What is So Special About the Lord’s Supper?
Luke 22:7-23
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
13 April, 2025
I. Introduction (Luke 22:15)
A. Luke 22:15 And he [JESUS] said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.
B. Our Lord Jesus looked forward to a special Passover meal (“this Passover”) that He was about to eat with His disciples
C. Because, it was the blueprint for what was about to happen on the cross - The sacrificial death of Christ, for all sinful people, everywhere
D. Every born-again Christian ought to look forward to this opportunity to refresh their memory of what Jesus did for their forgiveness, and salvation!
E. Just like Israel constantly did remembering their First Passover
1. Too often people have been confused, and misinformed about this event
2. They have no idea about the Passover, nor about Jesus being the final Lamb of God
3. The Passover is the oldest continuously observed feast in existence today. Celebrated by Jews for almost 3,500 years
4. No other feast or ceremony foreshadows our redemption in Jesus in such beautiful detail as does the Passover supper.
5. The Lord’s Supper is God’s way of reminding us that Christianity is not all fun and games - but that it had a high price tag - and that we should NEVER take our salvation for granted!
6. This morning, we need to learn about the Jewish Passover event, so that we can appreciate our Lord’s death being the better and perfect sacrifice for sins
II. Background
A. The Judgment of the First Passover (Exodus 12:1-14)
1. It all happened 3,400 years ago, in Egypt
2. Real slavery – unbreakable bondage
a. For 430 years, the entire nation of Israel lived as slaves in Egypt.
b. Enslaved by Pharaoh's unbreakable grip
c. They were forced to build cities, and to serve the Egyptians, and all their gods.
d. But that unbreakable grip… was one day broken!
1) Not by an army, or by superior weapons, but by Almighty God.
2) By THEIR God, the God of Israel!
3. The Tenth Plague (Exodus 11,12)
a. You see, In order to convince Pharaoh to let the people go, (and boy did God convince Pharaoh), God brought 9 devastating plagues upon Egypt, that brought it to ruin. And still Pharaoh would not let God’s people go free!
b. So, In Exodus 11, God gave details of a 10th and final plague that He would bring upon the Egyptians and their false gods… the death of the firstborn!
c. Exodus 11:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
d. Exodus 11:4-6 And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.
e. At midnight, the Lord would pass through the land and kill the firstborn of each family and all of their cattle. From the first born son of Pharaoh, all the way down to the firstborn calf in a stall.
f. With this final horrific plague, God would dramatically free his people from their bondage in Egypt.
g. The night of their deliverance, God outlines explicit steps that the Israelites should take, that they shouldn't be struck down by this devastating last plague.
B. The Lamb of the Passover (Exodus 12:3-14)
1. Get an innocent lamb, for every family (Exodus 12:3,4)
a. Exodus 12:3,4 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
2. It has to be a perfect lamb (Exodus 12:5) – no spots, no blemishes, no flaws
a. Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
3. A Substitute Lamb (Exodus 12:6,7,8-13)
a. Exodus 12:6,7 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
b. Its life would be given, for the life of those in the house
1) Each family was to individually apply the blood of their lamb to the two sides, and the top doorpost of their home as a visible sign of their faith in the GRACE of God.
2) When they did this, the innocent and spotless lambs became their substitute, making it possible for the Lord's judgment on the world to “pass over” them.
3) They would be saved! And free to follow God to the Promised Land! And be a peculiar people of God’s grace!
c. Exodus 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
d. Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
e. Exodus 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
f. Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
g. Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
h. Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
i. Such wonderful words… “when I see the blood, I will pass over you”
4. A memorial lamb – a meal to remember (Exodus 12:14)
a. Exodus 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
C. The Power of the Passover (Exodus 12:28-34, 26-27)
1. Simple obedient faith – killed their lambs, roasted the meat, put the blood on the doorposts and top of their front doors, and sat and worshipped and sang!
