The following message is by pastor John Piper.

More information from Desiring God Ministries is available at

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Desiring God.org.

The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, versus 26 through 32. 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, then went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them,

you will all fall away because of me this night.

For it is written, I will strike the shepherd

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.

Gracious Father, how good you are to us. This service and one already downtown at 8 o'clock and

another one going on right now, downtown is very very precious gift to us that you would draw

near to us. Gather us as a people on this Easter Sunday morning. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart that Christ

died for our sins, that he was buried, and that he was raised according to the

scriptures and that he was raised according to the scriptures and that you, Lord Jesus, reign at the Father's

right hand today and will come one day in power and great glory. And I ask that you would pour out your spirit upon us in these

services and that you would open the hearts of believers to see you afresh and savor you and enjoy you and obey you, display

you.

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