THE LORD’S SUPPER
As
we begin we must be careful not to confuse the last supper—the Passover
meal—with “The Lord’s Supper” which was instituted on this occasion by Christ
Himself. Jesus explained:.". .With desire I have desired to eat this passover
supper with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat
thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God”(Luke 22:15, 16).
An
in-depth study of the original Passover (Exodus, Chapter 12 and related
references) is not possible here; but briefly, it was a type of Christ our
Redeemer (1 Cor. 5:7b): (1) The Lamb without blemish; (2) The Lamb slain; (3)
the Lamb’s blood applied over the threshold of the heart as the perfect and
only security against judgment. and (4) the feast on the Lamb’s flesh. “the
bread of life.”
The
clause, “with desire I have desired,” was a Hebrew figure of speech. Jesus had
ardently longed for the time when he would offer Himself up. Therefore, He
greatly desired to eat with His disciples—His church—the last Passover of the
old order, and to institute the ordinance of the new order, the Lord’s Supper,
in advance of the actual Sacrifice only hours later. In type, the Passover was
first instituted and observed just before Israel’s redemption from Egypt. The
Lord’s Supper—the fulfillment of the Passover—was first instituted and
observed just before the Redeemer went to Calvary to shed the redeeming blood
for all who will believe. Both were ordinances to insure remembrance and to
incite thanksgiving and appreciation.
This
was the last Passover supper because, like the law covenant as a whole, it
would now be fulfilled by .. .the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world” (John 1:29); yea, “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”
(Rev. 13:8; see also 1 Peter 1:18-20). Of course, the Jews continued the
Passover ritual because they had refused the Redeemer who has fulfilled it.
This
ordinance is variously called “The Lord’s Supper,” because He instituted it,
and Paul so referred to it (1 Cor. 11:20); “The Holy Communion,” possibly from
Paul’s words, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion
(fellowship) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the
communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16); (3) “The sacrament,” possibly
as a sacred, consecrated Christian rite; and (4) “The Eucharist’” a rite of
thanksgiving for redemption.
“For as
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord’s death
till he come” (1 Cor 11:26).
____________________________________________________________
Luke 22:19.20
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks,
and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for
you; this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
THE
INSTITUTION OF THE SUPPER (Luke 22:19, 20)
First,
let us note the actual institution of this sacred ordinance. After the
Passover meal was finished, Jesus took bread and gave thanks for it; then He
broke it and gave a portion to each of the twelve, saying, “This is my body
which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.” Next, he took the cup,
saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” The
simplicity was astounding, but the significance was profound indeed, as we
shall see. (See also Paul’s presentation in 1 Cor. 11:22.25.)
1 Corinthians 11:27-29
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this
bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body
and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself; and so
let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 for he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lord’s
body
II.THE
MEANING (1 Cor. 11:27-29)
A.
A Remembrance of the Atonement: The Passover had been instituted as a
memorial to be observed annually, so that the people and their children would
not forget their blood atonement and deliverance from Egyptian bondage: “And it
shalt come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this
service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who
passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the
Egyptians, and delivered our houses” (Ex. 12:26, 27). Israel was a forgetful
people. Even with this annual memorial observance, they were prone to forget
their miraculous deliverance and to reproach their Deliverer by their
idolatry.
Now,
we of the New Testament order have been given an ordinance of remembrance, lest
we forget our blood atonement; blood that is infinitely more precious that of
which the passover blood was only a type. As Jesus instituted this ordinance,
He included the admonition, ... This do in remembrance of me.” Sad to say,
Christians too are prone to forget the deeper significance of the shed blood
and broken body of the Lord. Even in the act of observing the Lord’s Supper
there can be only a superficial understanding of its meaning.
B.
The Bread: The question is asked, “Why did Christ ordain bread to be used in
the Supper, and not a lamb? It was because the types and shadows were being
ultimately fulfilled by Christ, the true Sacrificial Lamb. He had already
declared Himself to be “that bread of life” (John 6:46). Bread is the staple
food required to sustain life. To the spiritual man—the inner man—Christ is
that “staff of life.” Unleavened bread is recommended for use in the ordinance
since leaven is a type of sin. There is no sin in Christ, “the bread of life.”
C.
The Cup: Of course, this does not mean the vessel, but its contents, “the
fruit of the vine” (Mark 14:25); or, as Christ said, “the new testament in my
blood.” Many churches specify unfermented grape juice for “the cup.” The bread
and the cup belong together. Typically. the slaying of the lamb provided the
blood of which the Lord promised, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you”
(Exo. 12:13). The slain Lamb of God provided the redeeming blood, which God
must see on our hearts as being there because we have believed on the Son of
God as the only promised and anointed Saviour of the world; our substitutional
Sacrifice. In the day of judgment, if he sees that blood, He will pass
over us with respect to His judgment of sin.
