THE LORD'S LAST SUPPER..        	        Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  4-8-98 p.m.  		  Matthew 26:17-22    	  A:\MAT26-17
	 Have you ever had to say "farewell" to a friend... or a relative? 
       "Farewells" are not very easy.  This last meeting of Jesus and His
       disciples was a "Farewell", of sorts, and Jesus wanted to leave 
       them with something that would help keep Him in their thoughts.
	 Here are three reasons for the Lord's Last Supper... 
I.  IT IS A TIME of REMEMBERING THE PAST...
  A. The Passover.. Mt. 26:18 
     1. "I will keep the passover with my disciples." 
	- to the Jews.. it held great significance!!
	  - It was the first feast of the "religious" year
	  - It was one of the "required" feasts of all the men 
	  - It was a reminder of the great deliverance from Egyt 
  B. The Lord's Supper.. 
    1. It is to remember His broken body and shed blood... 26, 27
	- the suffering He would endure 
	- the salvation He would provide 
	  - To Believers today... this is significant!! 
    2. It is to remember.. He was going away... 
	- "I will not drink .. until the day... in my Father's Kingdom" 
	- A "farewell" time
II.  IT IS A TIME of EXAMINATION in The PRESENT... Mt.26:21 
  A. Jesus said... "one of you will betray me"... 
    1. And.. "everyone of them"... said.. "Lord, is it I?" 
    2. And.. It is fitting we should ask ourselves that question!! 
	- Lord.. am I satisfied with just a "confession of Faith"? 
	- Lord.. am I living an unholy life... and justifying myself 
	- Lord.. am I living an undisciplined life... and satisfied 
	- Lord.. am I living a self complacent life..  IS IT IT I ? 
    3. And.. we are admonished to "Examine ourselves..." 
	- 1 Cor 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of 
          that bread, and drink of that cup. (KJV) 
	- 2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove 
          your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
          Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (KJV) 
  B. Jesus said... "eat... and drink..." 
	- Matt 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is 
        shed for many for the remission of sins. (KJV) 
    1. There is forgiveness... and the remission of sins.. 
	- In His precious blood... 1Peter1:18,19 
III.  IT IS A TIME of ANTICIPATION of The FUTURE..  Mt.26:29 
  A. We demonstrate the Lord's death until He comes again.. 1Cor.11:26 
  B. We learn the principles of reward then... 
    1. "Who shall be the greatest?"  Lu.22:24..
	- "the greatest... be the servant"   Lu.22:26  (for now!) 
    2. But.. in that day.. (to the 12).. Lu.22:29-30 
	- Luke 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath 
        appointed unto me; (KJV) 
	- Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, 
        and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 
REMEMBER JESUS' FAREWELL SUPPER.. IT IS A TIME TO... 
     REMEMBER THE PAST (WHAT HE DID FOR US...)
         EXAMINE OURSELVES IN THE PRESENT... "LORD IS IT I ?" 
	ANTICIPATE THE GLORIES OF THE FUTURE... FOR THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL.