Transcript
In your Bibles will you turn with me to the Gospel of Luke chapter 22 and verse 14. Luke chapter 22 and verse 14.
My mother said to say hello to everybody. And always do what my mother says. Hello from Pennsylvania.
Luke chapter 22. Beginning to read at verse 14.
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined. But woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!
Then they began to question among themselves which of them it was who would do this thing. Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors. But not so among you. On the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
You are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Eddie Pye was a very happy little nine-year-old boy when he received a purple and neon yellow mountain bike for his birthday last July. Little could he have guessed that he would take a trip on that bicycle that he would never forget.
In fact on Wednesday, August the third, Eddie and his parents were out at White Rock Lake. And Eddie decided to take a spin on his bicycle while his parents waited for him. He very promptly got lost. And when he did not return to them at dusk, his parents began to search for him frantically. And eventually they called the police.
The search for little Eddie Pye became a media event. At its top it involved 25 police officers either on foot or on horseback or riding bicycles. Fifteen FBI agents were involved as well as some volunteer searchers. Eddie’s family and friends waited for news at the command post just north of the spillway on White Rock Lake.
The entire night passed. And when morning came, Eddie had not been found. What nobody realized was that not long after Eddie had gotten lost he ran across a friend of his who evidently lived nearby. His friend allowed him to spend the night at his house. And in the morning Eddie called his parents. But of course his parents were at the command center at White Rock Lake.
Sometime during Thursday morning Eddie rode his bike back down to the lake. A passing motorist who had heard a description of him recognized Eddie by his bright orange shirt and white shorts. The motorist phoned the police. And the police eventually caught up with Eddie at West Walther Drive and Fisher Road. Just a little bit north of the spot where his journey had begun 16 hours before.
When Eddie was reunited with his family, Eddie cried and his mother cried. And his mother told the media that she had prayed for him all night. She said, That’s what you have to do. You just have to pray. And then she informed the media that her mother’s intuition had told her that her little boy was not in danger. That he wasn’t hurt. And now her mother’s intuition was telling her that she should put away his bicycle for a while. And with a smile she said, I’m going to put a lock on that bicycle now.
I strongly suspect that all of the parents in my audience this morning can relate to that story. In fact all of us can relate to a story like that. You see that story deals with one of the most powerful themes in human life and experience. The theme is the theme of separation and reunion. Separation and reunion.
And will you not agree with me that the longer a separation occurs, the more painful a separation is? The more wonderful and the more joyous a reunion can become. And this morning I want to ask all of the Christians in my audience to fast forward your mind. Fast forward your mind. I want you to focus on an event in the future which will be the greatest reunion in all of human history.
And if we focus properly on that event we will see that that event can impact our lives right here and now. And in order to get this subject before you I have chosen as my topic this morning the following exhortation. Reach out for the Morning Star.
Now the Morning Star is not the name of a newspaper. It has nothing to do with the Dallas Morning News or the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The Morning Star is a very important biblical symbol that is rich with meaning. So here’s my title again. It’s an exhortation. And it’s the title of my message to you this morning. Reach out for the Morning Star.
Now I’m thinking this morning of a scene that occurred a little over 44 years ago. And yet I can remember it almost as vividly as if it had occurred last year or the year before. I was standing on a grassy road that kind of sloped down toward a road. And in the center of that lawn was the main building on the campus of Wheaton College.
I had just arrived to enroll for my freshman year at Wheaton. And I was saying goodbye to my dad who had traveled with me to Wheaton and who had helped me to settle in. And you need to understand that at the ripe young age of 18 I had never been away from home for any extended period of time. And when I said goodbye to my dad, you know that there was a kind of a lump in my throat. And my dad told me later he kind of had one too. We were being separated for an extended period of time for the first time in my life.
Now I had expected to go home for the Christmas holidays. But by the time Thanksgiving came I was the most homesick puppy dog on the campus of Wheaton College. And even though we had only a few days for Thanksgiving I begged my folks to let me come home on the bus. And although they were footing the bill for my college expenses they forked over some extra money so I could come home on the bus for Thanksgiving.
And then the weather in Pennsylvania cooperated with me. And we had one of those patented Pennsylvania blizzards that closed the roads. And I had a couple of extra days with my family. And it was great. The separation was hard. But the reunion was wonderful.
