Old Symbols, New Meaning
First B Jackson
2022-07-18

Automatically transcribed. Where this and the recording disagree, the recording is the record.

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Hello, everybody. Welcome. Glad you're here.

Glad you're here. And can we give Brian a a thank you for dinner tonight? Thank you, Brian. So good. Making our way

through the gospel of Mark

and what do you say we, get started by worshiping in song together? Just one song. This is Amazing Grace from Hebrews. Let's come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. We'll receive his mercy and find his grace to help us when we need it most.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder? Who leaves us breathless? And I am wonder the king of glory, the king above all kings. I'll sing of it. Amazing grace.

This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love That you would take my place. That you would bear my cross. You would lay down your life. That I won't be set free.

Jesus, I say for all that you've done for me. Who brings our chaos back into order? Who makes an orphan son and daughter, the king of glory, the king above all kings, who rules the nations, who rules the nations with truth and grace. This amazing grace. This is unfailing love.

That you would take my face. Oh, Jesus, I'm thankful all that you've done for me. And let's sing worthy is. Worthy is the king who conquered the crane. Worthy is the king Were these the king who conquered conquered the grave?

Let's sing that again. This is amazing grace. This is unfailing love. That you would take my place. That you'd bear my cross, you would lay down your life, that I wouldn't be set free.

Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me.

Amen. Can I pray? God, we are thankful. I cannot think of a more fitting song than the one we have just sung, to describe the scripture, tonight. Your unfailing love for us.

God, may we see it, experience it, and share it. In Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. I'm excited to share this.

I didn't get a chance to. Last week, we had some missionaries. We got to hear what's happening in, in, Western Asia, and it was absolutely wonderful. And now I wanna pick up in Mark 14 verses one through 26. This is where Jesus is.

He's anointed at Bethany. Judas agrees to betray Jesus, and then Jesus and his disciples share the last supper. So this right here, next slide, is Thursday of passion week or holy week. We've heard of passion week or holy week. Yes.

Sounds familiar? What really speaks to me about passion week or holy week is that the very next day so this is we're on Thursday. The very next day, Jesus would be put on trial and crucified, and there was no turning back. There was no turning back from this. He had fully resolutely he had resolved, to go to the cross even when it meant being betrayed and abandoned by his closest followers.

And and to me, that really speaks of his unconditional love and his unwavering determination and commitment to to reconcile us back to God. I mean, that is real love. You know, the bad news is we fractured the relationship. We know that sin. But the good new news is that Jesus reconciles us back to God.

He puts us back together, and that's the good news of the gospel. So I wanna share some time at the end, to reflect and remember on his sacrifice. I've got some communion stuff all set up for us. I've been really looking forward to having communion together. It's special.

And to share in the Lord's Supper after we read about the Passover meal with his disciples. So that being said, let's keep reading through passion week. And Lord, would you help us? Would you give us a deeper love and appreciation for your sacrifice that you are the the lamb of God to free us from the power of sin and death, and you are the bread of life. You say, anyone who comes to you will never be hungry again.

God, may we experience this as we interact with you. In Jesus' name, amen. So picking up in verse one in chapter 14, it's now two days before Passover and the festival of unleavened bread. So this yearly celebration, Israelites are freed here's what it represents. Israelites are freed from slavery in Egypt when God passed over the homes that were marked by the blood of the lamb.

Lamb, this was commanded by God. The people did it in obedience, and then God passed over their home, and they were saved. So that's the that's what they're celebrating. And the festival of unleavened bread, to remember their escape from Egypt, they didn't have time to let their bread rise, so they baked it without leaven. And we'll see as as we keep reading how Jesus takes these old symbols and he gives them new meaning.

And and that's if you walk away with anything, would it could it be that? God that Jesus has taken old symbols from the Old Testament, which are very, very important, and given them new meaning. There's a new promise. There's a new covenant now that we get to walk in to this day, and it's absolutely marvelous. So I love how Jesus fulfills that old covenant, and he ushers into new.

So verse one says, the leading priests and the teachers of the religious law, they didn't see it. They are still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. Verse two, but not during the Passover celebration, they agreed, or the people might riot. So, you know, they may have hated Jesus, but not everybody did. You know, there were those who came to know Jesus and love him and trust him.

