The Upper Room - Matthew 26:17-30 - February 22, 2026

Feb 22, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The New Covenant Sealed by Christ's Blood

The Passover meal was a profound foreshadowing of a greater reality. In the upper room, Jesus took the cup of redemption and gave it a new, eternal meaning. This was no longer a remembrance of deliverance from Egypt, but the institution of the new covenant promised by the prophets. Through His blood, we are offered complete and final forgiveness of sins, a redemption that is both personal and everlasting. This covenant is not written on stone but on the hearts of all who believe. [01:23:17]

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28, ESV)

Reflection: As you consider the new covenant established by Jesus' sacrifice, what specific sin or burden are you most grateful to have been forgiven and released from through His shed blood?

Day 2: The Sovereign Plan of God in Christ's Sacrifice

Every detail of the Passover and the events leading to the cross unfolded under God's perfect sovereignty. From the preparation of the upper room to the revelation of the betrayer, nothing was a surprise or an accident. Christ's death was not a tragic failure but the fulfillment of a divine plan established before the foundation of the world. He was the Lamb slain according to the definite foreknowledge of God, accomplishing the redemption He had always intended. [01:09:49]

“he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your current circumstances do you need to trust more deeply in the sovereignty of God, believing that He is working even difficult details for His good purpose?

Day 3: The Personal Invitation to the Marriage Supper

The fourth cup of the Passover remains undrunk, pointing toward a future celebration. This cup of praise is reserved for the marriage supper of the Lamb, when all believers will be reunited with Christ in His Father’s kingdom. This is not a generic hope for all humanity, but a specific promise for those who have entered into a relationship with Jesus. The most vital question one can answer is whether they have accepted this personal invitation through faith in Christ. [01:38:14]

“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.’” (Revelation 19:6, ESV)

Reflection: What does the hope of one day celebrating at the marriage supper of the Lamb stir in your heart today, and how does that eternal perspective influence your choices this week?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of Remembering

The Lord's Supper is far more than a ritual; it is a sacred act of remembrance that should transform our hearts. When we partake of the bread and the cup, we are called to vividly recall the body broken and the blood shed for us. This remembrance is not meant to be empty or routine, but a powerful engagement with the reality of Christ’s sacrifice. It is a time to celebrate our freedom from sin and to reaffirm our daily need for Him. [01:34:39]

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19, ESV)

Reflection: How can you move beyond routine and approach your next time of Communion with a fresh sense of awe and gratitude for the personal cost of your salvation?

Day 5: Living in the Hope of the Final Cup

The Christian life is lived between the third cup—the cup of redemption we have received—and the fourth cup—the cup of praise we will drink in glory. This hope anchors us in the present reality that all suffering, pain, and death are temporary. We live with the certain expectation that Christ will return, make all things new, and wipe away every tear. This future hope provides profound peace and purpose for our lives today. [01:29:38]

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, ESV)

Reflection: In the midst of life's current struggles or griefs, which specific aspect of the future hope described in Revelation 21 brings you the most comfort and strength to persevere?

Sermon Summary

Announcements clarified that the benevolent offering will not be collected this week, explained the upcoming “cookies for teachers” outreach, and invited people to join a year-long discipleship reading plan that requires about thirty minutes of daily scripture and weekly group participation. A time of praises and prayer lifted up answered requests, new salvations, healing needs, cancer petitions, vocational decisions, and the weight of grief, asking for God’s presence, wisdom, and healing. The exposition then moves into Matthew 26 and the upper room, locating the Last Supper inside the Jewish Passover framework so the ritual’s original meaning becomes visible. The narrative emphasizes God’s sovereignty: arrangements for the upper room unfold under divine direction and the identity of the betrayer stands revealed within God’s ordained plan. The Passover’s four-cup structure receives careful attention—sanctification, deliverance, redemption, and praise—and the breaking of the afikoman and the shared cup get new significance as Jesus reframes them.

