The Lord's Supper
preached Sept 30, 2018
Its Story
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”
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, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Matthew 26:17-30
Jesus started it
Connects Christianity to Jewish tradition of Passover. Just as the Passover Lamb was the sacrifice for the Jews to avoid the plague, Christ is the Passover Lamb who prevents death for the Christian.
Matt 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38 all record that Jesus celebrated the Passover (Thursday night) with his disciples which became the Last Supper.
Jesus takes the bread and breaks it saying, “This is my body”. Then he takes the cup and says, “Take and drink. This is my blood of the covenant that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Its Symbolism
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
What does it represent?
At the table we look back. We are remembering Jesus’ sacrifice. The bread represents His body that was broken during the crucifixion. The wine represents His blood that was poured out. Just as the Passover Lamb’s blood was poured out to be placed on the doors of the Israelites, His blood is poured out and covers us.
It is also a binding action in that when we celebrate it together, we are binding ourselves to one another. When the early Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper, they were acting in defiance to the outside cultures. Against the Jews, they celebrated it often with its new covenant denotations. Rather than an annual celebration of deliverance through Moses, it became a weekly celebration of deliverance through Christ. Against the Gentiles, it celebrated Jesus as King, not Caesar. The Supper Table is for the gathering of believers who are members of a different kind of kingdom. We are citizens of Heaven.
It also looking ahead. Jesus said He would not drink the cup of the vine again until we all drink it together in Heaven. Consider also in 1 Corinthians 11:26, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
In fact, let us now turn to 1 Corinthians 11:17 and see more of the significance of the Lord's Supper.
Its Significance
Is it more than a symbol?
I have watched many Christians haphazardly take the Lord's Supper without much thought to its implications. Paul warns us to not take the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner. So what is an 'unworthy manner’? To discern this, let’s read through the passage.
Let's begin in verse 17:
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
1 Corinthians 11:17-19
The Reformation brought many doctrines into question as the new Protestants dove deep into Scripture. One such doctrine is what happens to the bread and wine during the Eucharist. Unsurprisingly, the Reformers themselves were at odds to describe the event. That is why what we call the Lord's Supper, Catholics call it the Eucharist, other Protestants may call it 'communion'. What may surprise you is that the debate actually began much longer before the Reformation. As early as AD 787 Christians were divided on Jesus' words, "This is my body." It wasn't until 1215 at the Council of Lateran that the Catholic Church made the doctrine of transubstantiation Canon Law. But, after the Reformation, Christians are left with generally four options:
1) transubstantiation--the elements literally become Christ who is sacrificed again,
2) consubstantiation--Christ's body is present with the elements,
3) receptionism--Christ is present spiritually with the elements,
4) the memorial view--Christ is only present in the sense that He is always present with believers.
Traditionally, Baptists have held the memorial view, though some have at times held to receptionism. Now, I do not expect to bridge the denominations today. I pray it will happen, but I also know people being people tend to have trouble admitting where they might be wrong. Plus, this is one of those issues where both parties can be God-loving Christians but still disagree. That being the case, it does not change verse 18—there are factions in the church, and Paul says that should not be. Compare it to chapter 1. Paul’s whole letter is about the division that has occurred because of the people’s sin. The church has members who say, “I follow Paul”, “I follow Apollos” or Peter or Christ. They forgot they were not baptized into the name of Paul, Peter, or Apollos. They were baptized in Christ.
Today, we are no different. I cringe every time I hear someone say, “I’m a Calvinist” or “I’m Arminian”, or “I’m this or that”. Church, we are Christians—“little Christs”—not little Calvins or Arminius-es, or Luthers or Spurgeons or Pipers or whoever else we want to hold up. In fact, if we had any of those guys here with us today, they would echo the angels and say “Don’t worship me! Worship Christ!”
The Supper reminds us: Jesus is Lord, no one else.
The Lord’s Supper is a call to Unity. We remember that Christ died for all of us, regardless of our theological leanings, it is Christ who saves us.
But it is not just theology that divides a church. Let’s continue.
When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
1 Corinthians 11:20-22
The Corinthians were divided by socio-economic status. Some were eating and drinking their fill while others had nothing. It wasn’t even a Lord’s Supper any more. It was a ruckus. And it was all because they had forgotten, we are all one body in Christ. Social barriers disappear when we gather around the Lord’s Table.
The Supper reminds us: We are one body in Christ.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
1 Corinthians 11:27-31
So what does it mean to partake of the supper in an unworthy manner? Is it someone who is battling sin? Perhaps, but when we remember the work of Christ on the cross, we remember “we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Look again at verse 31, “If we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” The issue seems to be more about pride than anything else. If you are sitting here thinking, “I’m a sinner and I need God’s grace”, then you have judged yourself rightly. The one who is unworthy to partake of the Supper is the one who believes they deserve God’s favor—for whatever reason. The Corinthians were focused on their own goodness and social status. Their pride had brought God’s wrath.
The unworthy person is not the one who is leaning on Jesus in a daily battle with sin. The unworthy person is the one who gave up the fight in favor of worldly pursuits.
The Supper reminds us: We need God’s grace.
I’ve quoted it before, and you’ll hear me quote it a million more times before we’re done with each other: “Seek first the Kingdom, then all these things will be added unto you.” Worry yourself with Godly pursuits, and God will give you the desires of your heart and your daily needs. Worry about gaining the whole world, and you’ll end up with nothing—not even your soul.
So as we begin the observance of the Lord’s Supper, I’d like to give you time to reflect. Paul says to examine ourselves, so let us examine ourselves now.
Ask yourself:
What is my pursuit? What are my priorities? Are they godly?
What sin am I battling? Am I leaning on God’s grace to fight it, or have I given up the fight?
Who do I need to seek reconciliation with? Do I have brothers and sisters in Christ whom I’ve wronged or been wronged by? Have we forgiven each other?s
Then, remember God’s grace—remember when He poured out His wrath on Jesus, His own Son, so that we can be saved. Praise Him and His mercy!