Three. Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. So likely a man that Jesus had healed. There, I did not see where this was recorded in the gospel. So Jesus had done other miracles, and it just what a sweet thing that Jesus is now eating with this man that he's most likely healed.

And while he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar, and she poured the perfume over his head. So she anointed Jesus. We don't hear or see probably a lot of anointing, especially here in America, but it was a thing. And often, they would anoint kings or rulers.

It was this beautiful act of love and devotion from this woman toward Jesus. Four, some at the table were though they were indignant. Why waste such expensive perfume? They asked. It could have been sold for a year's wages and the money given to the poor.

And so they scolded her harshly. They didn't get it. They didn't understand. Six. But Jesus replied, leave her alone.

Why criticize her for doing such a beautiful thing to me? You'll always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want, but you will not always have me. So, yes, help the poor. There is no doubt about that. Jesus is saying help the poor.

But Jesus is saying, though, his death is coming. That's the point here. Jesus' death is coming. He's making it known, and she was preparing him for his burial. Whether she knew it or not, she's anointing him like she would anoint a king, but she's also anointing Jesus for his burial because that's how they that's what they would do.

They would anoint a body for burial. Verse eight, she's done what she could, and she's anointed my body for burial ahead of time. Jesus knew, even though his disciples and others didn't, Jesus knew that he'd be crucified, and there wouldn't be time to anoint his body after his death. So this woman's sweet act of love and devotion was his anointing, and her actions wouldn't be forgotten. Look at nine, verse nine.

I tell you the truth, wherever the good news is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed. A little life application here. Faithful and loving actions toward Jesus will not be forgotten. Can we just hold on to that little truth right there, that faithful and loving actions toward Jesus will not be forgotten? It's important.

They really are. The little things are important in our actions toward Jesus. And to love Jesus is to love other people. So as we're loving other people, like you just discussed, the poor, we're loving Jesus. And those actions will not be forgotten.

Chip, we just had a discussion about that earlier. They won't be forgotten. Verse 10. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, he went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. And they were delighted when they heard why he came, and they promised to give him money.

Oh, Judas. And so he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus, which brings us to the last supper, starting 12. On the first day of the festival of unleavened bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples asked them, so where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you? And Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem with these instructions. As you go into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you.

Follow him. 14. At the house he enters, say to the owner, the teacher asks us, where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples? He'll take you upstairs to a large room that's already set up, and this is where you're to prepare our our our meal. 16, so the disciples went into the city.

They found everything just as Jesus has said. I love this that Jesus' words are so trustworthy. You know? How would they have known? Jesus knew, and they went in obedience.

And they prepared the Passover meal there. Just a little life application there is simple obedience is important. Simple obedience. When Jesus says to go, to trust him. When Jesus says to do whatever, to trust him, to take him at his word.

He said go, and they went. I really I I really like that. I think that's for us too. 17. In the evening, Jesus arrived with the 12, and they were eating at the table.

Jesus said, I tell you the truth. One of you eating here will betray me. And greatly dis distressed, each one of them asked in turn. Am I the one? And he replied, it is one of you 12 who is eating from this bowl with me.

21. For the son of man must die as the scriptures declare long ago, but how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born. Now, that is a a really hard teaching, and I don't want it to be a theological sticking point for us. But I do wanna speak to that for a second because I don't know exactly what that meant for Judas.

I really don't. I don't know after the betrayal and before he before he hanged himself and took his own life. I don't know, the conversation that he would have had with God or, anything like that, the things that are not recorded. I don't know. I really don't.

But I do know this from scripture, and I wanna share this because I feel like this is very reassuring. It's from first John one nine. It says, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. So if we are confessing, agreeing with God, God, I've fallen short. I know it.

Would you forgive me? God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That's what I know for sure. During Jesus during passion week, Jesus was betrayed, but he was also denied, and he was abandoned by his disciples. Right?

By others. It wasn't just Judas. And in some way, we've all done we've all done the same. In word or deed, we've all done the same. But let's be encouraged by this first that as we are confessing, God is forgiving and cleansing.

Can we hold on to that? I feel like that is is just something really worth saying and and noteworthy. God's faithful and just to forgive. Verse 22. As they were eating, Jesus took some of the bread, and he broke it into pieces.