The unleavened bread becomes a celebration of freedom now fulfilled in Christ’s broken body; the cup moves from Israel’s deliverance to the blood of the new covenant that secures forgiveness through the spotless Lamb. Isaiah’s suffering servant and Jeremiah’s promise of a written law on the heart provide the theological background: the cross accomplishes atonement and brings Spirit-wrought indwelling that marks the new covenant community. The sermon insists that the fourth cup—praise and consummation—remains empty because its fulfillment awaits the marriage supper of the Lamb when God will make all things new and wipe away death, mourning, and pain. Communion functions as remembrance and proclamation: it celebrates redemption already accomplished and points forward to consummation. The invitation to the table closes with an unmistakable summons: only the shed blood of Christ secures entrance into the coming kingdom; all must decide whether to receive that gift now.

Key Takeaways

1. God's sovereignty shapes redemption God directs the Passover details and even the revelation of betrayal; nothing in the upper room surprises divine purpose. The events that look chaotic on human terms fit within a redemptive plan written before creation. This means grief over evil coexists with trust in God’s ordering work, prompting patient obedience rather than fatalism. [67:16]
2. Passover frames the Lord's Supper Understanding the seder’s structure—afikoman, ritual cups, and communal meal—illuminates why Jesus broke bread and poured a cup at that moment. The bread functions as celebration of freedom; the cup reframes Israel’s deliverance into atonement by the Lamb. This grounding prevents communion from becoming mere routine and roots it in covenantal memory. [80:25]
3. Blood inaugurates the new covenant Jesus’ declaration of “my blood of the covenant” transforms Exodus imagery into Jeremiah’s promise: God writes the law on hearts through forgiveness and Spirit indwelling. Atonement here operates not as abstract justice but as relational restoration—sin removed, God dwelling within. Christians therefore approach the table not to earn favor but to renew covenant identity by the Spirit’s seal. [82:41]
4. Fourth cup anticipates consummation The fourth cup remains undrunk because full redemption waits for the marriage supper of the Lamb and the new creation of Revelation. The empty cup becomes prophetic: present suffering does not cancel promised renewal. Hope takes the form of patient faithfulness, living now in light of a future where death and tears end. [87:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:45] - Cookies for Teachers Outreach
[17:57] - Discipleship Groups Invitation
[20:02] - Praises and Prayer Requests
[62:40] - Reading Matthew 26: The Upper Room
[63:21] - Why Passover Matters Here
[67:16] - Sovereignty and the Betrayer
[71:27] - Four Cups of Passover Explained
[80:25] - Instituting the Lord’s Supper
[81:52] - Bread as Celebration and Freedom
[82:41] - Cup as Blood of New Covenant
[87:42] - The Fourth Cup and Consummation
[98:43] - Communion Invitation and Practice
[113:46] - Closing Prayer and Commissioning

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 26:17–30 (ESV)
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.” Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Observation questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give the disciples about preparing the Passover meal?
How did Jesus identify His betrayer during the meal?
What two elements did Jesus use to institute the Lord’s Supper, and what did He say each represented?
What did Jesus say about drinking the fruit of the vine again in the future? [01:27:18]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus chose the Passover meal as the setting to institute the Lord’s Supper? [01:03:21]
Jesus said His blood is “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” How does this connect to the Old Testament concept of covenant? [01:23:17]
What is the significance of Jesus not drinking the fourth cup of Passover? [01:27:42]
How does the betrayal by Judas fit into God’s sovereign plan, according to the sermon? [01:07:16]

Application questions

Communion is a celebration of freedom from sin through Christ’s broken body. How does remembering this truth change the way you approach the Lord’s Table? [01:21:52]
The fourth cup points to the future hope of the marriage supper of the Lamb. How can this hope shape your perspective in seasons of suffering or grief? [01:29:38]
Jesus’ blood establishes the new covenant, where God’s law is written on our hearts by the Spirit. What does it look like to live daily in the reality of this inner transformation? [01:26:51]
Judas betrayed Jesus even after years of closeness. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been near Jesus but still resisted His lordship? [01:10:19]
The Passover was a communal meal. How can regularly taking communion deepen your connection to other believers and your identity as part of God’s family? [01:29:25]
Jesus said He wouldn’t drink the cup again until the kingdom. How does this anticipation influence your urgency to share the gospel with others? [01:36:38]
God’s sovereignty was displayed even in the betrayal. How can trusting God’s control over difficult circumstances lead to patient obedience rather than fear or frustration? [01:07:16]

