2005-01-09 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Matthew 26:19-30

19. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.
20. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
21. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
23. And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
24. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
25. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
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.
30. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

In this passage, the word "betray" appears four times. Each time it comes from the Greek word "paradidomi," which means to give over, to deliver into someone's hands. Betrayal isn't always a voluntary thing (for example, my growling stomach betrays my hunger), but in this passage betrayal is a voluntary, intentional act. That's what the world gave to Jesus.

In this passage, the Lord Jesus gives something to the disciples, to us, and to the world. He gave the Bread of Life and He gave the Blood of the New Testament. In this passage, the word "gave" is translated from the Greek word "didomi." True giving is always voluntary, with no strings attached.

So in the Greek language, an act of giving can be changed into an act of betrayal by simply adding the preposition "para" in front of it. Jesus didn't operate this way, and neither should we.

In this passage, we see the act of "paradidomi" as the world is giving our Lord over to be crucified, but at the same time we see the unleavened "didomi" of Jesus, offering Himself as a sacrifice.

As we walk through this week, let's remember the spoiling power of that little word, "para." Let's examine our own motives in each situation before we automatically assume that we're the "good guys." Let's reflect on what it means to be a true giver, to give freely and voluntarily of ourselves. The world gives "with strings attached," but Jesus gave it all, and all to Him we owe, unleavened.

1 Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.