For You

But we are here to partake of the Lord's table, and as we come to that table tonight, let me ask you this, just how important are a preposition and a pronoun?

Now, I might have just lost most of you, which is not the way to start a sermon. I understand that. If there's any English majors here, maybe you're excited to hear that.

Bremen kids start back to school this week, I think, so I'm going to help you get ready for school, kids. I know I've already lost a bunch of you anyway. But how important are a preposition and a pronoun? Let's think about pronouns for a minute.

If I have a lovely gift here, it's all wrapped, it's in a nice box, it's ready to be given to someone. I don't have that. But if I did, and I said, this gift is for you, you there is the pronoun, that would be exciting for you.

There's a gift coming for you. All right. But if I said, I'm talking to you, I said, this gift is for him. Well, you might be a little bit disappointed. You saw the gift. I'm talking to you.

Maybe he's going to give it to me. But I say, this gift is for him. You know, then, that it's not for you. It's for him. And that him, that's your pronoun. And that refers to whoever that guy is over there.

For her, that girl over there. So pronouns are important. Prepositions are important, too. Those short little words like in and for and of and to and on and so on.

I say to my children pretty often, get in the van. It's time to go. That word in there is operative. Get in the van. They know what that means. They go, they buckle up, they get in their seats, and they get ready to go.

But if I were to say to my children, get on the van, now that would be something new. That would be exciting. That would involve climbing.

It would involve doing something that if I did any other time, dad would certainly tell me to get off of the van. So the preposition is important.

Get in the van. It's the difference. Put it in the freezer. Put it on the freezer. It's the difference in it melting or it freezing. All right. Prepositions and pronouns are important. And I ask that tonight.

Are they important or just how important are they? Because I want to think about two in particular. One preposition, the word for, and one pronoun, the word you. Those two words because you find them in Luke's account of the institution of the Lord's Supper.

Christ is celebrating the last old covenant Passover meal with his disciples. He's instituting for the first time the new covenant meal, what we know as the Lord's Supper. Communion, what we've gathered to partake of here tonight.

For them, they were anticipating their Lord's death. It was another opportunity for Jesus to tell them that he was about to suffer and die. For us, it's a remembrance.

We look back on it. They were looking forward. We are looking back and remembering. And when we gather here, we do it in remembrance of our Savior Jesus. We also gather here and have our faith fed, our souls nourished as we partake of these things.

Either way, Jesus' words were very important, whether they were for his disciples that night or for you and I, his disciples, this night.

There he was, surrounded by his closest friends, his co-workers in the ministry, as well as the one who would betray him. And there Jesus spoke words that are remembered all over the world as he instituted this sacrament or this ordinance.

And tonight we want to zoom in on two of those words that only Luke, among the gospel writers, records for us. Paul repeats them in his letter to the Corinthians, but they're the words for you.

Notice them here in Luke 22. I'll just read verses 19 and 20 from the word of God. Now, before we think about the words for you tonight, we need to mention something.

And Christ's body and his blood were not only, they were not just for us. Christ lived for the glory of God. He was on earth to fulfill the work that his father had given them to do.

There's that aspect to think about as well. But while the ultimate purpose of Christ's death is to fulfill God's plan, to bring him glory and honor, that doesn't diminish the fact that he accomplished salvation for you.

Well, who is the you? This important little pronoun. Who is he talking about? Let's think about that. For whom has Christ given his body and his blood?

Who is he talking to? And he says that given for you, poured out for you. Who is the you? Well, there were 12 disciples present there that night. 11 of them would prove to have genuine faith.

Their faith was weak. They didn't have a lot of boldness until after Jesus rose from the dead. But they nonetheless had real, genuine faith. They were believers in Jesus.

They were his disciples, his followers. Trusting Jesus to save them from their sins. The death of Jesus was for them. And when he says, you should know when he says for you there, the you is plural.

Our you doesn't have that plural or singular, but it's for you. For you all. He wasn't talking to just one of those disciples. It was for all of them, with the exception of Judas. More on him in a moment.

Paul would later apply the words to the church of God in Corinth. They were believers in Jesus as well. And so the body and blood of Jesus are for those who trust in him who said the words in the first place.

It was for all that the father gave to the son. For all of his children who can't be snatched out of his hands. For his people. For his disciples. This is my body and blood which are for you.

For you tonight. If you are his child. If you are his disciple. Don't leave it back with the twelve that were seated around the table. It is for you as well. If you are a believer in Jesus.

So before we go any farther. Let me ask is that you tonight? Are you one of God's people? Because we remember the fearful fact that among those seated around him. Was one who was not a true disciple.

There was Judas there. A betrayer. There was one there for whom Jesus' death did not avail. Not because it wasn't powerful enough. Or sufficient. But because Jesus rejected his Lord.

And so what about you tonight? Is the death of Christ for you? Are you trusting in Jesus? Or rejecting him?

Do you have faith in him? Or all these times that you've sat here and heard the word. Have you said. Not for me. No thank you. I don't like the rules. I don't like. What I'm going to have to do.

