THEY MADE HIM A SUPPER
Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
Matthew 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
The Lord’s next recorded supper will be his last supper. And it will not be of such rich fellowship as was this supper. It will be the supper to institute the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, wherein we are instructed to remember him and show his death until he returns. And it is interesting to notice that the next supper will have the words, and supper being ended included its account. For all the previous issues were about to change as the glorious Savior went in before the Father to provide a new and living way. John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
For an entirely new way of supping was now being brought into being. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He had introduced it back in Samaria when the disciples brought him natural food. He then introduced them to spiritual sustenance and it’s spiritually enlivening nourishment. John 4:32 But he said unto them, I have meat (food) to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat (food) is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
And the Lord Jesus strongly yearned to enter into this spiritual type of eating with his church! Matthew 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. And he anticipated this with great desire. Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
Then he more fully instructs as to the feeding of spirits from the Spirit-Being of God. For God alone has given and sustained all existence in distinction from Himself! Natural eating was only given forth to speak of the invisible and spiritual partaking of God for life! Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: For eating and drinking was never just for the nourishment of the physical body! It is for God’s glory! 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. The Hebrew word translated into English as “soul,” is the word “appetite.”
But it was right in front of their eyes. For all their children came forth from the mother’s body, but were then cast back upon that same body for their sustenance. Psalm 22:9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts.
This was the mistake that caused the world of Noah to perish! For they became only given to the physical nourishing, leaving the spiritual feeding from God out entirely. Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
How strange the following words were to the ears of those most dedicated of religionists in Israel. John 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
And all the old economy under the system of the law was to be overcome by the glorious era of grace. All the sacrifices were to end as the Lamb of God was come with his single sacrifice to take away the sin of the world! And in doing so he taketh away the old covenant of the law, that he may establish the second. Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
But this supper in Simon the leper’s house, in Bethany, was different. For here his gospel friends, representing a sampling of all those who would ever be cleansed by his blood are in attendance. For here he was at a place of life, but after his last supper he would be at a place of death. Luke 13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
His Father had provided this place for his Son to see what his death would accomplish in the lives of those whom the Father had given him. Therefore just before his death he would be encouraged to envision the glorious effect of his sacrifice. Listen to his inner thoughts at this gathering revealed in verse 7: Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.
And in one way in this gathering there was fulfilled the prophecy of the Prophet Daniel. For here Mary would anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (We understand that his true anointing would be with the Holy Spirit.)
And would not this be the very town to which he would return after his resurrection in order to ascend to his glory? Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Of a truth, even with the anticipation of returning to his Father to enter into his glory, it is said, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
And an evident token of his love was his rebuke of Judas for the protection of Mary! Psalm 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. For the true shepherd does not run when he sees the wolf coming! John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
But our Lord was absolutely guilty of one of the charges which the religious boys leveled against him! Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And, thank God he still does! Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. It is as the song writer has penned, “Sinners Jesus will receive. Sound this word of grace to all.”
For consider this list of those assembled at that supper: There was Simon the leper. He was the Diseased, whom Jesus healed. There was Lazarus the Dead, whom Jesus raised. There was Martha the Dutiful, whom Jesus instructed concerning her being encumbered with much serving. There was Mary the Devoted, who sat at Jesus feet, having chosen that one thing that shall not be taken from her. Then there was Judas the Denier. And the Lord made sure that Judas at least went to Hell with clean feet! John 13:10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
My! What a cross section of sinners representing the great masses of the redeemed! Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Every being, angelic or demonic, every human, redeemed or reprobate shall one day bow and recognize Jesus Christ as Lord! Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
For this was the purpose of God from all eternity. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
And what about you, dear Reader? Have you given any thought to your spiritual feasting from Christ? What is the fare upon which your soul feeds? Are you just feeding it the dry shucks of religion? Or are you feasting off the richness of the Heavenly Bread? John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Acts 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
Song 6:3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. 2:2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Pastor Gene Breed
August 30, 2018
