Soul-Searching during Supper, Part 2

Today from Chuck Swindoll. Search me oh God no, my heart try me and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me and leave me in the way everlasting single or doesn't search our hearts so that he might know, he searches us so that he might show it. There is nothing hidden before God. No secret that he does not know on the night before his Christian Jesus gathered his disciples together and ominous. Paul filled the room. Jesus had alluded to his coming crucifixion. Disciples seem to be in denial while Jesus shared his final thought the disciples hung on every word in the sacred moments. Jesus prepared his disciples. All of us for the future to come today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll re-creates this emotion filled scene. Matthew chapter 26 per a message titled soul-searching during supper. Chuck begins by leaving us in prayer.

Thank you, dear father for your great love for us. Thank you for understanding us as we are. Thank you for your patience as we are in the process of growing and learning.

Thank you for showing us along the way, what it means to accept your forgiveness and to forgive others show us a new what it means to carry Christ around with us and to represent his righteousness in a world that has long since lost its way. I pray today for mother's and dad's who rarely children. What a task that is.

I pray that you would give them strength, wisdom, patience, understanding and able them to establish a standard of right and wrong, since that has been lost in this culture in which we live. I pray for those who are getting up in years that you would give great grace and encouragement and special strength to press on to realize that you're not true with them that you have a place for them and you were using. I pray for those who work in difficult places, who face insuperable odds as they are surrounded by those who discount and disclaim the words of Christ. Give them special measures of grace to live for you to represent you in a way that is realistic and marked by mercy and grace. Thank you father for raising up his church and for using us in the lives of others, maybe not be caught in the net. The web of indifference or pride or self-satisfaction maybe realize we have been placed at this particular place in life that we might touch the lives of those who were searching for a way through.

Help us to do that consistently and faithfully.

Now, Lord, we have the joy of giving. We give with great gratitude, and we give with generosity through Christ and for Christ and to the glory of Christ, in whose name we pray for whose purpose we get in everyone's a man study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures by going to inside world.or/studies. Now the message from Chuck titled soul-searching during supper while they were eating the meal and no doubt discussing the things of of recent days, Jesus breaks in with this shocking statement. There's a there's a traitor among us. It was the among us part that was so shocked.

I think it would be helpful if we left Matthew 26 and went to John 14 because in John 13. More details are given that Matthew includes so Turner would you. John 13 beginning in verse 21 will take up right where we were in Matthew 26, John writes, who was at the table. He's writing 60 years later.

Matthew wrote rather soon after Jesus had died, risen from the dead and ascended. Matthew wrote, but not before Mark was the first one to write but but John waited a long time before he wrote and having thought on it all. He writes this. John 1321 Jesus is deeply troubled, and he exclaimed I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me. The disciples looked at each other wondering whom he could mean now look closely, the disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus at the table. Okay what I described. I take it that John is on Jesus immediate right. His head is right here. He can look up into the face of Jesus as he reclined at the table. So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who is he talking about how we do that when we don't want anybody here us. We go we go we we shape the words. Who is it with our lips. Peter does this to John so John just the signal from Peter course, Jesus sees it, and he knows all things. So Jesus says in verse 26. It is the one to whom I give the bread I did in the bowl or set about. I listen carefully. It wasn't uncommon to have a guest of honor at the Passover meal who would be at the left of the host and one of the traditions was that the host would prepare a little tidbit breaking off a couple of pieces of the unleavened bread and putting some of the bitter herb in between Michelob sandwich and the dipping that into the countershaft. The dip and would give that to the guest of honor.

I'm suggesting it's Judas, while it suggests that it's his last appeal is Jesus way of saying it isn't too late I know what you been doing I know what you're up to, but Judas listen, this is all without words.

This is my my last offer for you to repent. Don't go there and we read that he he took that took that little sandwich if you will, and he gave it to two Judas Simon Iscariot, Judas had eaten the bread look closely know Mrs. Satan entered into him and Jesus told him he realized it's over. There's no more appealing when Satan enters a life. He's an embodiment of the enemy himself. So Jesus says, hurrying to what you're going to do not notice carefully. None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant keep reading.