I don't like the idea of suffering. Not for me. No thank you. If you're rejecting Jesus. You've never trusted in him. Then I would beg you tonight. As you let these elements pass by.

Because they are for believers. To be praying. That God would soften your heart. And draw you to himself. Pray for forgiveness. For rejecting Jesus. And come to him in repentance and faith.

I only get to see you all every so often these days. And so I don't want to let this opportunity pass. Without doing what I've done many times here before.

Which is saying please come to Christ. Bow your knee before him and say. Lord this life is not mine to live. It is yours. Come and save me by your grace.

And he will. Pray for forgiveness for rejecting Jesus. And he will receive you. So that you too can lay claim to these sweet words. For you.

And I want you tonight to listen now. And hear exactly what things that could be yours. The things that could be for you. But are not. Because you're rejecting the son of God. And if you're a child of God tonight.

Listen and hear the things that are. For you. The wonderful things that are for you. What is it that is done for you? Well Christ makes reference here to his body. And his blood that were given. And poured out.

But this encompasses so much. That we want to talk about several things. That are for you tonight. And some of the passages that I'll quote. Or read from here. Say for us.

And pronouns are important. So for you. For us. Are almost interchangeable. When the writers of the New Testament wrote. They often included themselves. And so when they.

Sometimes they'll say. Christ died for you. To the people they're writing to. And sometimes they will say. Christ died for us. Including themselves. And the people for whom Christ has died.

So I'm going to use you and us. Relatively. Interchangeably. Here. Tonight. What is it that's for you? Well it goes all the way back to the incarnation. Jesus taking on human flesh.

And coming to earth. Was for us. Because of our humanity. And our sin. Against a holy God. There had to be. An intercessor. There had to be an intermediary.

One who would go between. God and man. And so it had to be. The God man. And so. Jesus incarnation. Coming in the flesh. As a man. Was for us.

1st Timothy 1.15. The saying is trustworthy. And deserving of full acceptance. That Christ Jesus. Came into the world. To save sinners. Of whom I am the foremost. He came into the world.

To save sinners. People like you. And me. He came into the world. For us. His perfect life. While he was here.

His obedience. Was for us. He came into the world. And while he was here. You know this. Never once did he sin. He kept God's law perfectly. Hebrews 4.15. Reminds us.

For we do not have a high priest. Who is unable to sympathize. With our weakness. But one who in every respect. Has been tempted. As we are yet without sin. That perfect life. That life of being tempted.

But not sinning. Was for you. Paul says to the Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians 5.21. For our sake. For us.

He made him to be sin. Who knew no sin. So that in him. We might become the righteousness. Of God. Jesus righteous life. And obedience. Were for us. So that we might be righteous.

In the sight of God. He credits that righteousness. To all who have faith in him. His incarnation was for you. His obedience. Was for you. His betrayal.

By one of his closest companions. Judas. Judas. Was so that he could be given over. To the authorities. Who would have him executed. So that betrayal too. That was for you.

If you've endured the pain. Of a trusted friend. Betraying you. You know something of that pain. Something of that agony. Would you willingly undergo that. For the good of your friends.

Jesus did. He did it for you. His suffering and his shame.

Were for you. First Peter 2. 21. For to this you have been called. Because Christ also suffered. For you. Leaving you an example.

So that you might follow in his steps. Christ being beaten. And having a crown of thorns. Shoved onto his head. Having his beard plucked out.

And spikes driven through his hands. And his feet. His suffering was for you. So that we don't have to face. That judgment of God. It's also for encouragement.

When we face sufferings. Of various kinds. We know that we have a sympathetic. High priest. Who has suffered. For you.

Not some distant God. Who knows nothing of our pain. No. He has experienced it himself. And he did it for you. His body pierced.

His blood shed. His death. That was for us as well. Christ refers to it here. In Luke's gospel. Giving his body and his blood.

For his disciples. Sin. Must be punished. By a holy God. And sin.

Against an infinite. God requires. An infinite punishment. It requires death. And so God punished. His perfect son. Instead of punishing us.

His children. And so his death was for us. So that we. Don't have to face. The wrath of God. Rather. Rather. We enjoy his favor.

Because of Christ. Our substitute. This is the repeated. Testimony of scripture. Listen to just a few. Verses. Romans 5. 8. But God shows his love.

For us. And that while we were still sinners. Christ. Died. Say it with me. For us. Galatians 3. 13. Christ redeemed us.

From the curse of the law. By becoming a curse. For us. For it is written. Cursed is everyone. Who is hanged on a tree. Ephesians 5. 2. And walk in love. As Christ loved us. And gave himself up.

For us. A fragrant offering. And sacrifice. To God. And 1st John 3. 16. By this we know. Love. That he laid down his life.

Say it again. For us. We could look elsewhere as well. Jesus punishment. At God's hands on the cross. Was for us. It's that.

That we're called. To remember here. Tonight. As we gather around. The Lord's table. His death. Was for us.

When Jesus says. That his body and blood. Are poured out. Given and poured out. For you. That's what he means. He's talking about his death. God's word repeats it. Multiple times. As we've seen.

