TAKING THE BREAD AND CUP
1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-34
SOMETIMES IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK TO THE REASON WHY WE CELEBRATE COMMUNION AND IT’S MEANING. IT IS A GREAT SYMBOLIC REMINDER OF THE LOVE AND GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. WHAT WE REMEMBER IS THAT GOD WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US AND TO HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH US THE PROBLEM OF SIN HAD TO BE DEALT WITH, WHICH IT WAS ON THE CROSS. JESUS KNEW THAT THE CROSS WAS INVOLVED IN SALVATION EVEN BEFORE THE CREATION OF TIME.
THINK FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE WORDS OF JOHN CHAPTER ONE:
JOHN 1:1-2,:
IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. 2 HE WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING.
THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND MADE HIS DWELLING AMONG US. WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY SON, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH
JOHN WAS TELLING US THAT BEFORE THE CREATION OF TIME, IT WAS DECIDED THAT GOD WOULD TAKE ON HUMAN FORM AND DWELL AMONG US. WE WOULD REALIZE THAT HE LIVED A SINLESS LIFE, FACE A MERCILESS DEATH AND VICTORIOUS RESURRECTION, ALL FOR THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION.
COMMUNION STANDS AS GOD’S PERSONAL REMINDER TO US OF THE COST OF OUR SALVATION. IT ALSO STANDS AS A REMINDER AS TO HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US AND WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
TODAY AS WE COME TO THE COMMUNION TABLE THIS PASSAGE TEACHES US TO EXAMINE OUR HEARTS AND OUR MOTIVATION AS WE COME TO THE TABLE. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COME TO THE TABLE IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER?
ONE THING IS CLEAR, COMING TO THE LORD’S TABLE HELPS US TO KEEP OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN PROPER PERSPECTIVE. THERE IS AN UNBREAKABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER THAT HELPS MAKE SENSE OF BOTH. YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
THIS MORNING AS WE COME TO THE TABLE, LETS LOOK CLOSELY TO PAUL’S TEACHING TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH, FOR A DEEPER MEANING TO THE BREAD AND CUP.
CONTEXT:
THE CONTEXT OF THIS PASSAGE IS WHAT IS CALLED THE SEDER MEAL. IT IS THE PASSOVER MEAL THAT THE ISRAELITES ATE ON THE NIGHT THE ANGEL OF DEATH PASSED OVER THEIR HOMES. A NUMBER OF SPECIAL FOODS WERE EATEN, EACH WITH SYMBOLIC MEANING, AND AS MANY AS FOUR CUPS WERE USED IN THE MEAL. WE READ ABOUT THE PASSOVER MEAL IN OUR RESPONSIVE READING TODAY.
THIS PASSAGE WAS NOT AT THE TIME OF PASSOVER, BUT IT DID INVOLVE A SPECIAL MEAL CALLED AN AGAPE OR LOVE FEAST. THIS WAS A VERY SPECIAL OCCASION. RICH AND POOR WOULD TAKE PART IN IT. FOR THOSE POOR OR INFIRMED THIS MAY BE THE ONLY MEAL OF SUBSTANCE THEY WOULD HAVE FOR THE WEEK.
IT HAD A POTLUCK TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE TO IT. EACH FAMILY WOULD BRING FOOD AND WINE FOR THE MEAL. THE PROBLEM THE CORINTHIANS FACED IS THAT THE RICH PEOPLE WOULD BRING THEIR FOOD FIRST, WHILE THE POOR WERE STILL AT WORK, OR ENROUTE TO THE MEAL. THE RICH WOULD EAT THE BEST FOOD FIRST, DRINK THE BEST WINE TO THE POINT OF INTOXICATION. WHEN THE POOR PEOPLE WOULD ARRIVE THERE WAS LITTLE OF ANYTHING LEFT. THEY WOULD THEN COME TO THE LORD’S TABLE.
PAUL WAS DETERMINED TO PUT AN END TO THIS PRACTICE. HE KNEW IF PEOPLE HAD A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEANING OF COMMUNION, THAT THIS PRACTICE WOULD NOT CONTINUE.
PAUL STARTS OUT BY IDENTIFYING THE AUTHORITY BE WHICH HE SPEAKS. THIS MESSAGE IS NOT FROM HIMSELF BUT DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD, AND HE IS PASSING IT ONTO THEM.
THIS SHOULD BE THE STANDARD FOR EVERY PERSON WHO STANDS BEHIND THE PULPIT TODAY. OUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS MUST BE DIRECTLY FROM THE LORD, AND WE SPEAK THEM UNDER THE SPIRIT’S INSPIRATION. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES, WHERE I HAVE FELT THAT THE MESSAGE I HAD PREPARED WAS NOT THE ONE GOD WANTED ME TO GIVE AT THAT TIME. IT DOESN’T OCCUR OFTEN, BUT IT CAN HAPPEN, USUALLY AFTER A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT IN THE WORLD OR IN THE CHURCH.