a. Exodus 12:28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
2. At midnight…
a. Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
b. Exodus 12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
3. Get Out! You are free to go!
a. Exodus 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
b. Exodus 12:32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
c. Exodus 12:33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
4. No time to waste!
a. Exodus 12:34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
5. The gates that had held a million and a half Jewish slaves were flung open
6. All the Jews grabbed their stuff, and walked out of their prison as a new nation
7. All by the power of the blood of lambs
D. And God said, NEVER forget what happened on THIS DAY (Exodus 12:26,27)
1. The day an empire crumbled under the judgment of God
2. The day God ONLY needed a lamb to save His people
3. Exodus 12:26,27 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
4. Make a memory of what God saved you from and how!
a. Use five items on their table:
1) Bitter herbs
2) Raisin and vinegar mash called charoset
3) Unleavened bread
4) Unleavened wine
5) And a roasted lamb
b. Each item represented something to remember
1) What they were saved from
a) Bitter life – it was NOT good, and not worth ever going back to
b) The morter and clay bricks the Jews had to constantly make
2) How quickly were they saved – in an instant
a) No time to use leaven in baking or in drinking
b) So everything is Unleavened – brought no sin into their freedom
3) At what cost?
a) By the blood of an innocent lamb, in everyone’s place
b) And by their faith in that blood that was shed for them
5. The Jewish people were never supposed to forget that first Passover, so they celebrated it every year, in the Spring
E. The Last Passover (Luke 22:7-14) – Before the New Covenant!
1. Every Jew was preparing what they thought was just another normal Passover remembrance meal (Luke 22:7)
a. Luke 22:7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
b. Every Jew, every year at this time of the year in Spring, was to gather with family and remember how God takes care of His people, and saves them from their enemies!
2. Jesus and His disciples were no exception
3. But they were going to celebrate the Passover a day early – because another Passover, THE Best Passover would take its place
a. It is sunset, Tuesday evening
b. Jesus will die on Wednesday, just before sunset, a full three days and three nights before Sunday, just as He had promised…
c. Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
4. But they needed a place to celebrate it (Luke 22:8,9)
a. Jesus said it was time to celebrate the first Passover – go prepare for it
b. Luke 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
c. It was Impossible!
1) Jerusalem was packed out with tens of thousands of extra people
2) Every lodge and room was in use, right?
3) That’s why they asked Where to eat the dinner? (Luke 22:9) And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
4) And with WHAT? They had not purchased and killed and cooked a lamb
5) But with Jesus, that did not matter – there is NOTHING impossible
5. And miraculously, God Provided!
a. Jesus and His Twelve did celebrate the Passover
b. How? Because someone else has already prepared it all for us
1) Luke 22:10-13 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
2) I wish we could have been there and seen the faces of Peter and john as they entered that Upper Room, all furnished!
3) THIS will become the central place of worship in Jerusalem, where Pentecost will happen, and the church in Jerusalem will be founded!
c. Luke 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
d. So, For the next several hours, there is singing, and the retelling of the wonderful works of God back in Exodus!
III. Message (Luke 22:15-23)
A. The Better Memorial (Luke 22:15-23)
1. One more thing to do
2. Jesus’ Excitement – final fulfilment
3. Remember THIS Passover now
4. EVERYONE will be able to celebrate THIS Passover
5.
6. There was one more thing to do. One more, small ceremonial supper to partake of
7. It followed right after the eating of the Passover
8. Jesus’ Excitement (Luke 22:15,16) The Passover was Finally Being Fulfilled
a. Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
1) There was something special, better about THIS Passover meal…
2) Jesus has waited all His life for this hour, and for this little supper He was about to eat with His disciples
3) He had eaten the Passover meal with His disciples three times before, during His ministry years, but this was the one that was different!
4) It was the one before the suffering, and the victory on the cross!
b. Luke 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
1) That first Passover pointed forward to this series of events we call the crucifixion
2) Jesus promises to eat with them again AFTER the resurrection (Luke 24:30), when the kingdom of God had come! Praise God!
3) And that would happen in less than 24 hours, when Jesus cries out “IT IS FINISHED!”
4) Christ’s death in our place would make it possible for the kingdom of God to come
5) Not the millennial kingdom, but salvation
9. Remember THIS Passover now - a better Passover than the first one!
10. EVERYONE, from every kindred, nation and tribe will be able to celebrate THIS Passover
a. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
b. 1Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.
B. Serious Symbols – Remembering His Life, For Ours (Luke 22:17-20)
1. Two Symbolic Ingredients (Luke 22:19-20; 1Cor 11)
a. Luke 22:17-20 And he [JESUS] took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
b. Without leaven – yeast – a symbol of sin throughout the Bible. You don’t have to have a lot in your past to be ruined!
c. Jesus had NO SIN in Him. He was unleavened! So bread and wine had to be as well!
d. Unleavened Bread (Luke 22:19) – NOT Pizza, or Brennan’s Bread, Today!
1) Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
2) Jesus gave thanks – ALWAYS was thankful. Find me a time where Jesus was not thankful, and praising God!
