THE LORD'S
SUPPER
“Holy Communion, The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements – bread and the fruit of the vine – is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a prophecy of His second coming and is enjoined on all believers 'till He come'!”
Jesus instituted this ordinance the night before His crucifixion. He and His disciples had been celebration the Passover, the great feast of the Jews. This feast commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. A lamb was slain and its blood placed on the door of each Israelite home, so the angel of death would pass over that home when he came to wreak death on the Egyptians.
Jesus gave a new meaning to the Passover by changing it for his followers into the Lord's Supper. The elements took on a new significance. The Bread represented Jesus' body, broken for mankind; the wine represented Jesus' blood, shed for all. In the Lord's Supper believers look back toward Calvary. They consider how Jesus suffered and died for them. They are reminded each time they partake of how Jesus took their place on the cross.
On the meaning of the elements Myer Pearlman says: “The Lord's Supper is a sacred object lesson.... Bread and wine are a picture of death--- the separation of body and life, the separation of flesh and blood. The bread tells us that the Bread of life must be broken in death in order to be distributed among the spiritually hungry; the poured-out wine tells us that His blood, which is His life, must be shed in death in order that its cleansing and quickening power may be supplied to needy souls.”
God intended for this ordinance to be kept for all time, “I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you” (1 Corinthians 11: 23). Paul here states that he is transmitting to the believers a commandment Christ had given him. Earlier in the same chapter, verse 2, he praises them for keeping the ordinances he had delivered.
The benefits of participation in the Lord's Supper are many. Some of them are; (1) Cleansing. This observance provides opportunity to examine one's heart, and if sin or failure is found there, to bring it to Calvary. (2) Spiritual nourishment. W.H. Griffith Thomas points out in Principles of Theology, “There must be something in the spirit which corresponds to eating in the body, a reception of Him in our inmost soul until His will and nature become a part of ours, and like food, strengthen all our faculties.” By faith there can be a definite reception of spiritual life. (3) Fellowship. In this ordinance we draw closet to Christ and to our fellow believers. (4) Healing. Many have discerned and appropriated the healing virtue in the bread, typifying the Lord's body, and have found physical healing.
We must have the proper attitude when observing the Lord's Supper. This is an important factor to consider. The right attitude will bring blessing. The wrong attitude will bring judgment. This is a time of self-examination, looking within ourselves to see if there is any unconfessed sin, any wrong attitudes toward others, any wrong motives in our actions. If present, these must be brought to Christ in repentance; otherwise, partaking will only bring damnation, physical harm, and even premature death. On the other hand, no one should develop an unhealthy sense of unworthiness and self-condemnation. Outside of Christ, none are worthy. If the Holy Spirit brings no unconfessed sin to our minds, we should partake with joy and not with fear.
The Lord's Supper has an important relationship to the future. “Till He come,” Paul said, we should observe this ordinance ( 1 Corinthians 11:26). Every time we commemorate Jesus' death, looking to the past, we should also look to the future, when Jesus will return for the saints. Then we shall participate in the greatest communion service of all time, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19: 9). Jesus told His disciples they would eat at His table in His kingdom (Luke 22: 30). Together with our Lord we shall celebrate the victory of Calvary with the redeemed of all ages.
Scriptures on Communion -- Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 Peter 1:4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
1 Corinthians 11: 23 For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
1 Corinthians 11:2 I praise and appreciate you because you remember me in everything and you firmly hold to the traditions [the substance of my instructions], just as I have passed them on to you.
Revelation 19:9 Then the angel said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me [further], “These are the true and exact words of God.”
Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."
By Ralph W Harris
Break the Bread (Communion Song) - Worship Music
The Lord’s Supper1 Corinthians 11 23 For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is (represents) My body, which is [offered as a sacrifice] for you. Do this in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in [affectionate] remembrance of Me.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are [symbolically] proclaiming [the fact of] the Lord’s death until He comes [again].
27 So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not recognize the body [of Christ]. 30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death]. 31 But if we evaluated and judged ourselves honestly [recognizing our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we would not be judged. 32 But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined [by undergoing His correction] so that we will not be condemned [to eternal punishment] along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat [the Lord’s Supper], wait for one another [and see to it that no one is left out]. 34 If anyone is too hungry [to wait], let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment [on yourselves]. About the remaining matters [of which I was informed], I will take care of them when I come.
In Remembrance of Me - Communion Song
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Disclosure: Much of what is in my posts are things I have compiled through the years and I do not know if they have copyrights. What I do know about origin or website I give credit and have tried to always post a link to the origin. I do not market anything in any way on this blog -- I merely hope it will encourage and inspire others.
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