Lesson 62 - Senior
Memory Verse
"For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (I Corinthians 11:26).
Cross References
I The Last Passover
1. The disciples prepare for the feast, [MAT:26:17-19]; [MAK:14:12-16]; [LUK:22:7-13].
2. Jesus announces His betrayal, [MAT:26:20-25]; [MAK:14:18-21]; [LUK:22:21-23]; [JHN:13:21-30].
II The Lord's Supper Instituted
1. The life giving bread is broken, [MAT:26:26]; [JHN:6:51]; [MAK:14:22], [LUK:22:19], [1CO:11:24.
2. The cup is symbolical of the Blood of the new covenant, [MAT:26:27-29]; [MAK:14:23-25]; [LUK:22:20]; [HEB:9:16-23]; [1CO:11:25-26].
3. The solemnity of the ordinance necessitates inward examination, [1CO:11:27-28].
4. "He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself," [1CO:11:29-30].
III The Washing of the Disciples' Feet
1. "Supper being ended," Jesus washes the disciples feet, [JHN:13:1-5].
2. "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me," [JHN:13:6-11].
3. "I have given you an example," [JHN:13:12-16].
4. "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them," [JHN:13:17].
IV In the Garden
1. Jesus prays "thy will be done," [MAT:26:36-42]; [MAK:14:32-36]; [LUK:22:39-42].
2. "His sweat was as it were great drops of blood," [LUK:22:44].
3. An angel strengthens Him, [LUK:22:43].
4. "Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation," [LUK:22:46]; [MAT:26:40-46]; [MAK:14:37-42].
Notes
The First Passover
The Passover was inaugurated in Egypt on the night that the Children of Israel were to be delivered from bondage. The Lord gave Moses explicit instructions as to how it was to be kept ([EXO:12:1-51]). Each family was to take a male lamb without blemish and keep it separated from the flock from the tenth to the fourteenth day of the month. The whole congregation of Israel were to kill the lamb on the evening of the fourteenth day. The blood was to be sprinkled on both sides and above the door. This blood was a sign unto the death angel to spare those of that household from the destruction that was to be visited upon Egypt. Each lamb that was slain that night saved the life of at least one person. How many are the lives that have been saved through Christ our Passover Lamb! ([1CO:5:7]).
So perfect was this a type of Christ, and so marvellous the deliverance, that the Lord commanded that this day should be a memorial forever ([EXO:12:14]). "It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations" (Exodus 12:42).
The Perfect Sacrifice
On the tenth day of the month, Jesus made His last trip to Jerusalem. On the fourteenth day of the month, Jesus observed the Passover with His disciples. Jesus fulfilled the Passover for us through His death. We as Christians do not celebrate the day Israel was delivered from Egypt, for a greater deliverance has been made. Jesus gave us the ordinance of the Lord's Supper that every Christian might remember the great deliverance that Jesus wrought when He died that we might live. Jesus often ate with sinners; but this sacred evening He assembled with His disciples. One of the laws concerning the Passover was that no stranger should eat thereof ([EXO:12:43]).
Eligible Partakers
The Lord's Supper should be taken only by those who are truly born again and are living Christian lives. "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (I Corinthians 11:28, 29).
There are some who wonder about these words concerning unworthiness to participate in the Lord's Supper. The truth is clear. Paul had been rebuking them for not being solemn in the Lord's house, and for divisions among them. He was reminding them of the solemnity of partaking of the ordinance established in memory of Christ's death on the cross and in looking forward to His coming. If we are saved and walking in the light with a purpose in our heart to follow the Lord, then we are not eating or drinking unworthily of the emblems of the Lord's Supper.
God wants us to enter into His holy presence with reverence, and realise that we are partaking of this in remembrance of the Lord's death. Of all the solemn times in the ministry of Jesus Christ the most solemn moments, no doubt, were those spent that night in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed in agony, "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." It was the cup of suffering; it was the cup of death. So when we gather around the Lord's table to partake of the emblems of the wine and the bread, symbolizing the body and blood of Jesus, our minds should be stayed on Him and our hearts lifted heavenward with a prayer of consecration and rededication of our lives to Him.
Symbolic of Christ's Body and Blood
We do not believe in transubstantiation. When these emblems are prayed over they are not literally transformed into the blood and body of Jesus, as some suppose. But they mean as much to us as the emblems over which Jesus prayed on the night of the last Supper. If we rightly discern the Lord's body we may look to God for healing virtue in the Blood. If we are sick in body, if there is an affliction upon us, if we are sorely tried, let us discern the Lord's body -- realise that He died that we might live -- and we shall receive the power of God for that which we stand in need of.
It is contrary to the Word of God to use water in place of wine. We should use unfermented grape juice. Christ and His disciples used the "fruit of the vine" ([MAT:26:29]; [MAK:14:25]; [LUK:22:18]). Nowhere in the Word can we find that Jesus used water when He instituted the Lord's Supper. God wants us to follow the Word.
The Ordinance of Foot Washing
After inaugurating the Lord's Supper, Jesus laid aside His garments and took a towel and girded Himself. He then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet. It is clearly set forth in the very words of Jesus that the washing of the disciples' feet is essentials included as one of the Christian ordinances. Peter said unto Christ, "Thou shalt never wash my feet" (John 13:8). The answer of Christ was sufficient: "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." After Jesus had washed the feet of the disciples, and was set down again He said, "Know ye what I have done to you?" Then He set forth the instructions concerning the observance of this ordinance.
Jesus said, "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." There are many excuses made for disobedience to this Word; and one of the predominating excuses is that it was a custom in those days to wash feet before coming into the house, because they wore sandals. But they, no doubt, had already observed that custom, as they had already entered the house and eaten. Foot washing is more than a custom. Jesus was setting an example; He was committing to them an ordinance that should be observed down through the years by the sincere and faithful followers of Christ. One of the commendations of the saints by Paul was that they had "washed the saints' feet." It is our privilege to obey the ordinances of Jesus. He has promised us happiness for obedience. "If Ye know these things, happy are ye it ye do them" (John 13:17). Many people are missing the happiness that Jesus promised, by failing to observe the ordinance of foot washing.
Alone in Prayer
Although this night was the last opportunity Jesus had to be with His disciples before His death, He took time to be alone in prayer. It is easy to let many duties rob us of time to pray; but it is prayer that gives us power to withstand temptation and to accomplish things for God. Jesus was surprised at the weakness of Peter and exclaimed, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour?" "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." Peter slept when he should have watched. As a result, when temptation came, he was not fortified. He failed and denied his Lord. Jesus held on in agonizing prayer. We read: "There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:43, 44). Through the victory gained in Gethsemane He was able to accomplish the triumphant deliverance on Calvary's Cross.
Questions
1. What is promised for obeying the ordinance of foot washing?
2. What excuse is often given for not obeying this ordinance, and how can you answer it?
3. What is meant by "transubstantiation"? Do you believe this takes place?
4. What is meant by eating and drinking the Lord's Supper unworthily?
5. Should sinners partake of the Lord's Supper?
6. When was the first Passover?
7. What is represented by the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper?
8. Why did Peter change his mind about letting Jesus wash his feet?
9. Why do we partake of the Lord's Supper?
10. How long after this observance of the Passover did Judas betray Christ?
11. What was the essence of Jesus' prayer in the Garden?
12. What were Peter, James, and John doing during the time that Jesus was praying in the Garden?