And I strongly suspect that everybody who is in the audience this morning can relate to my experience through some experience of your own that you’ve had that’s similar to that. In fact all of us I believe can relate to the experience of the Lord Jesus Christ which is described in the passage of Scripture that we read just a few moments ago.
Please observe that Jesus and His disciples have just sat down to observe the Passover supper. Now this was an annual observance in Israel. And it looked back to the way in which God had redeemed Israel from bondage in Egypt. But for the Lord Jesus Christ this was a very very special occasion. Because He knew and understood that before the night was over He would be arrested. He would be tried. And by the following morning He would be hanging on a criminal’s cross.
And it was very important for Jesus to have this last Passover supper with His disciples. And we can almost hear the emotions in His words as they are recorded in the Gospel of Luke. For He says to His disciples, With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I say to you, I will not eat of it any longer until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And then shortly afterwards He took the first of several of the Passover cups. And He passed it around among the disciples. And He said to His disciples, Take this cup and divide it among yourselves. For I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
Do you see in this scene that we just described that Jesus is facing a separation from His disciples? From men that had spent most of their time with Him for the last three and a half years. For men that He cared enough about to go out and die for them. He’s going to be separated. But as He faces that separation He also looks forward to a reunion. To a reunion in the kingdom of God.
And I want to suggest to you this morning my friends that when we think of the sufferings of our Savior on this particular night we should not start those sufferings with His arrest. We should start them right here. Because our Lord is now tasting the sadness of separation.
What may I point out to you this was for our sakes as well. Isn’t it true that one of the saddest moments that can come to us is to be separated by death from a loved one? It isn’t just we who are left behind who can suffer from that separation. It is also the person who is about to die.
I mean here’s a loving father who knows that he’s dying. He must leave his wife behind. Here’s a loving parent who knows that they are passing into eternity. And they’re worried about the children that they leave behind. Or here’s a friend who knows that he is passing away. And he understands that he must give up the fellowship with some other friend for whom he cares deeply.
You see the suffering cuts both ways. The suffering of separation belongs to the person who is dying and is separated from those who are living. And it belongs to the persons who are living and are separated from the dying. And no matter what our experience of suffering may be Jesus has preceded us in that experience.
And the book of Hebrews tells us this. It says, We do not have a High Priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our weaknesses. But He was in all points tempted. He was in all points tested like we are, yet without sin.
Do we realize that whenever we pass through suffering that is caused by separation no matter what that separation may be? Do we understand that Jesus knows what that is all about? That He cares about it? That He experiences it? And even more than that as our great High Priest at the right hand of God He prays for us in that kind of suffering as in every other kind as well.
Now I think you will agree with me won’t you that if a person is dying and knows that they are going to be separated from loved ones one of the things that the dying person most desires is to be remembered by the people whom he or she leaves behind. To be remembered by the people whom he or she leaves behind.
And it isn’t surprising that after these words that we’ve already looked at in the Gospel of Luke it isn’t surprising that the next thing we read is that Jesus took bread. And He broke it after giving thanks for it. And then He distributed to His disciples. And He said to His disciples, This is My body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.
And likewise also after supper was over He took the cup. And He said, This cup is the new covenant in My blood which is shed for you.
Isn’t it clear in this moment when Jesus is facing separation from His disciples He says please remember Me? And He institutes the Lord’s Supper.
Most of you know that Friday was Veterans Day. And I was watching CBS news on Friday evening. And I saw a very very touching segment of the news. It was about a veteran whose name I believe was Lee Schaaf. As a young man he went to Vietnam. And he was engaged in a horrible fight there. And his body was riddled with bullets. But somehow he survived.
He came home. And although he was partially disabled he nevertheless was able to raise a family. And his wife described him as an active person who loved life. But eventually Lee Schaaf died. And at that point his wife began to urge the United States government to add her husband’s name to the Vietnam War Memorial. Of all of those who have died in the war in Vietnam.
And her argument was that her husband’s death was war-related. And therefore his name should be put up there. And should be remembered every time someone looked at that name as they surveyed the wall. And eventually she won her argument. And the government put the name of Lee Schaaf up there. So that everybody who sees that thing will know that Lee Schaaf died eventually at least in the service of his country.