3) He broke the bread
4) He gave the bread to all of His disciples, for THEM to break it as well
5) He referred to the bread as “his body”
6) A picture – a symbol – a memorial. It was just like His body, but it had NOT been trans-substantiated at all!
7) A symbol of the SUFFERING Jesus was about to endure
a) Luke 22:63-65 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
b) Luke 23:9-11 Then he [KING HEROD] questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
c) Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
8) Isaiah 53 tells us what was happening…
a) Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
b) Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
c) Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
d) Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
e) Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
9) THAT is what that simple, plain, unleavend bread represents
a) A perfect, sinless Man, punished for the sins of all mankind
b) Beaten, whipped, scourged, punched, and nailed to an old rugged cross!
c) As the bread of life that gave His life for the sins of the world
e. Unleavened Wine (Luke 22:20)
1) Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
2) Unleavened wine – No alcohol in it at all!
3) A picture of PURE blood – pure from the sin of Adam
4) Jesus took the cup of unleavened wine and gave all of it to everyone at that table
5) INCLUDING JUDAS ISCARIOT (Luke 22:21,22)
6) Jesus calls the contents of that cup “the New Testament”
a) Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin (Heb 9:22) “…without shedding of blood is no remission.”
b) It finished the Old Testament and allowed the New and Living Way of the New Covenant to start!
2. Two Serious Requirements to participate in this supper…
a. Honest self-examination – the most important part of the remembrance
1) Luke 22:21-23 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
2) Judas Iscariot – one of Jesus’ twelve apostles
3) He did not agree with Jesus’ way of living and serving
4) He thought Jesus needed a little motivation to start a war against the Romans
5) And he found a way to make some money off of Jesus
6) By simply BETRAYING Him to the Jewish leaders
a) Violating Jesus’ trust in him
b) Making it possible for Jesus to be easily arrested without crowds around Him
c) And making money off of Jesus’ ruin
7) It’s sad, but someone once said, It cost 30 pieces of silver to convince Judas to betray Jesus, when most people today, do it for FREE!
b. Secondly, A decision to follow Jesus
1) Judas never did that – he walked after his own lusts
2) But Peter, James, John, Bartholomew, and even Thomas all decided!
3) Yes, disciples will argue about stupid things – who is greatest, who will lead, etc
4) And yes, Satan will try so hard to hold onto us, and rob us of everything God has for us
5) And yes, we will sometimes even deny being followers of jesus
6) But in the end, we want to be worthy of the name Christian – Christ-like, Christ-follower
C. The New Testament Remembrance Supper (1Corinthians 11:23-32)
1. So, Let’s Take Time for Examination (11:27-32) - Let the word of God, and Spirit of God speak instead of YOU always talking - let God show you where YOU are a mess, and then REPENT!
a. 1Corinthians 11:27-32 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily [PHONEY], shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
b. Are you born again?
1) Are you living a lie? Calling yourself a Christian, but not saved yet?
2) If you are confused, or don’t know, don’t fake it – just let the bread and wine pass
3) Don’t eat until you settle your relationship with God!
c. This memorial, is for REAL Christians ONLY!
1) It would be a mockery if someone tries and remembers an event that has no meaning to them - like remembering the day you got married, when you never got married!
2) Like a texan celebrating the FIRST Passover – it wasn’t FOR me!
d. Are you living in sin as a Christian? Rejecting what you know God has said, and holding on to something that you know is against God? Don’t eat unless you are willing to turn away from it
e. Are you serious about the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Or, is He just a convenient “Genie” that you turn to for impossible situations? Become His servant!
f. Don’t feel like you have to put on a show here. If you can’t participate, you have my respect because you are being honest!
g. But every Christian ought to use this time as an opportunity to get their life cleaned up right here and now, and then start fresh for this week - walking with the only God and Saviour Jesus Christ
h. Let’s quietly take time to do just that in prayer…
2. Let’s break bread together (1Corinthians 11:23,24)
a. 1Corinthians 11:23,24 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
b. Give thanks for it - time of silence
c. Brake it - remembering His suffering
d. Eat it. You are the reason for His death. He is the reason for your life
3. Let’s take the cup together (1Corinthians 11:25,26)
a. 1Corinthians 11:25,26 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
b. Give thanks for it - the precious, sinless blood of Christ
c. Remember it brought us the New Testament - Salvation
d. Drink it
4. Let’s never forget what THE Lamb of God did for us!