Matthew 9:18-26 "Jesus Restores Life"

Matt 9:18-26 "Jesus Restores Life" Marc Transparenti / General The Authority of the King / Restoration; Crowd at Jairus' Daughter's Healing; Health and Healing; Resurrection / Matthew 9:18-26 Jesus Restores Life to a Woman Afflicted 12 Years and a 12 Year Old Girl Who Died Notes Restoration of Life Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Please turn in your Bibles to Matt chapter 9. We are continuing our Chapter and Verse study through the Gospel of Matthew presently in our "Authority of the King" series (Matt chapters 8-10). The last couple weeks, the setting was at Matthew's house after he follow Jesus. Matthew hosted a great feast with a bunch of tax collectors and sinners and they follow Him. Glorious! But, the Pharisees and John's disciples soured the event by questioning why Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners, and why He and His disciples were not fasting...probably they were just upset about not getting an invite...no free meal for them! Jesus explained that He is the Great Physician and the Messianic bridegroom. It was appropriate for a physician to be with the sick, and inappropriate to fast during a wedding, just as you don't put a new patch on an old garment, or new wine into old wineskins. Jesus was bringing a new covenant, and it was not compatible within the confines of the old covenant. Starting in verse 18, Jesus and His disciples are back in Capernaum, directly after Jesus healed the demoniacs at Gadara (keep in mind Matthew is writing thematically, not chronologically, so the events jump around). Luke records, "...the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him." So, the setting is Capernaum and there is a large crowd gathered that accept Jesus gladly. In today's account, we will see Jesus' authority to restore life to two ladies. Quite the contrast...one brought 12 years of joy to her father, but now her life was fading...the other was suffering for 12 years, but now she stands on the precipice of health. For both of them... "Jesus Restores Life" ...the title of our message today. Let's pray! Matt 9:18-19 "While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples." 1. Mark and Luke tell us this man was Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. Two Greek words are used here for "ruler" in the Synoptic Gospels: a. archōn, by def. "a first (in rank or power):-chief (ruler)." b. archisunagōgŏs, by def. a "director of the synagogue services." c. This title was used of a group or class of leaders called "synagogue rulers." Jairus was one of such leaders that oversaw key administrative duties within the synagogue such as caring for the synagogue and worship supervision, but not priestly duties. 2. Many Religious Leaders came to Jesus, but not with a sincere heart. They had ulterior motives to trap Him going against the law, so they could accuse Him. The ultra religious were and are a very difficult group to reach because they are so entrenched in generations of religious tradition...in Old Wine. 3. But, what about Jairus? Is he sincere, or is he like the other religious leaders? a. There are four things I observe about Jairus that supports he is sincere...further that he comes to Jesus in faith: i. First, this is a desperate situation. The expanded accounts in Mark and Luke tell us, when Jairus first approaches Jesus, his daughter is still alive, but near death and Jairus, "fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly..." Jairus seems to be a loving father desperate to save his only daughter of 12 years of age. 1. During desperate times, people don't play games. Jairus abandons religious show and pretense, knowing that religion will not save his daughter. So, he strips everything back to raw truth, and that truth is only Jesus can save. 2. Interesting that Matthew just shared about new wine in old wineskins, and now we see a key Ruler of the Synagogue who is transitioning from the Old Wine to the New Wine. His works and traditions are not going to save his daughter, so he comes in faith to Jesus Christ. 3. I believe God used this trial to reach Jairus. Sometimes people question the goodness and wisdom of God amidst trials, but if this trial brought Jairus to God, to eternal salvation...despite the difficulty, how can we label this experience as anything but "good." ii. Second, we observe that Jairus "came" to Jesus. V18- "...a ruler came and worshipped Him..." Don't miss this detail. His daughter was dying and Jairus comes to Jesus. This speaks volumes of his faith. No doubt he heard of, and perhaps witnessed numerous miracles of Jesus, and now he steps out in faith. 1. I imagine that Jairus did his due diligence, like we would, to seek the advice and treatment of Doctors, but even with modern medicine, there are just some situations beyond medical repair, and now Jairus is seeking the Great Physician. iii. Third, Jairus comes to Jesus openly, in plain sight, amidst a crowd of people and this testifies of his sincerity. He risked much by coming to Jesus. 1. John 9:22 states the parents of the man born blind "...feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue." 2. Likely why Nicodemus (Jn 3) came to Jesus secretly at night. Yet, Jairus comes to Jesus openly despite what it may cost him. iv. Fourth, Jairus worships Jesus. And, this truly is worship, not just bowing down in homage or respect. 1. 'Worship' is in the "imperfect" tense...emphasizing a continuous action. It would be a little odd for Jairus to continuously bow in reverence...I mean, what does that look like? But, it's very realistic for him to be continuously worshipping Jesus. 