NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
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Intro: a very wealthy old man who had an elaborate collection of Van Gogh and Monet paintings. His only son shared his father’s interest in the rare paintings. They traveled around the world buying these painting wherever they could find them.
The son enlisted in the army and was placed in the medical corps. In a severe battle, while carrying a wounded soldier to safety, the son was seriously wounded himself and died. The mother was dead already and the news of the tragedy devastated the old father. He grieved in loneliness for months.
One day a knock came at his door and when he responded he found a young man with a package. The young man explained that he was one of the several soldiers that the son had carried to safety. Knowing of his interest in paintings he had painted a picture of the son and presented it to the father.
The painting was not rare but was very precious to the old man because it was a good resemblance of his son.
The man moved a very valuable painting from the mantle and placed the picture of his son in its place. Hour after hour he sat in a rocker and gazed up at the image of his beloved son.
When death came the art collection was put up for sale by auction. Hundreds of collectors came to bid. The auctioneer announced that the will stated that the picture of his son was to be auctioned first. A moan of disappointment could be heard from the crowd. “Let’s get on with the real paintings,” one was heard to say.
The son’s picture was held up and the auctioneer cried, “Who will give $100.00, $50.00, $25.00. There was no response. A kind old gentleman in the back asked, “Will you take $10.00.” “Sold,” said the auctioneer. “Good”, cried the crowd. “Now we can get on with the auction.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes the auction,” announced the auctioneer. The crowd was puzzled and upset. Then the statement was given. The will declared that the son’s picture was to be sold and the person who took it would get all the rest. The old man who paid $10.00 for the picture of the son was suddenly amazed at the fact that he now owned all the valuable paintings.
When a person takes the Son of God, everything God has is included. We become heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus. The precious blood of Jesus has made it all possible.
. There is an old song we sing and these are the words:
“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
. This morning we are going to share in the Lord's Supper or communion as many call it.
. We are going to celebrate and remember what Jesus has done for us.
. Our scripture this morning outlines what we are to do during the Lord's Supper.
. It gives us three ways to look during our celebration this morning.
1 Corinthians 11:23-32:
23For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread
24and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”
25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”
26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
27So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
29For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.
30That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.
32Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
. As we prepare ourselves for communion, let's take a look at three things.
. We need to look back
. Look at verse 26 again.
26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
. You see, every time we have the Lord's Supper, we are announcing what Jesus did for us on the cross.
. The blood that was shed there for us.
. We need to look back and remember this. Found in Romans 5:6-9
. 6When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
7Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.
8But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
9And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.
.We need to remember this also. Found in Hebrews 9:22.
.22In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
. We need to look back and realize that Jesus had to shed his blood and die on that cross for the forgiveness of our sin.
. Our scripture not only tells us to look back, it tells us to;
. Look Within
.Look at verse 28 again.
28That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.
. As you prepare to receive communion, look within yourself. Only you and God truly know who you are within yourself.
. Paul writes that we are to examine ourselves. What do you see when you look within yourself.
. What are you doing with your life?
.How are you living? Are you striving for holiness or striving to hide who you truly are?
. Have you and do you put Jesus first in your life? Are you totally committed to Jesus.
. Do you have unconfessed sin in your life. Sin that you need to confess to God.
. 1 John 1:8-9 tell us this:
8If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
9But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
. We must examine ourselves and depend on God to forgive our sins but we must not partake of this communion with unconfessed sin in our life.
. Look at what verse 27 tells us:
. Look within yourself this morning.
. Lastly, Paul tells us that we should:
. Look Ahead
. Look at verse 26 again
. We are looking forward to the time when Jesus comes again.
. We should be expectantly waiting for the return of our savior. Pregnant with anticipation of our Lord's return.
. This communion should make us look forward to that return and to the marriage feast of the Lamb that we will share in with the return of Jesus.
.Look at The Revelation19: 6-9
6Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:
“Praise the LORD! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
7Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb,
and his bride has prepared herself.
8She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.”
For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.
9And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are
invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These
are true words that come from God.
. As we share this Communion, look forward to the return of our Lord and to that great feast we will have then.
. We will share in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb with Jesus Christ.
. This communion should make you look forward to that glorious feast.
. I urge you this morning, as we prepare for Communion, look back, remember what Jesus did for you.
. Look inward and get yourself right with God.
. Look forward to the return of the God man we remember and celebrate today.
Alter call for a time of self examination.
. The Lord's Supper
*** To my Christian brothers and sisters, thank you for taking the time to read this sermon. I ask that you take another second and score this for me. I am always open to feedback so that I can continue to grow in the proclamation of God’s word.
May God bless you as you continue to strive to walk worthy of His calling.
Sources: The Holy Bible, NLT
Illustration from sermon central
Outline form Herman Abrahams sermon; Communion Meditation #5, sermon central
