Sermon Tone Analysis

Premise: Jesus celebrates the final passover with the disciples and institutes the Lord’s Supper.

Opening:

Introduction of the Text:

Reading of the Text:

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”18

And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”19

And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.20

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.21

And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”22

And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”23

And He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me.24

The Son of Man is going, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!

It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”25

And Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You yourself said it.”

26 Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it.

And giving it to the disciples, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”27

And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.29

But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

Behold the Word of God.

Prayer:

Transition:

The Preparing of the Room.

Matthew 26:17-19.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”18

And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’”19

And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

Explanation: Jesus enters into Jerusalem again, for the final time before His crucifixion.

Jesus, touching His divinity, knows precisely where to have the passover meal.

Luke and Mark record Jesus giving the disciples a sign of watching for a man caring a pitcher of water.

Argumentation: It is important to note the significance of the day.

Jesus, the ultimate passover lamb comes into the holy city on the day of the feast of unleavened bread.

Mark tells us this was when the passover Lamb was sacrificed.

This is the day Christ, the ultimate passover Lamb comes to Jerusalem.

Transition:

Jesus Tells the Twelve One of Them Will Betray Him.

Matthew 26:20-25.

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples.21

And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.”22

And being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”23

And He answered and said, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me.24

The Son of Man is going, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!

It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”25

And Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You yourself said it.”

Explanation: Imagine the shock of this.

They do not immediately suspect Judas.

Matthew says they are deeply grieved.

They are so shaken, they ask Christ “Is it I?” They doubt themselves.

The dipping of the bowl was common in that day.

There was meat and a central bowl of sauce.

You would all be dipping in the bowl with each other as you ate.

This did not narrow it down.

Jesus says it would be better if that man had never been born.

This is the ultimate betrayal, and it would come from a dear and close friend.

Judas finally asks if it is him (he already knew it was him) and Jesus affirms this.

Argumentation: Judas was the fulfilment of Scripture.

Psalm 41:9.

Judas was determined to do this from before time.

Luke 22:22.

How can we find guilt in him then?

Gen 50:20.

God has determined to use the evil of men for His glory and the ultimate good.

The options are Meaningless evil, or evil that is turned to good according to God’s plan.

Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.

Luke 22:22 “22 “For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!””

Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to do what has happened on this day, to keep many people alive.

Transition:

The Lord’s Supper.

In order to understand the Lord’s Supper, we must understand the Passover.

The Passover.

Explanation: Exodus 12:1-13.

The Israelites were in captivity in Egypt.

God had sent nine plagues on Egypt but each time, God hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them go.

God had decimated Egypt’s false gods and idolatry through the plagues.

In Exodus 11, God says He will send one more plague and then Pharaoh will let them go.

Exodus 12:1-13 Now Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,2 “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.4

Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to apportion the lamb.5

Your lamb shall be a male, without blemish, a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.6

And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight.7

Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.8

And they shall eat the flesh that night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.9

Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.10

And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.11

Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste⁠—it is the Passover of Yahweh.12

And I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments⁠—I am Yahweh.13

And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you, and there shall be no plague among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Explanation: They were to sacrifice a lamb and spread the blood on the doorpost.

When God, in judgement, passed through Egypt and killed the firstborn, He would pass over the homes with blood on them and not render judgement.

Argumentation: The blood of the lamb washed the homes of the judgement of God.

This was a clear sign and seal of what was to come in Christ.

The leaven represented sin.

They were to remove sin from among them.

But the removal of leaven did not save them.

What saved them was the blood of the lamb. 1 Cor 5:7.

1 Cor 5:7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.

For Christ, our Passover lamb, also was sacrificed.

Transition:

The Bread and the Wine.

Explanation: After the meal, Christ repurposed the elements.

It was not uncommon for the wine of the meal to symbolize the blood on the doorposts.

Christ changes the meaning, claiming to be the fulfilment of the Passover.