PSALM 19:14: MAY THESE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THIS MEDITATION OF MY HEART BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT, LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER.
POINT ONE: THE BREAD:
PAUL THEN MOVES INTO THE STATEMENT JESUS MADE ABOUT THE BREAD. THE WORDS USED BY PAUL CLOSE TO 2000 YEARS AGO, ARE THE SAME WORDS THAT WE USE TODAY, FOR THE SAME SYMBOLIC MEANING.
THE FACT THAT JESUS TOOK THE BREAD AND BROKE IT IS OF LITTLE SIGNIFICANCE. HOSTS CUSTOMARILY BROKE THE BREAD FOR THEIR GUESTS.
MARK 6:41: TAKING THE FIVE LOAVES AND THE TWO FISH AND LOOKING UP TO HEAVEN, HE GAVE THANKS AND BROKE THE LOAVES. THEN HE GAVE THEM TO HIS DISCIPLES TO DISTRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE. HE ALSO DIVIDED THE TWO FISH AMONG THEM ALL.
JESUS BROKE THE BREAD TO SERVE TO THE PERSON NEXT TO HIM, AND BEGIN THE PROCESS WHERE THE DISCIPLES SERVED EACH OTHER. THE BREAD HAD A SYMBOLIC MEANING WITH THE PASSOVER MEAL, AND JESUS BRINGS A NEW SYMBOLISM AS HE USED IT THAT NIGHT IN THE UPPER ROOM.
JESUS IDENTIFIES THE BREAD AS HIS BODY THAT IS GIVEN IN DEATH FOR US. JESUS DOES NOT USE THE BREAD IN A LITERAL SENSE AS HE WAS STILL WITH THE DISCIPLES AT THE TIME HE INSTITUTED THE MEAL.
THE HEBREW IDEA OF REMEMBERANCE GOES BEYOND JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. BY USING THE SYMBOLS THEY ACTUALLY FELT THEY WERE TAKING PART IN THE FIRST PASSOVER.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:16-17:
IS NOT THE CUP OF THANKSGIVING FOR WHICH WE GIVE THANKS A PARTICIPATION IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST? AND IS NOT THE BREAD THAT WE BREAK A PARTICIPATION IN THE BODY OF CHRIST? 17 BECAUSE THERE IS ONE LOAF, WE, WHO ARE MANY, ARE ONE BODY, FOR WE ALL SHARE THE ONE LOAF.
THIS APPLIES TO US TODAY AS WELL. WE USE THE BREAD TO SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENT JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS. IN JESUS DEATH WE HAVE LIFE AND HOPE. HE OFFERS TO US EVERLASTING BREAD, WHICH IF WE TAKE IT WE WILL NEVER HUNGER AGAIN.
JOHN 6:35, 40: THEN JESUS DECLARED, “I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. WHOEVER COMES TO ME WILL NEVER GO HUNGRY, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY. FOR MY FATHER’S WILL IS THAT EVERYONE WHO LOOKS TO THE SON AND BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE THEM UP AT THE LAST DAY.”
1 CORINTHIANS 10:16-17 SPEAKS OF THE UNITY THAT COMES WITH THE BREAD. WE EAT OF ONE LOAF, AND WHAT PAUL IS TEACHING IS THAT WE ARE ALL UNITED BY THE SACIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS. IT IS NOT ABOUT ACTUALLY SHARING ONE LOAF. WHAT HE TEACHES IS THAT THERE IS A UNITY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE ARE ALL REMEMBERING WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE CROSS FOR US.
THE BIBLE IS CAREFUL TO TELL US THAT WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND DESERVING OF ETERNAL DEATH. WHAT THE BREAD TEACHES US IS THAT CHRIST LOVED US ENOUGH NOT TO LET THAT ETERNAL DEATH HAPPEN SHOULD WE ACCEPT HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOUR. IT TEACHES US TO REMEMBER THE PAIN AND TORTURE HE WENT THROUGH ON THE CROSS BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US.
POINT TWO THE CUP:
THE CUP HAD A VERY COMPLEX INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PASSOVER MEAL. THERE ARE IN FACT FOUR DIFFERENT CUPS THAT ARE USED. IN THE RITUAL MEALS OF JEWS DURING THE FIRST CENTURY, IT WAS CUSTOM TO HAVE SEVERAL COURSES OF FOOD AND DRINK. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THEN HOW IN THE ACCOUNT IN LUKE THAT TWO CUPS ARE MENTIONED.
