Handling Christians (Part A)

Communion is a sacred act to us. That's why Satan infiltrates surprise, but was surprised by that but would be surprised that Satan would target the most sacred things that we have in this life you will be able to get them in the next one.

But right now you can while he can defile your heart cannot file this table. Judas, he chose to be a traitor but he wasn't the last greater to be at the communion table down through the centuries. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the gospel of Mark.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in Mark chapter 14 as he begins a new study called handling Christians and as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them and said to keep this is my body. Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank from it and he said to them, this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Surely, I say to you I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of olives. Then Jesus said to them, all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered, but after I have been raised. I will go before you to Galilee. Peter said to him, even if all are made to stumble, I will not be Jesus said to him, assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times, but he spoke more vehemently if I have to die with you, I will not deny you and they all said likewise handling Christians started to entitle it handling Peter but then I saw some of you in these words saw us we Christians handling Christians from communion to contention is that's what happened before I start talking about Mark as we gather Sunday after Sunday.

The world outside is a blaze that is as it always is. I am reminded of what Paul said to the Romans. While he lived in Corinth.

It applies to the world right now it is applied to the world through the ages.

He says being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness full of envy, murder, strive to see evil mindedness, their whispers, and he continues.

Paul does and here we are. We are focused on Jesus Christ, not the blaze that is going on outside of the people that are there hopefully are on our hearts.

We have his passion, his passion was to save souls and it still is to save souls when John the apostle started that first chapter of his gospel. He talked a bit first about John the Baptist and he says in the seventh verse of John's gospel chapter 1 he says this man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all through him might believe John is saying that John the Baptist John the baptizer was all about getting people to believe in Jesus Christ and our mission is identical in that regard, and God is not left it entirely up to his people or his pastors, of which we are his people. Also is not left it up up to us to decide what to address in the church, not entirely. It is the work of the Holy Spirit.

He is the one through whom God makes himself available to us through God the Holy Spirit, baptizing them in the name of the father son and the Holy Spirit is every bit of God, as is the father. And as his son and Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit.

He says I'm not going to leave you orphans. I will give you the spirit of truth who proceeds from the father.

He will testify of me. He's going to preach me. That's what John was saying that we would that all would be Lee.

That's what John said that all would be leaving all will not believe were after the ones who will we just don't know who they are. Personally, I know everyone Social Security number. I just don't know. They go with the hard part God the Holy Spirit occupies himself with testifying of Jesus Christ and so must we. So again while the world is doing its thing we're not in here talking about that word that starts with a C and ends with a 19 and all the other things going on were talking about Jesus Christ because all these things going to pass away, but he will not Holy Spirit is the substitute on earth for the bodily presence of this Jesus whom we preach, she is the unseen presence of Jesus Christ and he testifies of Christ and of God the Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, and so must I. And that's why Paul said, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ that all would believe that's what we are about and we have no plan be quite proud of that in the world. We have plan B and C for things that may not go the way we plan, but not when it comes to our theology, about Jesus Christ and the mission that he is entrusted the church with. So that is why we are going to talk about the gospel of Mark and take verses 22 through 31. Looking at 22 again. Verse 22 as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them and said, take it this is my body, Luke adds a very important note to this in his rendering of the story.

He says that Jesus said do this in remembrance of me. Mark omits that Mark and Matthew, but Luke puts it in for us. Paul echoes that when he is trying to teach those Henri Corinthian's how to do church because they messed it all up and he had to be an old you gently but thoroughly scolded them off as you know, if someone smacks you in the face.

You're fine with that but if I preach the gospel. Do you have a problem have to manage.

I don't like the Corinthians. Most of as they were forcing we get to heaven all that stuff will be gone but looking at the record is so much in there to learn about ourselves and so he writes to the Corinthians, echoing Luke when he Jesus Christ had given thanks, he broke it. That is the bread and said to keep this is my body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me. This is very important to the communion table and Christianity. Jesus made his death. The central matter of his work. He is talking about. His death is as I want you to remember the cross, not his life on his miracles, not his teachings. Hear me out, but his death. Now we have to have his life, his teachings, his miracles, we must have those things. But what good are they if he doesn't die for us on the cross, and take away our sin is no good.

It's nothing but now it is everything. It's all come together, just as the prophet said it would. The emphasis lie upon our redemption.

