Matthew 26:27-28

1. the words of Jesus
1. when spoken to the disciples, they were an indication of what was about to happen
2. for us today, they are an interpretation of what actually happened
3. before instituting this sacred supper, Jesus celebrated the Passover
1. the Passover was a memorial of the deliverance of God’s people from the bondage of Egypt
2. the Passover was symbolic and prophetic of a greater deliverance to come
3. men are not really free until they are free from sin
4. what God had promised, He was now doing
1. God’s children had suffered through the centuries
1. because they lived in a sinful world
2. because they themselves were transgressors
2. Jesus came to lift the burdens, and to set men free from the bondage of sin
5. Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to His disciples
1. they did not fully understand the meaning
2. Jesus was proclaiming the very heart of the gospel
2. "this is my blood"
1. the cup and the wine have great meaning
1. they speak of God’s love as revealed by the gift of His Son (as a sacrifice)
2. the sacrifices that were offered for centuries highlighted an unalterable truth: guilty sinners deserve the death penalty
3. guilty sinners can only be rescued by one who offers a sacrifice of infinite worth and dies in their place
4. who could accomplish such a task
2. the time had come for that blood to be shed (the blood of infinite worth)
1. the Great Day of Atonement had come, and now God offered His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of men
2. Jesus will pay the price, break the shackles, and set men free
3. the wine poured into the cup represents His shed blood
3. Jesus was not surprised by Calvary
1. He was aware that He came into this world to die
2. He knew that He was chosen to be the Lamb of God
4. Jesus knew that a terrible ordeal awaited Him
1. that night His soul would be overwhelmed with sorrow – Matthew 26:39
2. He would be arrested, tried, condemned, and crucified
3. though His ordeal was very near; He willingly, voluntarily, and completely offered His life for theirs
3. "blood of the new testament"
1. is God's new arrangement with men based on the death of Christ
2. God did not forsake His fallen creation
1. from the time of the fall, God has promised to restore the original relationship, by a redeemer described as "the seed of the woman"
2. the promise made to Adam, repeated to Abraham, and confirmed in the prophets, is now fulfilled in Christ
3. the central theme of the gospel is salvation through Jesus
1. by the cross the power of sin and Satan is broken, and grace is proclaimed to sinners
2. the blood of Jesus is the blood of reconciliation that restores us and makes us right with God
3. then we shall never be lost, but blest forever
4. Jesus foresaw that His death would bring salvation
1. of this He was sure, and for this He rejoiced
2. Jesus looked at the cross with sadness, but He looked beyond the cross with gladness – Hebrews 12:2
4. "which is shed for many"
1. Jesus said that He was the good shepherd that laid down His life for His sheep
2. Jesus’ death did not happen because He was a helpless victim in the hands of His enemies
1. He is the Son of God who chose to die, to fulfill the Father’s purpose
2. Jesus died to save sinners from their tragic condition
3. this is the supreme expression of love from a holy God for an unholy sinner
3. Christ’s blood is poured out for many
1. how many we do not know, only God does
2. we rejoice in the fact that the number of the saved will be greater than we know or can imagine
3. we must ask ourselves if we are one of that number
5. "for the remission of sins"
1. our transgressions against God are more than we can count and beyond our power of computation
1. here is a problem we cannot solve
2. that which is impossible with man, is possible with God
3. God is never frustrated
4. this sinful world is under His control, and evil men are not beyond His power of reclamation
5. a price must be paid, but when no one else is able to pay that price, God comes to the rescue
6. Jesus paid the ransom, so that all who believe in Him may be redeemed from their hopeless and lost condition
2. forgiveness: this is the gospel Jesus proclaimed
1. indeed this gospel is good news
2. it does not demand that we earn salvation
3. it emphasizes that grace is full and free
4. do not misunderstand, grace is free but it is not cheap: it cost Jesus His life
3. Jesus knew what was required and He persevered until all barriers were remove, so that we might come to God
4. the risen Christ triumphantly declared to two puzzled disciples that the message of forgiveness should be preach to all nations – Luke 24:45-47
6. conclusion
1. have you experienced the saving power of this message that Christ wanted preached to all people
2. how blest we are to sit at the Lord’s table, and to partake of the bread and wine which are the symbols of His sacrifice