So that there might be. No mistaking. The purpose of his death. But it doesn't stop there. His resurrection. Is for you as well. Three days later.

Christ rose from the grave. Conquering the final enemy. Death itself. So that now. For us. We need not fear death. Death has been swallowed up. In victory. And it's lost its sting.

Since Christ has been raised. With a glorious. Resurrection body. We too. Will be raised on the last day. And we will have. A glorious. Resurrection body too. Not one like this.

That is weak. And feeble. And frail. And subject to decay. Because Christ was raised for us. 1 Corinthians 15. 57. After talking about the resurrection.

Thanks be to God. Who gives us. The victory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. But it doesn't stop there. His ascension to the right hand of God.

And glory is also for us. Ephesians 1. 22 and 23. Tells us that when Christ had been seated in glory. And he put all things under his feet.

And gave him his head over all things. To the church. Which is his body. The fullness of him who fills all in all. Christ's ascension into glory. Was for the church.

For us. For his people. There he sits on the throne. Ruling over the earth. On behalf of the church. So that the promise he made.

Concerning the gates of hell. Not prevailing against it. That is a sure promise. Because Jesus. Is on the throne in heaven. And with him there. We need not fear.

And from that place in heaven. Christ is now also interceding. For us. Romans 8. 34. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died. More than that.

Who is raised. Who is at the right hand of God. Who indeed is interceding. For us. Do a search on that time. Those words for us.

For you. You'll find them a lot of places. Through the New Testament. Hebrews 9. 24. For Christ has entered. Not into holy places. Made with hands. Which are copies of the true things.

But into heaven itself. Now to appear in the presence of God. God on our behalf. Same words. For us. And so when you suffer.

When you're struggling with some sin. It's not just your friends. And your family. Who are praying for you. Jesus is praying for you. He's praying for you personally.

Like he prayed for Peter. That his faith not fail. He's praying for you. The right hand of God. Interceding.

For us. And finally. This Lord's table. That's before us tonight. That is for you as well.

Jesus instituted this covenant meal for us. So that we have a way to remember his death. Until he comes. So that we have a way to feed our faith. And be strengthened and encouraged.

As we walk through this life. And I hope that you will walk away. With your faith strengthened tonight. Encouraged. Having had your souls nourished.

As you partake. Of this wonderful ordinance. These things are all for you. The work of Christ is not some generic thing. Some impersonal thing.

If I have a. I've got a birthday cake here. And. It wouldn't have been me that made it. It would be my wife.

She made it. She decorated it. You wouldn't want one from me. But I've got a cake here. And I say here. Here's a birthday cake. Well that's nice.

That's a really nice birthday cake. That's beautiful. Somebody worked really hard on that. But it's just a birthday cake. As long as I'm saying here. Here's this birthday cake. Isn't it? Look at that.

But if I say. Here I have a birthday cake for you. Then it's different. It's more than just that's nice. It's thank you. Thank you for remembering my birthday.

Thank you for that act of kindness. That show of love. That's amazing. Thank you. Thank you. And so when you come to think about the death of Christ. Just think about it generically.

Christ died to save us from our sins. He did. But don't forget that word are. He died for you. It was for you child of God.

Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life. Because of what Christ has done for you personally. Your sins are forgiven. We sang it tonight. Your name is graven on His hands.

You are righteous in the sight of God. You don't have to fear death. This meal is for you tonight. And so there's a command that goes with it. Jesus says to those same disciples that this meal is for you.

He says. You. You do this in remembrance of me. And so that's what's for us to do tonight. To obey the command.

And since Christ has done such great things for us. Then we are glad to follow His command in this most holy ordinance. And partake in remembrance of Him. That's why we're here.

We're here because we have something to remember. Everything that Christ has done for us. And I hope. I hope that you don't remember what Christ has done for you. Just once every couple of months. When we come to the Lord's table.

That's something you need to be feeding on constantly. Daily. Daily. Reminding yourself of what Christ has done for you. Now if you realize who you are.

And what you have done against this good and loving and kind and gracious God. Then you know you don't deserve it. It shouldn't be for you.

Based on what we know of ourselves and our sin. But this is a gracious God. Even when we have sinned in His face. He comes. And He shows us unspeakable love.

We know how undeserving we are. It is my sin that caused my Savior to undergo infinite punishment. But what a joy to come here tonight. And know that because of His work for me.

I changed the pronoun again. I know. Because of His work for me. His work for you. His work for us. That we receive great blessing and reward.

Instead of judgment and punishment. If that's true of you tonight. Then rejoice. Don't just say that's nice. Say thank you Lord. For what He's done. And the preposition then and the pronoun are pretty important.

It's not just a generic work for anyone. It was for you. He did a work that was personal for you. Child of God. Take joy in it to light. As we come to the table.

Let's pray. Our Father we thank you for your Son.

Our Savior Jesus. We thank you for His body that was given for us. And His blood that was poured out for us.

That our sins might be forgiven. That we might own His righteousness. Be right in your sight. And receive blessing. Mercy.

And even the reward of an eternity in your presence. None of which we deserve. And so we thank you tonight. For what you have done for us through Christ. And we pray in His name. Amen.