Sermon Clips

62s

#ForgivenAndAdopted

“That god in his infinite love for rebellious creation made the way for us to be forgiven, for us to be reconciled, and for us to be adopted into the family of god. That's the beauty that we see before us every time we come to his table, that all of this junk in life is temporary, that we have this to look forward to, The empty cup that we have to look forward to, that he is going to do exactly what he said he was going to do. Write these words down for they are trustworthy and true. There will come a day when we will all stand face to face to Jesus Christ. Those words are trustworthy and true. It is going to happen. We are all going to come face to face with our creator, and we're gonna have to answer for what we've done in this life.”

41s

#RedeemedByTheLamb

“So Jesus took this cup, this cup of redemption, and made it something brand new to his disciples. This was no longer about the fact that they were redeemed out of Egypt. It was now that they were gonna be redeemed by the blood of the spotless lamb of god, Jesus Christ, for all eternity. This was no longer a temporary celebration. This was no longer a placeholder for what god was going to do. God was now doing what he promised through the Passover because in the Passover, they were commanded to take the blood of a lamb and put it on the lentils and the door of the frame and the lentil of their doors. So, we're putting blood here, here, and here.”

56s

#IsaiahFulfilled

“This is what the cup is talking about. When Jesus says, this is my blood of the new covenant for the forgiveness of many, this is what he's talking about. That he's gonna be crushed and purist and killed for our sin and only through the blood of the spotless lamb of Jesus Christ can we be forgiven. That's the new covenant. That's what he is talking about. Then he says this, I will not drink it again. I'm missing slides. Sorry. I'm missing a slide. So, let me back up because I don't know went. The blood of the covenant is in Jeremiah. So, let me read that quickly because this is what Jeremiah says. Jeremiah 31 verses 31 to 34.”

48s

#LawWrittenOnHearts

“And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother saying, know the lord for they all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. So, we now, because of the shed blood of Christ, because of this new covenant, when we enter into this new covenant that we can only enter through by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we get the holy spirit indwelling us. We now have the holy spirit living inside of us and this is what Jeremiah is talking about. That's the new covenant, right? That that I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. That is that is him giving us the indwelling of the holy spirit as a sign and the seal of this covenant of his blood. That through that, we can be his.”

38s

#BreadOfFreedom

“So, when we come to the table and we take this bread that Jesus broke and blessed, we are coming in celebration of the freedom from sin that we only have Jesus Christ. So, that's when we're when it says, this is my body broken for you. We know that that's what he's talking about. We know that he is talking about this picture that they have and the the disciples would have known exactly what was going on. Like, this is the bread of celebration because of our freedom. Then it says that he he went from there and then it says that he took the cup. Right? He says,”

29s

#NeedJesusNow

“But what it comes down to is and I will just say this unequivocally. You need Jesus Christ. You need Jesus Christ. I want you to be at the marriage supper of the lamb. Be a celebration like no other. It'll be a celebration like we have never experienced at that marriage supper of the lamb, and then we will drink that fourth cup with the lamb. I want you to be there. Would you stand and pray with me?”

34s

#AfikomanCelebration

“So, in the midst of this Passover, so we see this, like, we can see and read like, as they're eating, we just think there's a meal, he gives them bread, he gives them the wine, that's what's on the table. This is a very specific cup. This is a very specific reason that Jesus did it this way, that he is taking this bread, this bread of affliction as they call it, but the Afcoman is supposed to be celebration. The Afcoman is not like the bread of affliction that's left for the seder portion. This is a celebration of what god has done for them and the freedom they now have in god as Jews because they're no longer slaves.”

51s

#ThirdCupCommunion

“Then, they're gathered around the table and it's festive and it's job, it's jovial. People are rejoicing. They're having a good time. They're eating a good meal. And then whoever is the master of the feast is the one that determines when the meal is over. And he determines that by taking the Afcoman, taking the bread, breaking it, and distributing it to each people, each person at the Passover. And then after they he would do that, he would pour the third cup. And they would all, as they're taking the Afcoman, they would all take of the third cup. It would be communal. Cup would be passed around. Okay?”

26s

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