That is what the communion table is it is a sermon to the world. To hell, to the Angels to each other, Christ died for sinners. He did not stop loving humans when they became sinners if he did.

Adam and Eve would never have made it out of the garden alive and so this is a sermon. The communion table that were talking about and so he did the disciples they don't get that yet this is what Paul writes about the communion table in first Corinthians again, this is for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes now that he's coming again, and that he is died evidently means he is risen he is alive. That's what we do when we come to the communion table were supposed to preach by by the act of communion. The simple seamless act of communion.

It is profound to God. It is profound of the Angels and it is profound to us. It does not need to be embellished does not need something to hold it up or make it look better than what it is because it cannot be done would be like painting gold and so here we are. He's talking about the communion table. Not this point is difficult, it is difficult to determine if Judas has left the room when Jesus institutes this table of communion. I think the answer is in the Scripture. And I'm going to get to that. John is the only one that records the departure of Jesus, but John does not pinpoint the moment that Judas left the room. We know the faithful 11 were there but Luke. Luke rings and again in Luke implies that Judas did participate and we get to verse 23 and we just read a moment ago all took all partook what is what Luke says likewise. He also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.

Verse 21 of Luke 22 but behold, the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table. There you might not like open that up a little bit. If he did remain his hypocrisy and his crime is even more appalling that he would be at the communion table depart the communion table and betray Christ. Did Paul have Judas in mind when he warned the churchgoers at current again. First Corinthians chapter 11 he says.

Therefore whoever eats this bread and drink this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord and making them a murderer crucified. He continues, but let a man examine himself, so let him eat the bread and drink the cup, where he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body did he have Judas in mind, I think he did based on what Luke just said the hand of my betrayer is here communion is a sacred act to us. That's why Satan infiltrates it surprise who is surprised by that. Who would be surprised that Satan would target the most sacred things that we have in this life you will be able to get to them in the next one. But right now he can while he can defile a heart he cannot defile this table.

Judas, he chose to be a traitor but he wasn't the last trader to be at the communion table down through the centuries, but the presence of Christ sanctifies the table for those who come in for those who believe within hours, Jesus, the true Passover will be slain in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies which is the expression of the will of God and he will fulfill this these prophecies concerning his substitutionary death on our behalf. First Corinthians 5 verse seven for indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us so and so, don't be if Judas was at the table. Don't let that bother you with a habit. If you are a believer.

That's what matters. What Paul was telling the Corinthians that a man examine himself.

This substitutionary death of Christ.

In other words, instead of bringing the Lamb to be sacrificed. God provided his Lamb as a substitution instead of having me be sacrificed for my sins.

God provided his son to be a sacrifice to take my judgment my penalty upon me in the substitutionary death is what Christ is now saying do this in remembrance of me.

In other words, this is a very big deal that would Christ say without without the death on the cross. What are we left with Paul said that about the resurrection of Christ is not risen in your faith is nothing. It is in vain. Romans chapter 15 first Peter chapter 1 verse 18. Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, perfect sacrifice the perfect substitute and so a new feast is replacing the old one.

That's what Christ is doing so we know were sitting here for the Passover meal. This will be the last one that will be authorized by God. Now it is the communion table of the Passover will resume with in a memorial you know of bloodless sacrifices in the millennial reign to memorialize this because again there will be sinners born during the millennial age they will need to believe in Jesus Christ.

They will need to understand that he died for sinners. It will not be until there's a new heaven and new earth. When there are no more sinners be born, but until then this is everything to do with people so the new feast of communion, replacing the old feast of the Passover. Consider the two symbols in there just to the bread and the cup they're all about Christ that about anybody else but his sacrifice, the bread that he broke. No one broke him. He offered himself. No one killed him in its truest sense. He gave up the spirit. His body torn apart by scourge nail and spear. His body was broken in that sense, his blood poured out in the same because of the same things because of the scourge the nail in the spear graphic picture he painted which no disciple forgets he says take eat. This is my body. They had already received the sermon on this.

We read about in John chapter 6 they should've been ready for this, because at that time many people as we would say today left the church.

Maybe they were pre-preoccupied with that. Maybe they were preoccupied when Jesus said, I've chosen you to be my disciples.

And one of you is a devil and they missed the point. Either way, they have no sight of it now.

Verse 23 then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drink from what I said they have no sight of it. They have a little bit of it but not as much, as we have because we have a floor record.