Since Judas was the treasurer some thought Jesus was telling him to go on paper, the food, or to give some money to the poor. Judas left at once and it was like a better back to Matthew Matthew 26 I know you're sitting here listening to this wondering how could they not have no after that, even after the dialogue.

Remember the location of the heads. I think it was said very softly what Jesus said to Judas was quietly spoken. If you do send anything back.

It was softly spoken, not heard. That's what Peter says, find out who it is and there were such trust in Judas, which is often the way it is with traders. There was such trust in Judas. No one would have guessed him of all people know what he slips out into the night.

They thought it was running an errand.

Not even been known if we were to take the time and remain in John 13. We would go wanted to 1415 and 16 in what is called the upper room discourse member, we had the Olivet discourse Jesus taught his disciples on the side of the mountain about his plans for the future in this upper room where he's at the table with his faithful 11.

Judas is not gone, he communicates the work of the Holy Spirit and the important role he will fill because Jesus is leaving them. This is where he begins the say don't let your heart be troubled you believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many places of the residence.

If it were not so, what I told you I go and prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you will come again and receive your muscle, but saw the beginning of the upper room discourse set in this room, but they had just had their meal together silverback in Matthew 26 and Jesus. Verse 26 of Matthew 26 took some bread and blessed stop when up until now the bread commemorated something related to the agent Exodus, but not now. Before the wine represented something related to the meal from the ancient past no longer. Now we have a new meaning.

Look at it for yourself. He says as he picked up some bread.

He blessed and broke it and said, take this and eat it for this is my body.

Unfortunately once again were so familiar with the words we use them at every communion service every time we serve the Lord's table.

We use those words but that was the first time something like that it ever been said so is think about those words. Some read the words and they take them literally taken to mean exactly that and so they teach that when the sacrament. The server literally. The bread becomes the body of Jesus and the wind becomes the blood of Jesus, but Jesus is there with them. The bread was in him. He was still there he's saying the bread represents my body to give you little a little room to follow when you do your own interpretation of Scripture. If the normal sense makes good sense, seek no other sense I know the normal sense would be that this could mean is a literal body. He's the one who said earlier, I am the door. No one thought he was a door. He's the one who said I am the vine, you are the branches. Even you think I am now a branch or Jesus is now the following committees. This is represented by good illustration. Some time ago Cynthia in an unguarded moment had a picture taken of her. She did.

She hardly knew they were taking it in snap. They took it and I think it's the best picture she's ever taken and I got one on my desk here at the church got one on my desk this at the seminary I got one on my desk at home. I got everyplace good in bed with me because I don't I don't need a picture in bed with me okay and whenever somebody is visiting with me at my study, whichever city it is and I don't know her well look at the picture and I will say this is my wife. She's not free behind glass okay.

It's a representation of mine, and it's so elementary to tell you this but I think of that when I think of those that take this literally.

This represents my body.

That picture represents my wife when I travel without my family I have a picture my family and I put it at the table where I eat and will let you alone there right there. We could talk to the or whatever usually don't. But I could if I wanted to because it represents my family now that's what we have here and he goes to the wind and he says this is my blood.

Obviously, again, not representing the blood are not the exact blood of Christ, but representing the blood of Christ, you get it for the first time they're having to come to terms with a reminder of their Savior whom they've always had with them, but now it will be in the ingredients that are observed at this meal and the meal will not be once a year. It will be when you gather for worship and when you observe these elements my body and my blood you'll remember my death, which was given on on your behalf.

And it will be a marvelous reminder of the Savior and then he even makes a statement regarding time Matthew 26, 29, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom not only future to their day, but future to our day someday in the future when that kingdom is established, the Savior is there at the feast would be marvelous. He will be the host and we will enjoy the meal with you and then we read a very intimate statement by Matthew.

