Preview 4/13/2014: 12th Man at the Table

Matthew  26: 19-30
26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.  When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so." While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Theme:  This is but a fragment of the passion reading from the upcoming Passion Sunday, but it points to an amazing example of the broadness of Jesus's grace. 

Main Points:

• Jesus sits down to a typical Seder Meal with his disciples on Passover.
• Jesus reinterprets the meal to be about himself. 
• The Meal takes an uncomfortable turn. 
• Jesus offers the bread and wine as his body and blood.
• Everyone there takes communion for the first time. 

Observations: The 12th Man At The Table

Jesus sits a table, knowing that he is mere hours from his death, and performs what I think of as his greatest miracle.  

Sure other miracles were amazing.  No one ever forgets the feeding of the hungry throngs, or the walking on water, or the calming of the storm, but for me the greatest miracle happens there at that table.  You may think I mean that he forever changed mere bread and wine into his body and his blood, and that certainly is an astounding and lasting gift.  But I actually mean something else.

For me the most amazing thing about that night is the 12th man at the table: Judas.  Think about it, Jesus offers his body and blood, with all that implies to the man he knows will kill him.  

For me the most miraculous thing Jesus ever did was show that God even loves the worst of all humanity: the man who betrayed to death the son of God.  

Questions:

1. If Christ offers himself to Judas, is there anything you can do that would make you unacceptable to Christ?
2. Why do you think Judas betrayed Christ?
3. Why do you think we betray Christ in small ways every day?  
4. If Jesus was grace-filled to the man who would give him over to death, who in your life do you need to extend grace to even though they do not deserve it?