READ: Matthew 26 (Focus vs. 26-29)
MEMORY VERSE
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:28
BACKGROUND
Aristotle said that no one can be friends with a god. Why? Because friendship requires equality, and what god would step down from their heavenly status to become equal with lowly human beings?
I wonder what Aristotle would’ve done if he’d been present at the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-35). For there, Jesus—the Creator of all, who left His heavenly status to become a lowly human being (Philippians 2:6-8; Colossians 1:16)—told His disciples He no longer called them servants but friends (John 15:15).
Aristotle would’ve been surprised too at who sat at that table. There was Matthew, the Roman-friendly tax collector; and then Simon, the Roman-denouncing Zealot (Matthew 10:3-4); along with James and John, the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17) sitting with quiet Philip.
I imagine Aristotle watching quizzically as Jesus described some bread and wine as His “body” and “blood,” broken and poured out for the “forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:26-28). What god would die for mere mortals, even those who’d soon abandon Him (v. 56)?
That’s one reason Communion is so profound. Through Jesus, God became friends with humans and enabled friendships between those with political and temperamental differences. As we eat and drink at the Lord’s Table, we celebrate the one who rewrote friendship’s rules, human and divine.
Sheridan Voysey
INSIGHT
Christ commanded His believers to remember His death through which forgiveness has been secured (Matthew 26:26-30; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). In the observance of Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, believers in Jesus partake of the bread and the cup as visible symbols of His death.
In 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Paul instructs believers on how to observe Communion. The way the Corinthians were observing the Lord’s Supper wasn’t commendable and was ripe for rebuke (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).
Why? The conduct they displayed was out of character with what Jesus had done.
There were reports of “divisions among” them (v. 18). They were inconsiderate and self-indulgent (vv. 19-22). There was something wrong with this picture, so Paul noted pointedly, “So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat” (v. 20).
His subsequent teaching highlighted the gravity of their error in how they observed this remembrance (vv. 23-34). Communion continues to be a reminder that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God became friends with us and can help us to love others well.
Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
How else does Jesus rewrite the rules of friendship? How can His example help you reach across relational differences today?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Communion continues to be a reminder that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, God became friends with us and can help us to love others well.” Today’s Insight
PR’s TAKE
“…We can never take God by surprise. We can never anticipate him. He always makes the first move. He is always there ‘in the beginning.’ Before we existed, God took action. Before we decided to look for God, God had already been looking for us. The Bible isn’t about people trying to discover God, but about God reaching out to find us.” John Stott
All world religions portray man trying to reach God and befriend Him. In Christianity God comes down to befriend us in Christ. (Adapted) pr
“Love is the overflow of joy in God that meets the needs of others.”
John Piper
PRAYER
“Dear Jesus, thank You for making me a friend of God and others.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“I AM A FRIEND OF GOD” Israel Houghton
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God He calls me friend
Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me it’s amazing
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend
Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me when I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me
It’s amazing, it’s amazing, it’s amazing
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend…
He calls me friend
God almighty
Lord of glory
You have called me friend…
You have called me friend…
