Articles
“The Lord's Supper”
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
Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a day the U.S. federal government dedicated to honoring and remembering the military personnel who have died in service to their country. Jesus instituted his own memorial that disciples celebrate each Sunday (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Acts 20:7). All that is needed in this memorial is two common and inexpensive ingredients (grape juice and unleavened bread) and minds that are focused on the right thing. The Lord’s Supper has us looking in four directions at once. Let’s notice them.
Looking outward in faithful preservation of Christian unity. The Lord’s supper is a symbol of the unity of the church. The bread that we share represents Christ’s body. Though we are many, we share in that one bread (10:16-17). The church in Corinth was physically assembled to honor the Lord but because they were spiritually divided, they were, in fact, dishonoring him (11:17-22). Because the rich were shaming the poor (11:21-22) their assembly was doing more harm than good! (11:17)
Is it possible that some in our church are nurturing resentments against other Christians? If there any some jealousy, suspicion or rivalry beneath the surface it may go unnoticed for a while, but it will eventually manifest itself in division. The Lord’s supper, a symbol of our spiritual unity, should motivate us to look outward toward our relationships with others. We should attempt to heal any animosity or tension in our relationships before we come to worship our God (Mt. 5:23-24).
Looking backward in solemn remembrance of Christ’s death. The Lord’s supper also provides a time to remember Christ’s love and proclaim his death. The main command that Jesus gives concerning his memorial is to “remember” him. One would think the church could not possibly forget such a central thing as our Savior’s death. It is through that death, after all, that we live. But the Lord knew our weak and distracted minds could marginalize something so crucial.
We need to be told the story of Jesus simply, slowly and often because we soon forget. That’s why the Lord’s supper is a means of proclaiming his death, a verbal decree spoken in conjunction with eating and drinking elements symbolic of his death. It’s designed so we would never forget.
Looking forward in hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return. The Lord’s supper is a temporary, anticipatory celebration. We proclaim his death “until he comes.” So while we are looking backward to the cross and the redemption Jesus accomplished, we are also looking forward to his return when he will come with his angels in glory to complete our salvation by raising our bodies incorruptible and bringing final judgement against evil. So while the Lord’s supper is a solemn memorial it is also a hopeful celebration.
Looking inward in reflective discernment of Christ’s body. The Lord’s supper also provides a crucial opportunity for self-examination (11:27-29). Paul says we can observe the Lord’s supper in an “unworthy manner.” That is, we may eat the bread and drink the cup without any kind of repentance, self-examination, contrition or faith in our hearts. How can we take the Lord’s supper on Sunday while, throughout the week, we lie on our income taxes, feed secret addictions, abuse our spouse or give free reign to our anger? To “remember” Christ and “proclaim his death” in a “worthy manner” merits some serious preparation and self-examination both before and during the Lord’s supper. A failure to judge ourselves properly before we take the Lord’s supper will result in us condemning ourselves in the act, inviting God’s judgment upon ourselves (11:30-32). But if we do examine ourselves in reflective discernment, observing this memorial becomes a weekly form of covenant renewal.
May God help us take the Lord’s supper in a worthy manner today and every week. Let us solemnly remember Christ’s sacrifice for us and examine ourselves in the light of the gospel of his grace. May it always be a time of spiritual growth and renewal of our commitment to Jesus and each other. May our observance of the Lord’s supper be an accurate symbol of the unity that Jesus died to create and a bold proclamation of his death until he comes again. He came first to bring salvation to us by dying on the cross. Because he was raised from the dead, we believe he will come again to bring judgment and complete our salvation, ushering us into eternity with him. Come Lord Jesus!