2. Also, observe his faith statement that further supports he is worshipping. a. Jairus says, "...come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." That's a bold faith statement. He believes Jesus has the power to restore her life. b. I pray we also have that same boldness of faith, but if ever there be a time of doubt, how important to be honest like the father in Mk 9, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" 4. As a side-note, notice: Jairus bows in worship and Jesus does not rebuke him, but accepts the worship...another proof of Jesus' deity. 5. In verse 19, we see Jesus' willingness to heal as He follows Jairus, and Jairus must feel encouraged, but then there is a delay... Matt 9:20-21 "And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."" 1. So, Jesus is following Jairus, to heal his dying daughter. Just imagine Jairus' mixed emotions of desperation and hope...fighting through the crowds...racing against time "...and suddenly...", this woman cuts in line. She cuts in line! a. Have you ever been cut in line? Especially, at Amusement Parks...that's the worst! You're waiting in that long 2 hour line, and a group of kids crawl right under the poles. It's sanctifying, but it drives me nuts! b. And, just as moments like that stretch us, Jairus was getting his faith stretched as well. 2. Mark 5:26 tells us this woman "...had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse." Luke, who was a Physician, was a little more gentle in his description saying she "...spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any..." a. Lev 15 speaks on the issues of bodily discharges, including blood, (fun chapter) and declares these issues render a person unclean, not only them but anyone they come in contact with. So, this woman would have been unclean for 12 years and not permitted to come to temple or have normal social interactions. Not to mention just feeling terrible. Excessive blood loss can cause a number of side effects, but top of the list is weakness or fatigue. 3. Luke tells us about the setting "...multitudes thronged Him..." which seems like a minor detail, but I see 2 big lessons about faith because of this setting: a. First, this is another lesson about the importance of persistence in faith. Like the men who were persistent to get their friend through the crowds... to lower their paralyzed friend through the roof, this women also has to be persistent to get to Jesus. Several obstacles stood in the way of this woman getting to Jesus, the crowds, her fatigue from blood loss, even her unclean state (though at this time she does not seem to care who she makes unclean)...but, despite these obstacles...she pressed through the crowds to get to Jesus. i. And, I think there's a lesson in this. In Mk 7:7, Jesus told His disciples, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." The tense of the commands "ask, seek, and knock" suggests a continual 'asking, seeking and knocking'...it's imperative we are persistent in our faith. ii. You need a healing, you keep praying for that healing until you are healed. You have a lost family member, you keep praying for him or her until they are saved. We've seen plenty of examples of people doing what they need to do to get to Jesus... a lesson for us to be persistent in our faith. 1. James 5:16 "...pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." iii. When we are persistent AND aligned with God's will...watch out...that's when miraculous power is released! However, if we are not aligned with God's will...if we have the wrong motives...you can be as forceful and persistent as you want, but there won't be any power. 1. James 4:2-3 shows us there is a balance between prayer and being aligned with God's will. James 4:2-3 "You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." 2. It is paramount that we come to God with our prayers, our petitions, our intercessions and, we should pray persistently and pray with faith. a. But, scripture is also balanced. A prayer with wrong motives...rooted in covetousness and satiating personal desires for pleasure...don't expect those prayers to be answered. b. The second lesson, is about activating faith. Thronging implies this crowd was pressing against him, they were crowding Jesus. i. But, how many of these people are healed? There's no notation that Jesus "healed all" like some passages note. And, this tells us that simply touching Jesus did not heal. All kinds of people touched him surely wanting healing, but there was only one who touched Jesus with faith, and that's when power went out of Him and He took notice. ii. Immediately after she touched Jesus, Mark 5:29-34 records, "Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power [dunamis- miraculous power] had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" 31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." 1. Her 12 year struggle was over. Nothing else had worked...her money couldn't buy her health...her Doctors had exhausted their wisdom...who knows if she turned to traditions and superstitious methods of the day to stop the blood flow, but when she came to Jesus in faith, she left healed. a. And if it took 12 years of misery to break down the walls of self-reliance in this woman's life...12 years of misery in exchange for eternity is paradise...is this not a good thing? And, we have the audacity to shake our fists at God...thinking He is indifferent, powerless, or even cruel for allowing sickness. God said to Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding." We know so little. 