LUKE 22:17-20:
AFTER TAKING THE CUP, HE GAVE THANKS AND SAID, “TAKE THIS AND DIVIDE IT AMONG YOU. 18 FOR I TELL YOU I WILL NOT DRINK AGAIN FROM THE FRUIT OF THE VINE UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES.” 19 AND HE TOOK BREAD, GAVE THANKS AND BROKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, “THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN FOR YOU; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.” 20 IN THE SAME WAY, AFTER THE SUPPER HE TOOK THE CUP, SAYING, “THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, WHICH IS POURED OUT FOR YOU.
1. AFTER THE BLESSING OF THE FIRST CUP OF WINE, THERE FOLLOWS THE EATING OF RAW VEGETABLES DIPPED IN SALTWATER. A NARRATION OF THE HAGGADAH (THE REDEMPTION OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPT), AND BENEDICTIONS ON THE UNLEAVENED BREAD (MATZAH).
2. THE SECOND CUP OF WINE WAS WITH THE EATING OF THE MAIN MEAL OF ROASTED LAMB AND MORE BREAD
3. THE DRINKING OF A THIRD CUP OF WINE FOLLOWING BLESSINGS OF GOD AND SCRIPTURE RECITATIONS
4. A FINAL CUP OF WINE WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SINGING OF THE HALLEL PSALMS AND CLOSING SONGS.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT JESUS WAS USING THE THIRD CUP WHEN HE INSTITUTED THE LORD’S SUPPER. THE FINAL CUP FOR JESUS WAS DIFFERENT THAN FOR THE JEWS AS IT WAS THE CUP OF WRATH FROM GOD THE FATHER.
PAUL RECORDS THAT THE WINE JESUS SPOKE OF REPRESENTED THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD. SMALL WORDS ARE IMPORTANT, AND THE WORD “THE” IN FRONT OF NEW COVENANT INDICATES TO US THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BECOME PART OF GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE. IT CAN ONLY HAPPEN BY WAY OF JESUS’ BLOOD. JESUS WAS CLEAR
JOHN 14:6: JESUS ANSWERED, “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
EVERY TIME WE COME TO THE TABLE WE SUPPORT THE FACT THAT IT IS ONLY BE ACCEPTING JESUS SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS, THAT HIS BLOOD WAS SHED IN MAGNIFICIENT SUBSTITUTION FOR HIS LOVE FOR US. WE ARE SAYING THAT WE ARE PART OF THAT NEW COVENANT PEOPLE. JUST AS WHEN THE PASSOVER ANGEL SAW THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB ON THE DOORPOSTS AND ALLOWED LIFE, JESUS ALLOWS ETERNAL LIFE WHEN HE SEES WE ARE COVERED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
POINT THREE: TAKING IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER:
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO COME TO THE TABLE IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER? TO EAT IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER IS NOT TO TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER AND IT’S SYMBOLISM SERIOUSLY. IT MEANS THAT WE DO NOT TAKE THE REASON FOR THE CROSS SERIOUSLY. THE SIN IS NOT AGAINST OTHERS, IT IS AGAINST CHRIST HIMSELF.
THE CORINTHIANS USED THE MEAL AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL HONOR AND STATUS ENHANCEMENT. THEY DENIED THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENT THAT THE CROSS WAS FOR ALL PEOPLE, AS THEY WERE ALL SINNERS BEFORE GOD.
WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO COME TO THE TABLE IN AN UNWORTHY FASHION AS WELL. EACH TIME WE COME TO THE TABLE WE SHOULD BE REFLECTIVE CONCERNING THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS MERCY AND GRACE.
WE SHOULD EXAMINE OURSELVES AS THE CORINTHIANS DID IN DENYING THE SAVING SIGNIFICANCE PROCLAIMED IN THE MEAL. REPENTING OF WRONG ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES WILL TURN AWAY GOD’S JUDGMENT AND BESTOW ON US THE BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH COMMUNION
CONCLUSION:
WHAT THEN CAN WE LEARN ABOUT PAUL’S ADDRESS TO THE CORINTHIANS:
1. THE CELEBRATION SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL CONFESSING BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST.
2. THE ELEMENTS USED ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO THE JEWISH PASSOVER MEAL, AND ARE SYMBOLS OF JESUS DEATH AND THE NEW COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD.
3. THE SERVICE IS A CELEBRATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH JESUS CHRIST AS OUR SAVIOUR AND LORD. HE LOVED US AND ALLOWED US A WAY TO SHOW OUR LOVE FOR HIM.
4. THE COMMUNION SERVICE IS A SERVICE OF UNITY. IT HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE THE TIME IT WAS INSTITUTED BY CHRIST AT THE LAST SUPPER.
5. WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT OUR COMMUNION SERVICE IS A TEMPORARY SERVICE. THERE IS COMING A TIME WHEN WE WILL NOT NEED THE BREAD OR CUP, AS WE COMMUNE DIRECTLY WITH THE LORD.
