THE GREAT MYSTERY

Good Friday

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Friday, March 29, 2024

(Luke 22:14–34, NLT) “When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

“You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”

 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

1.  Jesus’ death is the center of history.

(Luke 22:15) “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.”

(Luke 22:17-18) “Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.”

(Luke 22:18) “I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

a.  The Ultimate Exodus

b.  The Ultimate Moses

2. Jesus’ death is the foundation of the Church

(Luke 22:27) “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”

a.  We are a family

b.  We are radically different

c.  Failure + Repentance + God’s grace = Wisdom

3. The Great Mystery is I must trust the substitute for salvation

(Ephesians 5:25-27, 32) “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his lifefor her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. … This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.”

(1 Timothy 3:16) “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.”

GROWTHWORK

I must choose to personally partake of what Christ did for me.

My bad things will be turned to good, my good things can never be taken away, and the best is yet to come.