2. This woman honestly believed touching the "hem of His garment" would heal her. "Hem" or "Border" (as recorded in Luke) by def. means "tassel," so this likely referred to tassels on the four corners of Jesus' outer garment, possibly His prayer shawl (show slide). Wearing something like this was typical for Jews according to Num 15:37-41; Deut 22:12. The tassels served as a reminder to obey and do God's commands. This also tells us Jesus dressed like Jews of His time, and honored OT dress code. a. So, was there something mystical or magical about touching Jesus' clothing? No. What we see in verse 21 is her faith being activated or released. She believed Jesus could heal her as soon as she touched his garment. Sometimes a person will come to church with the expectation that if they have hands laid on them and they are anointed, they will be healed...same thing. i. And, Jesus recognized this woman's faith which was demonstrated through her action. Most often (not always) healings observed in scripture and life, we see someone take an action step toward Jesus. b. There comes a time when you must take an action step in your faith that demonstrates your faith. I could tell you a number of examples of when God stirred my heart to do something for Him, and in the precise moment when I made a commitment in my heart or stepped out in faith, the Lord provided a tangible confirmation and a blessing. i. When God told me, "You need to put to death the old man and get baptized again." I immediately obeyed and when I came out of the water He delivered me from alcoholism. He said, "Do." I activated faith and 'did.' And, He poured out His Spirit upon me. 3. The power of faith is activated when you are doing what God wants you to do...when you are in the midst of His will, and you act on following His lead. a. But, we must never forget WHO God is. He is God. He is Supreme. He is in control, and we don't get to boss Him around. We don't get to tell Him, "You heal me now!" There is a danger is supposing we know God's will. What if there is a bigger purpose, a bigger lesson in the pain? What if the trial is saving us from ourselves, or producing a better result? God sometimes delays a healing for a precise moment in time when it will have the greatest impact. i. This whole account today with Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood testifies of this. God used both of their struggles to bring them to a point of dependency on Him, and healed at the precise moment of greatest impact. So, even when we don't understand what God is doing, we can still walk in faith trusting God and His purposes. Don't lose heart, have faith. ii. When God didn't heal Paul of the thorn in his flesh, which he describes as an infirmity [by def. "weakness, frailty, ailments, diseases, illness, sickness"], Paul didn't lose heart. He said, "...when I am weak, then I am strong." He knew God was using this infirmity to keep Paul grounded...so he wouldn't be "exalted above measure" (i.e., to keep him humble). 1. Paul knew God could heal. Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper. The islanders thought he would certainly die, but nothing happened. And, what happened after? It opened a door for a 3 month healing ministry on Malta! 2. When I read about healings in the Bible, do you know what stands out to me more than the healing? What stands out is what happens immediately after the healing? Doors open for something much bigger. The healing is just an ice breaker...an attention grabber. That's what I typically see in scripture. That's what I've seen in my life as well. 3. God has purpose both for when He does heal, and when He doesn't. He was keeping Paul humble. I say all of this because there is a balance in scripture. And sometimes Christians get too focused on healing, and sometimes Christians don't walk enough in faith. And, both position are wrong. We should walk in faith and expect the God can heal, but also trust Him that He may be working something else out. 4. But, there is no harm in asking for healing...Paul asked 3x. Jesus asked 3x "...if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." God said, "no"...it wasn't His will. But, Scripture still tells us we should be persistent. I'd rather you ask and keep asking and God say 'no' or 'wait,' then not ask at all. 5. For this woman with the blood issue, she was persistent in her faith...she activated her faith...and she was healed. Look at verse 22. Matt 9:22 "But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour." 1. "Be of good cheer..." Jesus encourages her...imagine that moment. Here's a woman who had spent all her money on Doctors and likely had lost all hope, and now Jesus encourages her and heals her. Mark records Jesus said, "Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." a. Jesus bestows upon her the peace of God. Not just emotional peace, but she is now made whole both physically and spiritually. 2. Notice He calls her "daughter." How intimate? How loving? a. This is one of the only recorded times we see Jesus call a woman "daughter." On the cross, He also addressed the "Daughters of Jerusalem" in general, but no where else do we see Jesus specifically and personally address a woman as "daughter." This is a special moment...God removes the affliction of His daughter. 