But the most touching part of the segment on CBS news it seems to me was this. His daughter was there. They showed a close-up of her. She’s a young woman maybe late teens early 20s. And she had a kind of a cord around her neck. And at the end of the cord hung the bullet that had been taken out of the body of her father.
And she explained on camera that the reason she wore that bullet was she wanted to remember him. And her words especially these were touching to me. She said, It’s my way of keeping him close to my heart. It’s my way of keeping him close to my heart.
You know I thought as I watched that isn’t that why we do the Lord’s Supper? Isn’t that really the purpose of the Lord’s Supper? Not simply to remember what Jesus did but to keep Him close to our heart. To be moved each and every week by the magnificent sacrifice that He has made for us.
You know if this were a lordship salvation church I mean by that if we talk that you had to do something to earn your salvation or to keep your salvation to prove your salvation I could understand why some people might not be interested in coming to the Lord’s table. Because they wouldn’t really understand that the cross of Jesus Christ accomplished everything that needs to be accomplished for our eternal life.
But Victor Street isn’t a lordship salvation church. We are people who believe firmly in the saving grace of God. We believe that when Jesus said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, that that’s all there is to it. And the reason that’s all there is to it is because of His death on the cross.
And here at Victor Street we can sing with meaning, Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. Sin had left the crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. And we can also sing and we often do, At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light. And the burden of my heart rolled away. Was there by faith I received my sight. And now I am happy all the day.
And I think we’ve often sung joyously that wonderful song of testimony, Born of the Spirit with life from above into God’s family divine. Justified fully through Calvary’s love. Oh what a standing is mine. And the transaction so quickly was made. For as a sinner I came. Took of the offer by grace He did proffer. Oh He saved me. Oh praise His dear name. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul. When at the cross the Savior made me whole. My sins were washed away and my night was turned to day. Heaven came down and glory filled my soul.
You know what I don’t understand? I don’t understand how people can sing those songs with meaning with sincerity and not want to come to the Lord’s Supper. I don’t understand it.
You know what will really bring you to the Lord’s Supper and should bring you to the Lord’s Supper above all other things? It’s a little word with nine letters. And it begins with the g. Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude. If you don’t have it nobody can give it to you. But if you have it you’ll appreciate what Jesus did for you. This is My body which is given for you. This is My blood which is shed for you. Please remember Me.
Now I wish I could tell you that on this momentous night when Jesus was facing arrest that the disciples were a terrific audience to speak to. I mean they understood what was going on. They sympathized. They comprehended everything. But I’ve asked folks they didn’t.
And when Jesus goes on to announce that the hand of His betrayer is upon the table with Him. And that the Son of Man goes as it has been determined. But woe to the man by whom He is betrayed. They say to themselves who could this be? And they begin to question each other which one of us is going to do this.
Obviously Judas had fooled them for three and a half years. In fact they trusted Judas so much that they had given him the purse. He kept the money. He was their treasurer. And we know he was stealing from them. They had not the remotest idea that Judas only pretended to believe in Jesus and was going to turn Him in. And had in fact entered into a deal that would take place that night.
And then and this is really what surprises you. After the conversation has gone on a little while the disciples began to have a debate among themselves. Do you know what they were debating about? I mean I said wow. They were debating about which of them would be considered the greatest.
What? When Jesus has said He was going to suffer and give His body and give His blood for them. Then He was going to be betrayed. Their word about who’s going to be the greatest. And Jesus has to remind them that among the Gentiles people who had authority were given high titles. But that’s not the way it’s going to be among you.
Among you the greatest person would be like the youngest person. The greatest person would be the person who serves. And then He says which is greater the person who sits at the table or the person who serves? And of course in everyday life it’s the person who sits at the table. But not in the Christian fellowship.
And Jesus says, Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Wasn’t that what this evening was all about? It was about Jesus serving His disciples. Suffering for them. Dying for them. Even the betrayal was on behalf of them. A doorway into His atonement for their sins.
And I’m going to tell you something. I can hardly believe that Jesus spoke the next words in the context that I’ve described to you. I mean if He had gone on to say something like this you men really try My patience sometimes. I mean you don’t know what this is all about do you? You don’t understand the thing that’s going on here do you? I just don’t know what I’m going to do with you men. If He had said something like that I wouldn’t have been surprised.
