This morning before partaking of the Lord's supper, I want us to take a look at four things concerning this ordinance that will help us to understand its importance.
1. It is to be a time of Remembrance. verse 24 Jesus said...do this in remembrance of me. Just as the Jewish passover commemorated that time when the blood of the sacrificial lamb was shed...the Lord's supper looks back at the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. The Lord's supper is the Christians passover.
2. It is to be a time of Recommendation. verse 26 Look carefully at one word...the word is "shew"..the meaning is proclaim. Baptism does not save us, but it proclaims to the world our identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Christ...Partaking of the Lord's supper does not save...but when we take of the bread, and the juice..we are testifying to the fact that as we receive this bread, and juice so to have we received Jesus Christ into our life as Lord.
3. It is to be a time of Reflection. verses 27-28 The Lord's Supper is not a trivial thing...it is not to be taken lightly. In fact the scripture says that we should examine ourselves...take inventory of our relationship with God. We should do prior to partaking of the Lord's Supper what the Psalmist did when he cried out...Search me, O God, and know my heart...see if there be any wicked way in me.
Are there any unconfessed sins in our life or any issues left unsettled with God ?
4. It is to be a time of Rejoicing. verse 26. As often as we keep this ordinance we remember his death until he comes.
We can not only look back to his death on the cross with gratitude, but we can look forward to his coming again with joy.
