) Judas’ betrayal was written about in the Scriptures long before it happened. But that does not absolve him of his responsibility in the matter. Yes, this was all part of God’s plan, but Judas was a willing participant. No one forced him to betray Jesus. Judas did it willingly from the darkness of his own heart.

And so, Jesus delivers this frightening word of judgment: “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” (Matthew 26:24) Yes, Jesus will be betrayed as foretold by Scripture, but woe to that man who betrays him. There is no darker deed than betraying the Lord Jesus. There are some things worse than not being born.

Finally, we read Judas’ response to all this in verse 25: Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” (Matthew 26:25) Judas feigns innocence. He tries to disguise his betraying heart by asking the same question all the other disciples asked. But there’s one significant difference. The other disciples all asked, “Surely not I, Lord?” Judas cannot quite bring himself to call Jesus “Lord,” and so he asks, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” (Matthew 26:25) (There is no record of Judas ever calling Jesus “Lord” in the whole New Testament.)

This changes everything. You may remember from last week’s message that the religious leaders had planned to wait until the following week to arrest Jesus. They were going to wait until after the feast was over. But now Judas knows that Jesus knows. And so, Judas goes to the priests that very night to betray Jesus – just as it was written, just as Jesus had foretold. Jesus has an appointment to keep, and by identifying his betrayer, Jesus sets in motion the events that will lead to his arrest that night and to the cross the following day.

III. Christ’s appointed death (26-30)

We have looked at Christ’s appointed time and his appointed betrayal. We now look at his appointed death. In sharing the bread and the cup with his disciples, Jesus shows that his death is also appointed. He speaks in the present tense as he offers the bread and the cup, showing the absolute certainty of his coming death.

   A. Jesus offers the bread (26)

In verse 26 Jesus offers the bread:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26)

The breaking of the bread is a foreshadowing of the incredible physical suffering Jesus will experience in the hours to come. Jesus will be beaten, clubbed, scourged and nailed to the cross. He will be bloodied and bruised beyond recognition. His body will be broken for you and for me. And so, he breaks the bread and gives it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

   B. Jesus offers the cup (27-29)

Next Jesus offers the cup. Look at verses 27-28:

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:27-28)

The cup is a foreshadowing of the cross where Jesus’ blood will be poured out in death for many. Jesus makes a new covenant in his blood, a new covenant where everyone who comes to him for salvation finds forgiveness for their sins and life everlasting.

Jesus points forward to that life everlasting in verse 29 where he says:

“I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 29:29)

This is Jesus’ last supper with his disciples before the cross. The appointed time for his death is near. But there is another appointed time and another appointed feast in the future. Jesus looks beyond the cross to that time when all things will be made new. He looks forward to the great feast in the kingdom of God when they will share the cup together in a new way. Verse 29 is a ray of hope and light in an otherwise dark and gloomy scene. Yes, Jesus will be betrayed. Yes, Jesus will die. But then Jesus will rise victorious, and he will bring in the kingdom of God.

   C. Jesus offers praise to the Father (30)

Matthew closes out the account of the Last Supper with verse 30:

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:30)

Jesus first offers the bread, then he offers the cup, and finally he offers praise to the Father. The cross is coming, but it is all part of God’s plan. There is an appointed time, there is an appointed betrayal, there is even an appointed death, but none of this dissuades Jesus. He offers up a hymn of praise and follows his Father’s plan to the very end. Once again, it is as though Jesus were praying, “Father, lead me to the cross, the appointed time and place of my death.”

CONCLUSION: There are a number of applications we can make from this passage.

1) Trust God’s sovereignty. Marvel at the plan of God. We see so much sin and evil in this world, yet God is still working out his sovereign plan. God in his sovereignty works all things together for good, even Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. If God can take the worst action ever committed by any human being and use it for good in his plan, then we can trust God’s sovereignty in our lives as well.

2) Fear hell. Sin is not just in the world out there. Sin is in here. It is in each and every one of us. Just as there was a time appointed for Jesus’ death, so there is a time appointed for judgment. Jesus said it would have been better for Judas not to have been born than to betray Jesus. Once again, there are some things worse than never being born. You may never betray Jesus. But if you reject Jesus, you along with Judas will face eternal punishment in hell.

And then finally,

3) Receive Jesus’ death for you. Jesus invites you: “Take and eat, this is my body which is broken for you. Take and drink, this is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” There is forgiveness at the cross of Christ. The Israelites trusted God, and they were protected when God executed judgment on Egypt. When your faith is in Christ, you will be protected when God executes judgment on the world. Just as God “passed over” the homes of the Israelites when he saw the blood on the doorframes of their houses, so God will pass over you when he sees the blood of Jesus on the doorframes of your heart.

“Oh Lord, lead me. Lead me to the cross where Jesus died for me.”

© Ray Fowler

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