Your place at the table

1 Sept

Making the most of oppertunities

We’ve been looking at how Jesus uses every opportunity to teach through everyday occurrences. Today, we look at the remarkable Last Supper. There is a lot we can learn from Jesus by the way He reacts to circumstances. But in this scripture, He uses the Last Supper to provide the disciples and us with some potent thoughts which we need to apply to our everyday lives. As we will see, the part we need to play is to take our place at the Lord’s Table.

Scripture

Luke 22:14-23 ESV And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. (15) And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. (16) For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (17) And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. (18) For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” (19) And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (20) And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (21) But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. (22) For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” (23) And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.

Bible Study Questions

Jerusalem

The Lord’s Table takes place in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is spoken about more in the Bible than any other place on earth, it is God’s Holy, chosen city. When Jesus finally enters Jerusalem on the Passover, getting ready for the Last Supper and His suffering, He weeps. Why does Jesus weep? How does this compare to David’s weeping in 2 Samuel?

Luke 19:41 ESV And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,

2 Samuel 15:30 ESV But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.

New Covenant

The main point we can take out of this morning’s passage is that we need to follow the New Covenant. But what is the New Covenant? What is the Old Covenant? How does the New Covenant compare to the Old Covenant?

Luke 22: 20 ESV And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Mark 1:15 ESV And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 5:17 ESV “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Matthew 22:37-40 ESV And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Why Jesus?

The Old Covenants were hard work - sacrifices, rules and rituals. But they were “safe”. But following Jesus comes at a price, He tells us Himself. So why should we follow Jesus, and not the Old Covenant?

Luke 9:23 ESV And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

John 15:19 ESV If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 16:33 ESV I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Paid in blood

The New Covenant has been paid in Jesus’s blood. We talk about this all the time as Christians, but what does it mean? What are the implications for our lives?

Luke 22: 20 ESV And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

1 John 1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Revelation 12:11 ESV And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Acts 20:28 ESV Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Gratitude for the suffering

In the scripture for this morning, Jesus says thank you twice and implies it a third time. This is while He is sharing His last meal with His disciples and friends, and before He goes to face a brutal death. How can we develop this same attitude towards our suffering?

Luke 22:15 ESV And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Luke 22:17 ESV And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.

Luke 22:19 ESV And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

James 1:2-4 ESV Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3-5 ESV Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Jesus at the table

The Lord’s Table presents us with much significance. In other scriptures, we are told to remember Jesus every time we take part in the Lord’s Table. What happens to us when we take part in the Lord’s Table, and remember Him regularly?

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 ESV and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (25) In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

2 Timothy 2:21 ESV Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

1 Peter 1:2 ESV According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

You place at the Table

Jesus gave His body and spilt His blood to save our souls. What do we need to do in response? What happens if we don’t?