And he gave it to the disciples saying, take it. This is my body. This everyday food of theirs and I know we kinda, you know, culturally, you know, maybe we're not big bread eaters. Anybody grow up in a home where they eat a lot of bread? I I did in Minnesota, Chip.

We're we're probably the similar in that. But, you know, like, not so much here and now in Jackson, things like that. Bread's not not not necessarily a common staple. I mean, it is and it isn't. You know?

It depends who you are. But, basically, Jesus is saying, when you whenever you eat whenever you eat, be reminded of Jesus. And I can just imagine the disciples being flooded with memories of of Jesus. You know, like the miracles he's when he fed the 5,000 and when he fed the 4,000. And do you remember the time when they got into the boat and they forgot the bread?

And they start arguing with one another. And Jesus is like, why are you arguing about bread? He's the bread of life. When you eat this bread, remember Jesus. So it's really whenever you eat it, keep Jesus in mind.

And then 23, he took the cup of wine, and he gave thanks to God for it, and he gave it to them. And they drank for it, this common cup. That was a big deal. Table fellowship was a very, very big deal. And they all drank from it, and he said, this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people.

It's poured out as a sacrifice for many. Again, this element, so simple yet so meaningful. Wine, table wine, drink. But consider the blood of the grape, and the disciples are all there during Passover where the blood of the animal sacrifice was poured out by a priest on the altar for the forgiveness of sins. And now Jesus is going, that's me.

That's that now it's mine. Now it's my blood. That would be poured out for a sacrifice for many, confirming this new covenant between God and his people. I mean, it's just absolutely build beautiful. All this Old Testament history, I mean, goodness gracious, there was so many hurdles that people had to jump through to be right with God.

And here Jesus is going, I'm taking care of it. Could you take that away from from tonight is that Jesus is going, I'm I'm taking care of it. The bread, my body. The the wine, my blood. I'm I'm taking care of it for you.

In the Old Testament in the Old Testament, the the promise was sealed by the blood of an animal. That's the background here. And that's how God confirmed a promise with his people. It was sealed by the blood of an animal. That's just how God did it.

But now it would be sealed with the blood of Jesus. So old symbols, new meaning. So Hebrews says it this way, says it a lot better than I can. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ. Let's read this last part forgot for together.

Once and all time. Once for all time. That is just absolutely profound because before it was year after year after year after year after year, and now it's Jesus going, I've got you covered. Be the last and final sacrifice. He would be that lamb who was slain.

While they were speaking, that lamb was being slain. But for these disciples, the story's still developing. They didn't they didn't have the complete picture like that we we have now. And so they're just filled with sorrow. They're going, why is he saying this?

Why is he gonna die? But he also gives them hope. Check this out in verse 25. I tell you the truth. I will not drink wine again.

Or Matthew says, I will not drink wine with y'all, with you, until the day I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. There's this assurance there that Jesus is giving them and us of his victory over death and their future with them in the kingdom of God. There's a there's the assurance for them and theirs for us. And then they sang a hymn, and they went to the the Mount Of Olives. So Brad's gonna pick up next week.

So the next two weeks, he's going to lead the the the conversation probably without slides. We're just reading the Bible together through the rest of passion week, through the rest of the book of Mark. But I wanna share this. There is so much encouragement from this chapter, specifically, that beautiful act of love and devotion from the woman who anointed Jesus. To me, it's just such a beautiful reminder that faithful, loving actions toward Jesus, they will not be forgotten.

The Lord knows. The Lord knows. And most important is the new covenant. If we could walk away in in in in into this week just with this assurance of the new promise, of the new covenant, Jesus taken the old symbols and giving them new meaning that now he's the lamb of God whose blood sets us free from the power of sin and death. And he's the bread of life.

As John says, whoever comes to him, and really, whoever means whoever, will never be hungry again. Like I mentioned early, I wanna give us, an opportunity to reflect and to remember on his sacrifice by sharing in the Lord's Supper together. And in fact, Mike, could I, have you and maybe Scott just, and maybe three tables at the most to gather around the tables together. And I've I've just got a little bit of bread and a little bit of juice. And I want you to to to know this.