3. And, during all of this...what is Jairus thinking? Poor Jairus...can you imagine? a. Jesus is delaying and addressing this woman as 'daughter' and simultaneously Jairus' daughter is dying. Can you imagine the struggle? "That's great Jesus, but we need to get to my daughter. She's dying! Why are you delaying Jesus? We're on a timeline. Tick tock!" I'm glad we never think that way! I think people in other churches think that way, but I'm sure not this church. b. God said to Job, "Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this." We think we know so much and God knows so little. Lord help us! 4. So, why does Jesus allow this delay? Why does He stop to investigate and have this conversation with this woman who was healed? Doesn't He know the gravity of the situation? Doesn't He know the gravity of my situation and your situation, and my needs and your needs? Oh, I think He knows. I know He knows. a. Rom 8:28 declares "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God..." b. This is exactly what God is doing for Jairus. He's working all this bad together for good. I think this delay was to build up Jairus' faith, and he will need his faith strengthened because he is about to get some really bad news. 5. Look at the chronology of what happens next (and keep Jairus in mind)...this woman touches Jesus and Matthew says she was "made well from that hour." Mark records, "Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction." Mk 5:29. a. Then Jesus asks "Who touched me?" Luke 8:47-50 records "Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, [and listen to this...] she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. [She gave her testimony, and Jairus was right there to hear it. He was right there to witness the power of Jesus to heal. All of which would strengthen his faith]. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace." [Now look what happens next]. 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." [It's too late. She's dead. No need for Jesus to come to your house.] 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." i. Look at that timing! Jairus hears her testimony, sees her healed, and no doubt connects the "supposed" coincidences: 12 years/ 12 years; daughter/ daughter. Jesus is building up Jairus because his faith is about to be majorly tested once he hears his daughter is dead. And, I have to imagine that Jairus hangs onto Jesus' words: "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." Jesus promised "she will be made well." You can take it to the bank! 6. We also observe that Jesus not only builds up Jairus' faith, but He takes measures to preserve his faith. There were doubters...the first ones said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?" Mark records... "As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus does not give room for doubt to grow in Jairus' heart. a. Then Jesus further protects Jairus' faith...Mark records, "And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James." Jesus didn't want or need the naysayers or doubters following and causing doubt. He surrounds Jairus with men of faith. Make sure you're surrounded by people of faith, especially during troubling times. Matt 9:23-24 "When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him." 1. By the time Jesus and Jairus arrive at the house, a funeral had already begun. The family must have anticipated the daughter's passing and gathered family, flute players and professional mourners. A tradition of hiring professional mourners was not just seen in Biblical accounts, but in Egypt, China, Mediterranean, and Near East cultures, and still in some Asian cultures today, especially where there are caste systems. At any funeral there would be those who cried and wailed sincerely, and the professional mourners would augment the cries and grieving. a. Mark describes this scene as a "tumult" (an uproar) and "...those who wept and wailed loudly." Matthew is the only synoptic writer to note the detail of the "flute players," which indeed was a custom for Jewish funerals. i. The Mishnah, the first Jewish book of oral traditions, states "Even the poorest man of the Jewish people may not provide fewer than two flutes and a lamenting woman, which it was customary to hire for a funeral..." (cf. M Ketubot 4:4) So, tradition called for 2 flutists and 1 wailer...it's not surprising the wailers are referred to in the plural tense, in Mark's account since Jairus was a synagogue ruler. He could afford to exceed the bare minimum of 1 lamenting woman. 2. As Jesus comes to the scene, He begins to command and question the professional wailers, but Jesus was never one for manmade traditions. We see here is Matthew He commands, "Make room" ('step aside'). Mark tells us He questions, "Why make this commotion and weep?" And, Luke tells us He commands the wailers, "Do not weep." a. So, the professional wailers are already on the defensive, and then He states, "The child is not dead, but sleeping." b. And, that just took it over the top. They were done, and they ridiculed Jesus...they laughed Him to scorn or mocked Jesus for saying 'she is sleeping.' They were confident she was dead. In fact Luke 8:53 records "...they ridiculed Him, knowing she was dead." And, Luke 8:55 records "...her spirit returned" which implies death...her spirit left and had now come back (which could be a whole sermon in and of itself). i. I do want to point out that Jesus pronouncing her sleeping was not a case of Jesus giving a misdiagnosis. Jesus was the "Great Physician"...not a quack. It wasn't like He walked on the scene and said, "She's asleep." And, Peter whispered, "No she's dead." "I mean she's dead." That's not what happened. Jesus wasn't making a mistake here. 1. "Sleep" is a metaphor for death in the Bible. a. In the OT, in Kings and Chronicles, at the end of various king's lives we read, "he rested with his fathers." b. When Stephen was stoned to death we read, "...he fell asleep." (Acts 7:60) c. In John 11, Jesus said to His disciples, "Our friend Lazarus sleeps..." The disciples said, "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." Jesus said, "Lazarus is dead." 