The Last Supper Series

What do you do with your guilt? The normal responses are to deny it, to rationalize it, to hide it, or perhaps to admit a little bit of it but not the full weight. But none of these techniques can get rid of it. We are all like Lady Macbeth, screaming, “Out, out, damn spot!” We cannot get our hands clean. There’s only one remedy for guilt under heaven—forgiveness. Sin can be remitted only if it is forgiven Christians. are simply a fellowship of forgiven people. Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we celebrate the birth of the New Testament church, the institution of the new covenant, and the day in which our Savior announced that He was going to pour out His blood to remove our sins. (Sproul, R. C. (2013). Matthew (pp. 754–755). Crossway.)

In the remembrance of Communion, this immediate observance is not the end. In Matthew 26, we finally see:

3) The Duration (Matthew 26:29)

Matthew 26:29. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (ESV)

Since the divinely-ordained Passover remembrance ended when Jesus celebrated it that night with His disciples, any observance of it since that time has been based solely on human tradition, the perpetuation of an outward form that has long since lost its spiritual significance. But for those who belong to Jesus Christ, that event in the upper room began a new remembrance of redemption that the Lord will honor until He returns in glory.

Please turn to 1 Corinthians 11

Fruit of the vine was a common Jewish colloquialism for wine, which Jesus told the disciples He would not drink with them again until that day when He would drink it new with them in His Father’s kingdom. Jesus’ vow to abstain from wine was made before the fourth cup, which traditionally was drunk after the recitation of these words: “I will take you as My people, and I will be your God” (cf. Mt. 26:20–22). Jesus reserved the drinking of this cup for the future restoration. …sharing it with the disciples, and then pledging that together they would finish this celebration in the kingdom of God (cf. Isaiah 25:6; Luke 14:15; Revelation 3:20; 19:6–9). ( Barton, B. B. (1996). Matthew (p. 518). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.) This may provide the reason for Jesus refusing wine on the cross (Mt. 27:34, 48). (Mangum, D., ed. (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Mt 26:26–30). Lexham Press.)

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul explained to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 11:23–34. 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. (ESV)