But here’s what He said folks. He says, But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom as My Father has bestowed one upon Me. That you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Wow. What grace. With all their faults with all their failures Jesus can say to them at least you’ve stuck it out with Me. You’ve been with Me these three and a half years right to this moment. And I want you to know there’s going to be a wonderful reunion someday in the kingdom of God. You’ll be sitting with Me at My table in My kingdom. You’ll be eating and drinking with Me as you are right now. And you will be sharing My royal power because you will be sitting on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
You know what Jesus is doing? And what He’s doing is He’s holding out to them the Morning Star. Do you remember those inspiring words that Jesus spoke in Revelation? He who overcomes and keeps My works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. And they shall be shattered in pieces as a potter’s vessel. As I also have received from My Father. And I will give him the Morning Star.
What is the Morning Star? Well in the natural world it’s Venus that shines brightly just as a new day is about to dawn. And it’s an appropriate symbol of hope and expectation. Especially the hope that is focused on the new day when God’s kingdom shall be here.
And this is my final observation this morning. Despite the fact that we are all so full of failure if we stick it out in the Christian life if we hold fast to the profession of faith if we don’t forsake the assembling of ourselves together if we hang in there with the Lord Jesus Christ when He has this reunion with His disciples we also will have fellowship with Him. And we will share His reign. And the Morning Star will be ours.
For all of our brightest hopes all of our greatest expectations all of our marvelous dreams will be fulfilled in His presence in fellowship with Him as we reign with Him. The Bible says if we endure we shall also reign with Him.
In the tragic country of Rwanda in the city of Akagera there is a hotel called the Hotel Akagera. It was once described as a little corner of paradise. It was a posh hotel located high on the mountainside. It had a lovely swimming pool and poolside bar. Not so long ago there were rich Europeans and North Americans who sat around that pool and sipped martinis. And looked out at the beautiful view of Lake Ihema. And looked down on the savanna territory below them.
But then came the bloodthirsty war between the Hutus and the Tutsis in which hundreds of thousands of people died. And the tourists fled. And the hotel was deserted. But it’s not deserted anymore. You know who has taken over the hotel? You know I couldn’t believe this. A colony of baboons. They are called olive baboons. They may grow as high as three feet. They can sometimes be very aggressive. And now they are living in some of the rooms of the 60-room hotel.
They spend most of their time gamboling around the poolside bar of the swimming pool which is now a murky slimy swimming pool. One reporter who was there saw one of these baboons slide down the diving board on his rump. While another baboon who was dead had his bloated body floating face down in the murky waters of the swimming pool.
And the baboons have almost made it ridiculous what the guest book says about the hotel. The guest book says, Exceptional sight. Hospitable management. Charming service. Delicious food and comfortable rooms. Pure excellence. Pure excellence. And not excellent anymore.
One only hopes the baboons can be driven off and the hotel restored to its former beauty and excellence. You know as I got to thinking about this it occurred to me that the world in which you and I are living is kind of like the Hotel Akagera. When God first made it it was beautiful. It was a wonderful place to live in. But now mankind like a pack of baboons have spoiled it. And they have filled it with corruption and sin.
But someday when the Lord Jesus Christ is reunited with His disciples someday when the kingdom of God shall come this world will once again be a wonderful place to live. It will be an exceptional sight with hospitable management with charming service delicious food of the King’s table and very comfortable dwelling places in our Father’s house. Pure excellence.
And if you as a Christian will stick it out with Jesus Christ He will give you all the privileges that go with that wonderful new world that is coming. And you will reign with Him.
The songwriter has said it well. When He shall call from earth’s remotest corners all who have stood triumphant in His might. Oh to be worthy then to stand beside them. And in that morn to walk with Him in white.
Reach out for that privilege my Christian friends. Reach out for the Morning Star.
Shall we pray?
Father thank You for such a hope as Your Son has set before us. Not simply of being saved wonderful though that is but also of sharing in rich fellowship with Him and reigning with Him forever. Inspire us Father. And may our gratitude be multiplied. And may our worship of Thee be enriched. We ask it in Christ’s name. Amen.