They sang a hymn and then they went out, but you wonder what they say the word is a him most likely one of the songs there were songs that fit in the category of Helio HAL LEL Holly Hill Psalms 113 to 115 may have been one of those then there was the grand Holly Hill Psalm 136 that humans with the same repeated line. His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Maybe they sang that responsively together. They certainly knew it by heart. No doubt it's sung in all other lives is Jewish boys growing up and now is Jewish men with the Savior. I would love to have been there but on the wall when they sang the hymn. I wonder if they were able to finish it because hymns that are meaningful often touch us deeply and the tears replace voices as they realize this is the last.

No other meal not with the Savior I he will soon be gone sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of olives. What follows is Gethsemane.

The arrest trials. The scourging in the debt before I close all of this off now suggest a reversal of roles in this gathering today as we find ourselves sitting together were not the ones observing from a distance and invisible.

That's Christ he looks into every one of us and he sees what no one else around us can see you just think you know the person next to you or the one to whom you're married, you don't know that person like the Lord knows, and he looks deeply within our lives. And if I may quote from Psalm 139 is as if we are saying to him right now.

Search me oh God, and know my heart try me and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me and leave me in the way everlasting interesting words wicked way, literally. The Hebrew says see if there be any way of paying or anything within me. That brings you grief or anguish show it to me. See, the Lord doesn't search our hearts so that he might know, he already knows he searches us so that he might show it to us and reveal it to us.

That's why we are often urged to search our souls when we come around the table before we partake of awards bread and wine. We search ourselves to see if there's any way pay. There is nothing hidden before God.

No secret that he does not know because that's true.

Ramona asked that we pause right now and close our eyes bow our heads sit very quietly before him for the next few moments. I invite you to use those words search me oh God, and know my heart know my thoughts could be Lord that I I have played the part that isn't true. Other people think I'm yours. But honestly, when I search in you reveal it to me. I realize I've never trusted in your son never told the Lord Jesus Christ. I wanted to be my Savior so want to do that right now or it may be that you've begun to uncover an area that's been going on long enough. It explains the lack of peace that you've lived with honor know what it is.

But if you search your heart you will find it you show it to you.

He will cleanse you what can wash away my sins. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What you make me whole again. Nothing but the blood trust in Christ. Now open yourself up to him, offer him your life, no strings attached.

Nothing held back and I can assure you he will come in and make a world of difference. From this point on.

Thank you, dear father, for your faithfulness as you deal with each one of us is as if were all alone with you in this room and we can feel your searching presence is you scope out our thoughts are words or actions or motives are lifestyle is you reveal to us what we have been trying to hide from others that we have no business continuing. I pray Lord that you will enable us to unveil strip back whatever is kept at hidden so that before you. We are an open book, and you begin to do a work of cleansing in our souls deliver us from any attempt to be or to appear something that were not then lead us in the way everlasting.

Speak to me just as you speak to everyone else. Show me whatever is needed in my own life. That ought to be changed and I will leave before you know these things, we pray believing in the name of Jesus are seen in all God's people said amen is encouraging to realize that at this very moment. Men and women all around the world allowing God to search their hearts. He's the one who noses through and through. You're listening to Insight for living in the Bible teaching the pastor and author Chuck Swindoll were in the middle of a comprehensive study through the gospel according to Matthew, called the King of Kings and to learn more about Chuck Swindoll in this ministry. Please visit us online@insightworld.org and then to help you spend every day living in the awareness that Jesus knows your heart inside and out. Let me remind you Insight for living provides a variety of helpful tools to guide your times of reflection each one point you to Jesus, the one who knows you and loves you and today we're pleased to offer a devotional book. Chuck is written is titled God's word for you.

The subtitle is an invitation to find the nourishment your soul needs. This easy-to-read book is perfect for those who are just beginning their lifelong journey of studying God's word or for those who hope to rekindle their daily devotional time with Christ and you can purchase a copy right now by going to Insight.org/offer or comments you listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 and then let me offer a big thank you to all those who financially support Insight for living.

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