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Mar 20, 2022

A Meal to Remember

A Meal to Remember

Passage: Mark 14:12-31

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Follow: Learning from Mark about Jesus’ Most Misunderstood Command

Anthony Bourdain was more than a chef, more than a foodie. He sought to impress upon us how food was more than eating. There was a sense in which one had to eat and drink worthily of what had been prepared for them. Truer words have not been spoken about the meal Jesus prepared for His own. It was more than food. What must we consider if to eat and drink worthily of the table He set for us?

Readings & Scripture

PREPARATION: Psalm 103:13-17
LEADER: As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.

ALL: But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children’s children,

CENTRAL TEXT: Mark 14:12-31
Mark 14:12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Mark 14:17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Mark 14:22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Mark 14:26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

CONFESSION OF SIN:
Leader: What right do we have to dine at the Table of Jesus?
Family: We have every right to dine at his Table.

Leader: What gives us this right?
Family: We have this right because Jesus came not for the strong, but for the weak; not for the righteous, but for sinners; not for the self-sufficient, but for those who know they need rescue.

Leader: To all who are weary and need rest; to all who mourn and long for comfort; to all who feel worthless and wonder if God even cares; to all who are weak and frail and desire strength; to all who sin and need a Savior.
Family: Jesus welcomes us into his circle, adopts into his family, and reserves a place at his Table. For he is the mighty friend of sinners, the ally of his enemies, the defender of the indefensible, and the justifier of those who have no excuses left.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON: adapted from Acts 10:43 and Psalm 23:5
LEADER: Family of God, all the prophets testify about Christ that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. He has prepared for us this table as a means of grace for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation.
FAMILY: Thanks be to God.

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Exodus 12:3-4
  • Exodus 24:3-11
  • Psalm 23–in particular, v. 5
  • Psalm 113-118
  • Isaiah 25:6-9
  • Isaiah 53:4
  • Isaiah 55:1-4
  • Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Luke 9:31
  • John 21:15-17
  • Acts 2:22-23
  • 1 Corinthians 11:26
  • Hebrews 12:2
  • Revelation 7:17

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. Reprising an introductory question: best meal you ever had? When, where, who prepared? Why was it best?
    Now a different question: most awkward moment you ever had at a meal? What happened? How did folks respond? Did it resolve or spiral?
  2. What would it take for you to know that someone close to you would soon betray you, and all others would act as if they never knew you–and then, still, both serve and share an intimate meal with and for them? 
  3. What if any preparations do you make prior to partaking of Communion? What “examination” (see 1 Corinthians 11:23-34)  do you apply to yourself before you participate? How does this refresher course in the first Lord’s Supper suggest even an incremental step toward preparing yourself?

QUOTES: 

  • . . .it [is] all the more remarkable that on a Thursday evening in Jerusalem, forty years before the destruction of the second temple, the most famous Jew of all summons the orchestra, brings the music to a crescendo, and rearranges the melody. - Alistair Roberts, Echoes of Exodus
  • In my darkest hours of grief, God has made His face to shine upon me. I know this to be absolutely true. God knew this was coming. God has not been surprised. - Sarah Condon
  • We are not as strong as we think we are. - Rich Mullins
  • Repent of your small thoughts of God's heart. Repent and let Him love you. - Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly

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