Mark 14:22-25 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
In the passover celebration there are four cups of wine that are to be taken. Jesus takes the bread after the second cup and blesses it and breaks it. He commands His disciples to take and eat because this is His body. At this point the Passover lamb would have been eaten followed by the third cup, which is the cup of blessing. But after Jesus and His disciples drink of the third cup, something strange happens. Jesus refuses the fourth cup of the Passover, the cup that consummates the Passover celebration. He instead announces that from this point until the kingdom of God comes, He’s going to be fasting—refraining from the fruit of the vine (Luke 22:18).
Now think ahead to when Pontius Pilate is questioning Jesus, he asks the Messiah, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And Jesus’ answer is unmistakable, “You have said so.” However, what Pilate failed to realize as Jesus was describing His kingdom, is that this man standing before him was not only the King of the Jews, this Son of Man was so much more. This was the King of the kings. And this King’s kingdom was closer at hand than many even began to realize.
Fast forward again, now to the cross. Of course our Messiah has been fasting the fruit of the vine for a few hours now after refusing the fourth cup that consummates the Passover meal—the meal of shadows. Hanging there on the cross, so many prophecies are being fulfilled by our Messiah at the hands of these clueless, sinful reprobates. The substance is coming into view and the shadows are slowly fading. This is the Christ—the Lamb of God. Finally, the Lamb that is worthy. Finally, the blood that will satisfy the wrath of God once and for all time.
And finally, hanging on the cross after Truth had been put on trial, after the torturous beatings and the scornful mocking; after carrying the instrument of death that would soon exhibit His broken and bleeding body, finally, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, brings His life to a fitting close. To fulfill the scripture in Psalm 69 Jesus utters, “I thirst.” Do you remember what it was they had to offer Him? A jar full of none other than sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge on a hysop branch and held it to His mouth. Jesus’ fast was over, and when He had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished,” and He bowed His head a gave up His spirit (John 19:28-30).
Just like Jesus had said (Luke 17:20), the Kingdom of God wouldn’t come with signs to be observed. This Kingdom that is like a garden or a field, or a vineyard. His Kingdom is like a mustard seed and works like leaven. It came and even most of His disciples didn’t realize what exactly was going on.
Ten years ago today, on American soil, something that was believed to be unthinkable happened. God judged this nation. Many people’s kingdom and idols came crumbling down in moments. As we Christians watched, what did we think? What did we feel? Did we resemble those disciples who were looking at their savior die, who were fearful and confused? Christians, we’re not still waiting for His kingdom to come. He is the King on the throne now, He was the King on the throne September 11, 2001. Our Kingdom and our God cannot be shaken.
It is a time as American’s second to confess and repent of our sin—for our rebellion and hard hearts. Ten years ago today nearly 3,000 people died, Christians and Non-Christians alike. Every day in the United States there are at least that many infants murdered. That means that in the ten years since 9/11 we—America herself, has perpetrated 3,650 9/11’s. Ten years ago today God’s judgement came to our soil in an unmistakable way and as a nation what has been our response? If we are painfully honest with ourselves we’ll see that America’s infanticide is making what those 19 hijackers did on 9/11 look like amateur hour. Be thankful for God’s grace and mercy. The Kingdom that Christ ushered in at the cross cannot be destroyed and we celebrate that at the Lord’s Table. It isn’t a time for Christians to lament as those who have no hope. This is the Lord’s day. It is a time for Christians to give thanks and rejoice and to compel those outside to come in!