Here at first b, we have a open table. I know at some churches that that there's not always an open table or you have to be, such and such denomination. I understand rules for for for why people do what they do. But here, at first b, the only requirement to take, communion together is faith and trust in Jesus. So open table.

Under the old covenant and as we take this, I want you to think of this, that under the old covenant, God could only be approached through priests and a sacrificial system. Now can you imagine just how cumbersome that could be for a person? They're they're traveling from, you know, from from wherever, you know, long distances, to to go through this whole process just to meet with God and to be cleansed from sin. And now the new covenant check this out. Today's covenant, Hebrews says, now, church, Jesus is our high priest.

Isn't that good news? Jesus is our high priest, and he's been given a ministry that's far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant based on better promises. That is just so assuring to me. It's like Jesus again saying, church, I've got it covered. Whenever you eat this bread and you drink from this cup, remember, I got you.

This is how you have a right relationship with God. Trust in me. So because of that, we can come boldly. Look at this verse from the verse 16. There it is.

Because of that, come boldly to the throne of our gracious God, and there we'll receive his mercy and find grace to help us when we need it most. And that isn't that assuring right there? That we can do this with confidence and with boldness because Jesus said so. I just love it. These are promises I wanna hold on to as we close in communion.

And let me share from, first Corinthians 11. And then we can take a piece of bread, and we can dip it in the cup to remember. But Paul says this. K? I pass on to you what I received from the Lord.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took some bread, and he gave thanks for it. And he broke it into pieces, and he said, this is my body which was given for you. He's about to fully and freely give his body up to be beaten, to be crucified in a in a just an awful way for us. This is my body which is given for you. Do this to remember me.

And in the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, and he said, this is the cup of the new covenant, the new promise between God and his people. It's an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink of it. Whenever y'all get together and you have that simple table wine, do this as often as you drink of it to remember me. For every time you eat that bread and you drink the cup, you're announcing the Lord's death until he comes again.

So we're looking back, church. We're looking back to his sacrificial death. But listen, we're also looking forward when we take this. We're also looking forward to when he comes again. That's the beautiful part about this.

So let's let's think about those things, coming boldly, looking back at his sacrifice, but also looking forward to his return. And when you're ready, would you take a piece of that bread and dip it in dip it in in the cup? And I'll give us just a moment to to to pray, and then we'll close in in one last song. Okay? And I'm gonna join you at one of your tables.

And I thank you for we thank you together collectively as a church. We thank you for the new covenant and for taking these old symbols and giving them new meaning that now you're the lamb of God whose blood sets us free from the power of sin and death. It used to be an actual lamb on the altar, and then, God, you said, I'm that lamb, and you put yourself on that altar for us. You would do that for us. And you are the bread of life, and anyone who comes to you will never be hungry again.

God, thank you for your broken body and for your shed blood. And because of that, we can come here and confidently, we can boldly do this and approach your throne of grace. Thank you, Jesus. Because of your sacrifice, we can do this because of what you did. And thank you for your unconditional love, your unwavering determination to reconcile us to God?

Would you keep us mindful? And, Holy Spirit, would you work on us throughout throughout our days and remind us of these truths? In Jesus' name, amen. Can we close in one last song together?

He humbled himself and carried the cross. Love's so amazing. Jesus Messiah. Jesus Messiah.

The man you were.

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven. Jesus Messiah, Lord of all. The holder tremble, the veil was torn. Love so amazing. No blessed redeemer

and man you will

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven, Jesus Messiah, lord of all. Let's sing about hope in him. And all our hope is in you. All our hope is in you. And all the glory glory to you, God, the light of the world.

And one more time, let's

sing Jesus Messiah. Jesus Messiah. The name above all names. Blessed redeemer,

and manned you were.

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Jesus Messiah, of

Jesus, Messiah, Lord of all. All.

Jesus, Messiah, Lord, I'm born.

Amen. And here's a a little Benny that I wanna a little benediction I wanna send you with. And and it's this, to confidently come boldly to the throne of our gracious God because he is gracious. And like we looked at first John one nine, you know, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I mean, he really does make us good with the Lord.

And there we will receive his mercy and find grace to help us when we need it most. So God bless you, This was, awesome for me. I've been really looking forward to having this time together. We don't often have communion on Monday nights, and and this was really, really special to me to be able to do it. So love you all.