Earlier,
Jesus had said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches.... - (See John 15:1-10.)
In order to bear the fruit of a holy life, we must continually receive
nourishment from the vine, his body, and “the fruit of that vine,” His blood.
Both the vine (His flesh) and the fruit (His blood) are absolutely necessary
for the life of the branches. (See John 6:53-58 below.)
III
THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTICIPATION
A.
Christ’s Commandment: It is enough that Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of
me.” He made the necessity very clear in John 6:53-58:
“Then
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh
of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
“Whoso
eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him
up at the last day.
“For
my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed ( read Hebrews 5:12-14,
6:1-3).
“He
that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
“As
the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me,
even he shall live by me.
“This
is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna,
and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever”
Remember,
Jesus said, “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), and “...If a
man love me, he will keep my words...” (John 14:23). Actually, it is His Word
on which we feed. The ordinance reminds us of this fact. The bread (the meat
of the Word) the blood (the milk of the word basic principles of salvation).
B.
A Perpetual Reminder of the Lord’s Death: We understand, of course, that
participation in this ordinance is a reminder to be actual participants in the
redeemed life of which it speaks. Paul says that participation shows forth
“the Lord’s death till he come”—till He returns for His own. Thus, it calls to
mind that He will come, and that we must give account of our life unto Him. If
we are not fit to take the Communion, how could we be fit for heaven?
IV.
FITNESS FOR PARTICIPATION
At
some time during Paul’s communication with the Lord he had been instructed
concerning the Lord’s Supper: “For I have received of the Lord that which also
I delivered unto you...” (1 Cor. 11:23). Apparently, Paul was passing the
Lord’s instructions onto the participants. A reading of Ezra 6:19-21 and 2
Chronicles 30:15-20 will show that Passover participation required pure,
separated, sanctified living in order for both the priests and the people to
engage in the ordinance. Then how much more for engaging in the Lord’s Supper!
A.
Eating and Drinking Unworthily:
It
seems that the manner in which the Corinthian members had been conducting
themselves at the Supper was unworthy of the sacred occasion. Apparently, they
were having a feast before the serving of the bread and the cup, and their
discrimination against the poor was unloving and shameful. Though the two
suppers were distinguished, their conduct at the first made them unworthy to
partake of the second. Of course, Paul was addressing the Corinthian problem.
Other disorders might have been objectionable in other churches. In fact, there
were other disorders also at Corinth; the fornication issue, for instance; and
the dissension over the gift of the Spirit.
The Lord’s Supper should be administered to
children of God only. This means, to saved individuals. Of course, this would
exclude fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, the effeminate, abusers of
themselves with mankind (1 Cor. 6:9), and any others who are engaged in “the
unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11).
Paul’s
statement that the unworthy participant “eateth and drinketh damnation unto
himself” seems to be conditioned by the self-examination of verse 28 and the
judgment of verses 31 and 32. Such examination might warn the failing
individual to seek and gain God’s forgiveness before participating. Partaking
unworthily would first bring the Lord’s chastening. If the chastening was not
responded to in the fear of God, death could be the result (verse 30). Dying
without God’s forgiveness would mean “damnation.”
B.
Eating and Drinking Worthily:
It
is clearly important that we live every day and hour so as to be counted worthy
of God’s justification by grace. (See Romans 4:3-5 and 5:1, 2) Surely
sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost secures that justification.
After a conscientious self-examination, and with the inward assurance that all
is well, then, “so of that cup” (1 Cor. 11:28)
Finally,
the importance of taking the Lord’s Supper may be seen in the Passover type.
(See Numbers 9:5-23.) If there were reasons for nonparticipation, provision
was made to participate a month later (verse 11), If one was “clean.” or
eligible to participate, but did not do so, that one was “cut off from among
his people” and was left to “bear his sin” (verse 13). A cup of wine was used
in the betrothal of husband and wife, if the woman refused the cup she was
declining marrying the bridegroom.
The
Lord’s Supper is certainly even more sacred than any type and shadow could be.
Therefore, every believer should be “clean,” and fit to partake at all times
and at every opportunity. Fragile excuses for non-participation are not
acceptable.
The
frequency of the observance seems to be left to the churches. “As oft as ye do
this” apparently has been interpreted variously; but “oft” hardly means “seldom.”
Some denominations observe it weekly; others less frequently.
There
is no set form for the observance of the ordinance. Some prefer the use of a
table; others administer it at the altar, or in the pews. The simplicity and
brevity as was evident at the time of its institution seems to make worthy
participation the matter of first importance. Supposedly, elaborate—even fantastic—
forms are intended to enhance the spirituality or “blessing” of the occasion.
However, if remembering our Lord’s death in our behalf is kept foremost in
mind, isn’t that what it is all about?
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
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