We watch the whole thing take place. They weren't ready for his death, but they were accepting the idea of this is my body and this is my blood. In verse 23 where he says then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank from it. The Roman Catholics are known to call this the Eucharist, which simply means to give thanks in the Greek.

I prefer communion.

I disagree with them on everything. Everything concerning Christ. I do it is categorical but anyway he gave it to them. It is his to give his his body to give, and he gives it to us as if communion is a big deal for us. Don't don't think that you need to have you know we need special music.

We spent note, we need to be together and pass the bread and the cup in remembrance of him. We all drank as I said, I believe Judas drank to many commentators don't share that view. I like when they're wrong and I'm right. It makes me feel superior and I need that for my self-image hope. What is taking me too seriously. With that verse 24 and he said to them, this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you a new covenant, which the nation Israel currently rejects the people of Israel.

Individual Jews can be saved in our say they are part of this covenant, but overall Israel is not interested. They think Christ was a lot of things that are not very good. Jesus is fulfilling just in one instance, Jeremiah 3131 where he tells the Jewish people. Behold, the days are coming, says Yahweh when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

Now that will not happen until the millennial reign for the house of Israel.

The house of Judah, but has happened for believers of Jesus Christ that Jeremiah 3131.

Incidentally, if you're not aware of this word covenant and Testament of the same word it is you know your last will and covenant your agreement to this is what I want happen to happen with my belongings. Hebrews chapter 8 and that he says a new covenant, he has made the first obsolete. That's why we said earlier that this is the last Jewish Passover that God is accepting as a Passover.

After this, it is the communion because he's made the other one obsolete. The guilt once I know you been repeating this and it's necessary. That's what the whole entire letter to the Hebrews is about stop practicing Judaism. If you're Christian, you're Christian now we don't do that. Our perfect sacrifices in Christ, he is out Passover a better covenant than the Mosaic covenant, so that just in case. But back to this. This is my blood bloodless discs a distasteful topic, and in general I mean when you when you see blood you first thing you ask is it me you know that somebody is leaking and you don't want to be you. The second thing if it is you is how bad is it and if it's the other person.

The second thing is one Gladys, not me then how bad is it because blood is a big deal. It is for all you go firefight. We all notice far you go to the restaurant that they have little candles on the table you noticed that even though you don't look at you know subconsciously you know is there blood is more so it's again a distasteful topic, would you rather visit a greenhouse or slaughterhouse. Years ago I had a friend who you one assignment for him was a slaughterhouse in Pennsylvania. Please tell me the story since last I went to the Dino to see the committed customer call and they offered me a tour and I said I'll take it and they said the nurse gave the tour why is this people faint when they see what happens in these cows of a faint lot. All of them. He didn't he send me. I held it together but that's getting part was pretty rough.

So again the blood the bore. It's when you see blood it. It's serious like a leak on a submarine. That's a serious thing. I mean everybody in the submittals of your seeing a leak. You don't just that it's is not that bad is a big deal.

So it is with blood. And God never meant that we should be ignorantly pleased with the word blood.

I mean if you need a transfusion you're in that sense you please but still saying this something wrong.

The sight of blood. This is a sermon in itself preaching to humanity.

Something is not right here. Death can be closer than you think. First mentioned in Scripture and human history of blood. It comes in the context that surrounds a crime scene is when Abel killed his was killed by his brother Cain, and God confronts Cain the murder and remember it was not long after they were went to worship that this Murder Took Pl. in Genesis four God asked Cain what have you done the voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now blood is implied when the animals were skin to cover the nudity which was an emblem of their sin, Adam and Eve that's implied there, but the first time. It is explicitly stated. Is there at this crime scene violence being done to God's word by Adam and Eve and by Cain medically and theologically.

It symbolizes trouble and hope that's what blood is it is a big deal, reminds the center that sin is deadly, that it will bleed them out if something is not done and this is why Jesus said in Matthew 26 verse 28 for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for remission of sin. So again while the world is out there trampling on God's planet committing forgery by saying he didn't do it. He didn't create this is somehow happened just in violation to reason, which is the norm now because as we look at how this thing that starts with a C and ends with the 19 we see how it's handled. We still care about science care about reason they just care about whatever they care about is that is there control and power and madness move.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you'll find additional teachings from Pastor Rick.

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