Jesus Sets You Free Forever

by Tom Holladay ~ Purpose Driven Life

You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.” Luke 22:15-18 (Msg)

"The picture that some people have of heaven, that it is a boring place, but there will be parties in hell, that's the exact opposite of the real picture."

There is a fourth cup in the Passover meal that I don't believe Jesus drank with his disciples during the Last Supper because he says, essentially, “I'm not going to drink this with you again until we drink together in the kingdom of God.”

This cup is full with promise because one day you and I are going to drink together with Jesus in the kingdom of God -- in eternity, in heaven. One day there will be what is called the great wedding supper of the Lamb. That's quite a picture, isn't it? It's really a picture of Jesus Christ having a party with us for all of eternity; that we get to be with him and celebrate with him for all eternity.

So even that night before his death, Jesus says, “There is still promise.” There is the promise of how he sets us free. He sets us free from ourselves, he sets us free from tears and fears, and he sets us free from our sin and our guilt.

And this fourth cup is a reminder that Jesus sets us free forever. This isn't a temporary freedom; it is forever. Jesus says, “One day we're going to celebrate together forever.” The picture that some people have of heaven, that it is a boring place, but there will be parties in hell, that's the exact opposite of the real picture. That's one of the greatest lies of Satan because Hell is the boring place.

Hell is a place of loneliness for all eternity. Heaven is a place of connection with God for all eternity and it is a celebration connection. We will be celebrating in ways that you and I cannot even imagine.

And on the night before he died, Jesus, along with his disciples, looked forward to this celebration. Jesus says even today, “I'm going to set you free forever.”