Passover Prepared - Mark 14:12-21
Nothing happening to Jesus takes him by surprise. His life is not taken from Him; He gives it freely! He is in absolute control in the hour of His death.
V12... On Passover they put the lamb's blood on the door frame and were saved. We are saved not by our faith, but by its object!
It was the first day of unleavened bread. For leavened bread, you need a starter... It's old bread reused. That bread was from when they were in Egypt. So for 7 days they weren't allowed to use leaven, to purge the "Egypt" from their food source.
Once Jesus is in us, we are certainly not to be the same!
This supper is a new start, out of bondage and the Law. Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice! In Him we begin a new leaven. Our new leaven is the Kingdom of God, and we bring disciples into it.
V13-14... Peter and John follow the man with the water jug and see that Jesus knows all that's happening. He was right about every detail. He knows also that His time is at hand.
Dt 16:5... You may only sacrifice in the place where God chooses to be worshipped. Jesus chooses where His Passover will be.
V15...
John 14:1... He'll prepare a place for us. And here in Mark, the disciples are preparing a place for Him. They prepared the meal.
We should prepare our table as a place where people can worship God.
Proverbs... 2 women: woman of wisdom and woman of chaos.
Proverbs 9: Wisdom... Prepared a house and take intentionally. Calls people to her table for a meal, to speak about the things of God.
As they prepare the place, the disciples are acting with wisdom! So will we as we act in the same way.
Jesus claims the house, the room. If you're a Christian, the Lord owns the rooms in your house. Rev 3:20... Do we let Him in when He knocks? Make all the rooms His room!
The disciples are in the upper room. Reclining at the table. John is laying on his left side right next to Jesus. Judas was also there, a picture of the two thieves on the cross.
Judas acted like a close friend to Jesus, but he was a betrayer at heart.
Didique... Have communion every Lord's Day.
V19-21... They each wondered if they were the one, and questioned each other as well. Judas took the bread and Satan entered him. Jesus told him to do what he has to quickly. The disciples didn't even suspect him! He must have been a very trusted member of the group.
The greatest threat to our church is not a man outside the door, but the man at the table who loves the wine and bread more than he loves the Lord. Seeing a following, seeking some things other than the Lord Himself.
This is a warning: Satan can disrupt a church from within. Don't be a Judas. A Christian follows the Lord, period. Judas stopped following Him. A premeditated abandonment of the Lord.
Satan knows exactly when to provide the opportunity to blow apart your life. Marital tension, financial stress.
Judas was sinning little by little. It built over time, and he left it unchecked. That was Satan's point of entry. Jesus says it'd better for him if he'd never been born.
We just be careful! 1000 roads lead to hell, and only one leads to heaven. Kill your sin before it starts killing you!
That's our text.
2 thoughts: Matthew 26:25... Judas asks if he's the one, calling Jesus rabbi, and Jesus answers: you have said so. Judas see him as teacher, John sees Him as Lord.
If Jesus is just a moral teacher to you, it's not enough. You're in trouble. It'll do you no good on judgement day because you've known Him but not followed Him.
We must follow Him! Smash the idol of self. Judas seemed as pious as he could be. The Pharisees, same thing. Without Him, I am doomed! Send me where you please.
Jesus is in control. Twice in Mark He calls himself the Son of Man. When he does, religious leadership wants to kill Him (he was claiming to be God).
Jesus was preparing his body for us, that we might know Him forever!
---
Here's what your kids learned today:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F5lnjlDDxqXIxE15tDLHHbuga5s2UlZ4?usp=drive_link