When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 14:13-14

Explain

Jesus had human relationships, and experienced everything that we experience and yet was without sin.  In this passage it struck me that when His cousin, John, died, Jesus got away.  He departed.  He left.  He got alone “into a desert placed apart”.  Did he love the desert place?  It ensured His solitude at some level, at least that seemed to be the point.  Yet, what do you see here?  You see the crowd following Him out.  

You and I might be frustrated at this moment.

• Don’t you know my family member was unjustly executed?

• Don’t you see I’m trying to get alone?

• Can’t I have a few minutes to myself?

But notice Jesus’ response:

He “was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”

Application

Sometimes we can get worn out in ministry, but we must remember why we do what we do.  It is not wrong to take a break.  We must get alone and spend time with God.  Yet, at the same time, we must remember our mission.  We must remember why we are here.  It is also necessary for us to spend ourselves in making a difference in the lives of people.

Response

• Who is someone that needs compassion today?

(16)  For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.  (17)  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:  (18)  For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luke 22:16-18

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.  (29)  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  (30)  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:28-30 

Explanation:

As Jesus sat at this table, he spoke of yet another time.  He had committed and commanded His disciples to remember this meal as a memorial of what He was about to do for them.  In the midst of this meal, He mentioned a future time.  He said that He would not drink this fruit of the vine until a future kingdom would come. Later on, in the chapter He addresses the disciples’ roles in the future kingdom.  He mentions another table:

(29)  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;  (30)  That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:29-30

Jesus claims here that there will be a future time in which we will sit at a table and commune with Him in eternity.  This isn’t some disembodied, ambiguous spiritual state.  This isn’t a metaphor for something we do not understand.  We will physically be with Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom.  There will be a new heaven and a new earth.  And we are going to be with Him!  There is a future meal that will be shared with Jesus!  Our redemption will not just be foretold in the Passover and remembered in communion.  Our redemption will be realized in real time!  We will be with Jesus!

Application:

All of History is moving toward a day where every wrong will be made right.  Every loose end will be tied up.  There will be ultimate justice.  Our God will be with us and we will be with Him.  There will be another time for communion.  John the Revelator said it this way in Revelation 21:1-8:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.  (6)  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.  (7)  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.  (8)  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 21:1-8 

Response:

• Are you going to be there?  Will you be with Jesus because you have trusted Christ?

(14)  And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.  (15)  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

(19)  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (20)  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 22:14,15 19,20

Explanation:

The disciples had prepared the passover meal.  The table was set, and the appointed time had come. When we get to verse 14, we read, “And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.”  They were certainly about to partake in this passover meal, which was typically enjoyed together with family members.  This certainly would have been a time that felt different than other passover meals that the disciples had experienced before.  Even Jesus expressed this in verse 15.

“(15)  And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer”

The Bible is clear, and Jesus was transparent when he expressed that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.  Jesus was sitting at a Passover table, but He began to institute something different here at what we call the Lord’s table.  He was communicating something about this meal at this table that pictured something other than just looking back at the Exodus.  Look at what He said in verse 19.

(19)  And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you

He also took the cup.

(20)  Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

He was telling them that this meal was not just about something historical.  It’s not just about the children of Israel.  It’s about Jesus.  And then he gave them this ordinance in verse 19:

“this do in remembrance of me.”

Jesus was about to suffer and die for them, and not just for them, but for the sin of the whole world.  The apostle Paul spoke of this when He said that He received from the Lord the importance of keeping this ordinance as a local church.

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  (24)  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  (25)  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  (26)  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Application:

When we partake of the Lord’s table, we do so to remember the redemption that was secured for us.  We remember the body that was broken and the blood that was shed so that we can know our sins are forgiven.  Peter said this in 1 Peter 1:18-19

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  (19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  (20)  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,  (21)  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

1 Peter 1:18-21

We must remember and trust in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that purchased our redemption.

Response:

• Is your hope in yourself, or God?
• Is your hope in some religious experience, or in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

(8)  And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.  (9)  And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?  (10)  And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.  (11)  And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?  (12)  And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.  (13)  And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 

Luke 22:8-13

Explanation:

Jesus Christ’s Sovereignty is in view here.  We see it in the very specific circumstances of finding the right venue for this family meal called the Passover.  He sends Peter and John to do it.  He tells them exactly what it will be like when they are to ask the person who gets them the room.  He tells them what to say, and what to do.

I love what verse 13 says.  “And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.”

Jesus was entirely in control of this whole situation and exhibited His knowledge and control in this miraculous event.  But this sovereignty in this moment is but a small glimpse into His movement in all of History.  Think about it.  The Passover meal itself, every element of it, points to the person of Jesus Christ.  We will see that in tomorrow’s post.  God had ordained the events of the Exodus, and the celebration of the passover meal every year, to point to the coming redemption of the Messiah.  And if he can do that, then demonstrating that sovereignty in their securing of a room and preparing it for this familial meal together was no big deal.

Application:

If there is anything I want you to take away from this week’s message it is this. 

God is in control.  He has been active in the events of History. Redemptive History is History. God has a plan.  And God’s will for you and for me is to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Response:

• Do you know Jesus Christ today?