The Lord’s supper should be one of the most moving and meaningful services we observe. Just as baptism is a visual picture of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus and our new life in Christ, so the Lord’s supper communicates important aspects of our faith.
We insist that the elements are symbols, but we need to remember what is symbolized. When Jesus held the last supper with his disciples, he said the bread represented his body that is broken. The next day his body was broken on the cross. The cup represents the shed blood of Christ.
We will look at the Lord’s supper from three perspectives.
As a memorial – past
As communion- present
As a hope in the return of Christ - future
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 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.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Here in this passage, it is stated that the Lord’s Supper is proclaiming the death of Christ. When we partake of the Lord’s supper taking the bread and the cup, we are involved in a graphic display of what Christ’s death has accomplished.
The bread reminds us of the broken body of our Lord. The cup reminds us of the shed blood of our savior. When we look at the Lord’s supper from the perspective of a memorial, we should understand it in its relationship to the Passover feast.
The gospels present the last supper of our Lord with his disciples as the Passover meal. It was the time when it was customary for the sacrifice of the Passover lamb and Jesus disciples ask, “where do you want us to go to make the preparation for you to eat the Passover?
Jesus gave his disciples instructions to prepare for the Passover feast. They were to go into the city and follow a man they will meet carrying a jar of water.
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked. 10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” (Luke 22:7-12)
The upper room will be all furnished and the disciples were to make preparations for the Passover meal there. The Passover observations began 1,500 years earlier for the Israelites just before the Exodus from Egypt. It was to commemorate the night God took the firstborn of the Egyptians but the houses of the Israelites which had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost would be passed over.
The Passover feast was a time the Israelites looked back on this event, but the Israelites also looked forward to a deliverance symbolized by their deliverance from Egypt. That deliverance was fulfilled in the death of Christ when Jesus shed his blood on the cross.
The Passover was God’s deliverance for Israel from Egyptian bondage. The Lord’s supper signified an even greater deliverance. It was God releasing His people from the bondage of sin. The Passover feast was instituted the night before the deliverance from Egypt. The Lord’s Supper was instituted the night before man’s deliverance from sin.
The Passover was marked by the blood of the Passover Lamb. The Lord’s supper was accomplished by the shedding of blood of Christ in the New Covenant.
The Passover reflected on a past crises, yet it was filled with the present joy of deliverance. It looked forward to a time of bigger spiritual deliverance. Correspondingly the Lord’s supper marks the death of Christ. Yet we have reason for joy because of the deliverance through the death of Christ. It was accomplished through the obedience of Christ.
During the Lord’s supper we remember the broken body of Christ. We remember the shed blood. It is a memorial for the death of Christ. Jesus was foretold as the man of sorrows. It is also the Gospel that death provided our deliverance from sin.
The Lord’s Supper is a communion. It is a communion with Christ and with other believers. It is a spiritual highpoint for us when we experience communion with Christ in a very real sense. The two aspects of communion fellowship with Christ and fellowship among believers are intertwined.
Christians fellowship with one another when they commune with Christ together. Paul conveyed that community aspect of the Lord’s supper. The one loaf symbolizes the unity of the church.
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
Paul rebukes the Corinthians because they took the Lord’s supper with divisions and factions.
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. (1 Corinthians 11:17-18)
The Lord’s supper ought to bring out Christian unity. It should bring together the diverse body of Christ as one under the head of Jesus Christ. As an ordinance of the church the Lord’s supper is not practiced by individuals in isolation. It is properly observed by the functioning body of Christ.
In Corinth some went ahead with the Lord’s supper without waiting for others. Disregarding fellow Christians is a contradiction of the Lord’s supper. The Lord’s supper is a memorial to the death of Christ, yes, but it is also a symbol of the present vital fellowship of believers with the living Lord Jesus Christ. In the Lord’s supper is the aspect of communion, fellowship, and participation in the body of Christ.
As we partake of the bread and the cup, we establish a close relationship with Christ. There is a sharing between Christ and the members of the body of Christ. This involves participation in a common meal.
We are to examine ourselves when taking the Lord’s supper regarding our right relationship to the Lord and a right relationship with others. Examine yourself for unchecked sin. There is a corporate sense of sharing with others in a fellowship.
Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:17)
The unity is demonstrated in the Lord’s supper. We need to see in this the sharp distinction between Christian and non-Christian. Only the one who trusted Christ as savior is in the body of Christ.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)
The Lord’s supper is a communion with a believer and Christ, but the communion extends to among believers and symbolizes the unity of the body of Christ.
Taking the Lords Supper is looking to Christ’s return. While the Lord’s supper is a memorial looking back and a communion in the present there is a proclamation of a future event we look forward to.
I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:29)
In taking the Lord’s supper we anticipate the great hope in the return of Christ. When the Israelites celebrated the Passover, they looked back to the event when God struck the Egyptians and passed over the Israelites. Yet they looked forward also. They looked forward to a greater deliverance the Passover symbolized.
We also look backward to the shed blood of Christ more than 2,000 years ago. But we look forward to the culmination of what happened on the cross. The resurrection and the return of Christ.
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
When Jesus returns every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. When we participate in the Lord’s supper, we are anticipating the return of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Are you ready? Put your faith in Jesus Christ and ask that his death on the cross to pay the penalty of your sins.
18 Themes of the Lord’s supper
Abiding in Christ - As we partake of the bread and the cup, we establish a close relationship with Christ. There is a sharing between Christ and the members of the body of Christ. We are to examine ourselves when taking the Lord’s supper regarding our right relationship to the Lord.
Promises - Jesus was foretold as the man of sorrows. There was a future promise at the Passover of a greater deliverance. There is a future promise at the Lord’s supper of the return of Christ. We proclaim his death until he comes.
Sacrificial love – What we remember is the ultimate sacrifice. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Joy - we have reason for joy because of the deliverance. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Obedience - It was accomplished through the obedience of Christ.
Community - It is a communion with Christ and with other believers. Christians fellowship with one another when they commune with Christ together. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. The one loaf symbolizes the unity of the church.
Fellowship - The two aspects of communion fellowship with Christ and fellowship among believers are intertwined. It is also a symbol of the present vital fellowship of believers with the living Lord Jesus Christ.
Remembrance- We remember the shed blood. It is a memorial for the death of Christ. do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Hope - There is a proclamation of a future event we look forward to. We proclaim Christ’s death until he comes again.
Cross- The Lord’s supper was accomplished by the shedding of blood of Christ in the New Covenant
Suffering - Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
Service - But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:4)
Forgiveness - Your sins are forgiven, and you will one day dine with Jesus. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
Discipleship -The Lord’s supper is a command of Christ for all believers. This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Resurrection - The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We look forward to the culmination of what happened on the cross which is the resurrection and the return of Christ.
Deliverance - but the Israelites also looked forward to a deliverance symbolized by their
deliverance from Egypt. That deliverance was fulfilled in the death of Christ when Jesus shed his blood on the cross.
Victory of Christ- For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
Proclaiming Christ- For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. It is also the Gospel that death provided our deliverance from sin.
