Sermon Series: "The Servant King"
Introduction:
-(Read v. 7-13) Set the scene and give the practical application of how Jesus guides and provides as we listen to Him
-Background info on the Passover
-Read v. 14-20
-What does Jesus’ object lesson teach us about His death?
1. The death of Jesus is the centerpiece of the biblical story line.
-Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)
-The story of the Passover in Exodus 12-13
-John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7
-Jesus applying it to Himself and His pending crucifixion in this passage
-The Marriage Supper of the Lamb (v. 16, 18 Revelation 19:1-9)
2. The death of Jesus accomplishes our salvation.
A. Jesus is our substitute who atones for our sin
Let me quote from John Stott’s classic book, The Cross Of Christ, to explain this point. He writes, “The Passover story is a self-disclosure of the God of Israel in three roles. First, Yahweh revealed himself as the Judge….Second, Yahweh revealed himself as the Redeemer….Third, Yahweh revealed himself as Israel’s covenant God. He had redeemed them to make them his own people.” We clearly see this as fulfilled in Jesus because John the Baptist said, “”Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Paul wrote, “For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7b). Stott goes on to write, “…It is equally clear to us who see the fulfillment of the Passover in the sacrifice of Christ. First, the Judge and Savior are the same person. It was the God who ‘passed through’ Egypt to judge the firstborn, who ‘passed over’ Israelite homes to protect them. We must never characterize the Father as Judge and the Son as Savior. It is one and the same God who through Christ saves us from himself. Second, salvation was (and is) by substitution. The only firstborn males who were spared were those in whose families a firstborn lamb had died instead. Third, the lamb’s blood had to be sprinkled after it had been shed. There had to be an individual appropriation of the divine provision. God had to ‘see the blood’ before he would save the family. Fourth, each family rescued by God was thereby purchased for God. Their whole life now belonged to him. So does ours. And consecration leads to celebration.”
B. Jesus is our redeemer who delivers us from the bondage of sin.
C. Jesus is our new covenant sacrifice who brings us into eternal fellowship with God (v. 20).
3. The death of Jesus must be appropriated by faith in order for us to experience salvation (v. 21-23).
-Talk about Judas taking Passover with them but not being saved
-Talk about Satan’s will being done, God’s will being done without forcing Judas to sin, Judas exercising his will and being responsible (refer to Justin’s message)
-Relate it to Communion (Catholicism) and religious works in general not saving us (1 Corinthians 11:17, 27). It is not enough just to take the elements of communion or do religious works.
4. The death of Jesus is memorialized through celebrating communion.
-Why would so many people celebrate 2000 years later something so awful as the death of Jesus?
-Passover was a time of worship (Exodus 12:27), obedience (Exodus 12:35), a fellowship meal (v. 46-47), consecration (Exodus 13:1-2), remembrance (Exodus 13:3), celebration (Exodus 13:8), an ordinance ( Exodus 13:10).
-These elements are carried over into the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-32).
Conclusion: -Repent and trust Jesus to be saved and receive the benefits of His death
-Let’s rightly celebrate communion personally and corporately