'C'mon guys...I'm speaking figuratively.' I love the disciples...they make me feel better when I am dense. d. Jesus is speaking figuratively about death and resurrection. i. A great cross reference is 1 Cor 15:20-24 (write that down) 1 Cor 15:20-24 "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man [speaking of Jesus] also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. [believers and unbelievers] 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming [this is the First Resurrection for all believers. Rev 20]. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power." [which is a general resurrection of unbelievers and the Great White Throne Judgment]. ii. And hears and interesting little nugget...follow along with me...Scripture records Jesus raised 3 people from the dead. Jairus' daughter; the widow of Nain's son (Lk 7); and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11). 1. Resurrections of an only daughter, an only son, and an only brother which foreshadowed the coming resurrections of the only begotten Son and people in general. But, these 3 would rise to die again, whereas Christ and believers rise to everlasting life and a glorified body. a. Note: there is a gradual progression in these resurrections: Jairus' daughter (on her deathbed); the widow of Nain's son (in a coffin, but not yet buried); and Lazarus (in a tomb...dead four days. Martha said, "he stinketh." Gotta love King Jimmie). b. Just as there is a gradual progression in these resurrections, there is a gradual progression in the doctrine of resurrection: First Christ, then the resurrection of believers; and finally a general resurrection for unbelievers. c. I hope you followed that. Beautiful parallels. Matt 9:25-26 "But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land." 1. After Jesus puts out all the doubters, he is surrounded by His inner three: Peter, James and John (we will see Him have several special ministry moments with these three)...so, in the house are these 3 and the girl's parents. a. Listen to the additional details in Mark 5:41-43 and Pay attention to the love and compassion Jesus exudes, Mark 5:41-43 "Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, (Aramaic- maiden) cumi (arise- imperative)," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat." i. Notice as Jesus touches to dead child's hand, He is not ceremoniously defiled or rendered unclean, but life is returned. He also cares for the little things...give her something to eat. b. And, notice this account ends with the family being "overcome with great amazement." Amazement- ĕkstasis (origin of our English word "ecstasy"), by def. "a displacement of the mind." I bet their mind was displaced! i. Jesus instructs them that no one should know it (it wasn't His time to be revealed), but news went out into all the land regardless. 1. I mean, c'mon...how do you keep this a secret? "Hey, how is it that your daughter is alive? Didn't she die?" How do you keep that a secret? c. What I really love about all of this is how God used this tragedy to bring Jairus, a religious leader (one of the hardest groups to reach) to a point of dependency on Him...to a point of faith. Sometimes the most crushing and most difficult experiences in our life bring us to a place that saves us. Worship team come. Jairus had a mountain in front of him. His daughter was on her deathbed, and then she died, and through it all...God was working. I'm sure there were moments when he panicked and felt hopeless, but He did the right thing...he fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him earnestly. The woman, sick for 12 years, was persistent to get to Jesus, and activated her faith, and she was healed. Both of these people, Jairus and the woman, were brought to their knees by the most difficult of situations. But, the trial was the best thing that could have ever happened to them, because it brought them to Jesus, and now they are in eternity. So, can we trust Him? Can we trust Him in the good and the bad? Can we trust Him when He heals and when He doesn't? Can we trust Him when we don't understand what He is doing, or why He is delaying? Can we trust that He has a purpose and is working all things together for good. Trust that He can move the mountains. And, trust Him when He doesn't. He's doing something...praise Him anyway. Amen? Communion: 1 Cor 11:23-29 "...the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." Please distribute the elements... As the communion elements are being distributed, please take a moment to individually pray and praise God... remembering His sacrifice on the cross. And, examine yourself...asking forgiveness for whatever you need to confess to take communion in a worthy manner. Once you have prayed, go ahead and take the communion elements, when you are ready. Our worship team will play one worship song, and then close us in prayer. ---------------------------------------------- If you are not saved, if you have never confessed Jesus is your Lord, you have a couple options, either let the cup pass and do not partake in communion because then you would be taking the communion in an unworthy manner, -or- the better option... if you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, come up to me as the ushers are distributing the bread and the grape juice, and we will pray together, and you can partake in communion today. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:02 PM November 28, 2021.