Wednesday: The Lord’s Supper
Read Matthew 26:26-28.
Image © Ain Vares from GoodSalt.com
What meaning is evident in what Jesus is telling us to do here? Why is it important to see this in terms of symbols?
The Lord’s Supper replaces the Passover festival of the old covenant era. The Passover met its fulfillment when Christ, the Paschal Lamb, gave His life. Before His death, Christ Himself instituted the replacement, the great festival of the New Testament church under the new covenant. Just as the Passover festival commemorated Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the Lord’s Supper commemorates the deliverance from spiritual Egypt, the bondage of sin.
The Passover lamb’s blood applied to the lintel and doorposts protected the inhabitants from death; the nourishment that its flesh provided gave them the strength to escape from Egypt (Exod. 12:3-8). So, Christ’s sacrifice brings liberation from death; believers are saved through the partaking of both His body and blood (John 6:54). The Lord’s Supper proclaims that Christ’s death on the cross provides our salvation, provides our forgiveness, and promises us victory over sin.
Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-26. What important doctrinal truth about the Cross is revealed here?
Here we see, clearly, the substitutionary aspect of Christ death. His body was broken and His blood shed for us; at the cross He took upon Himself what rightly belonged to us. Each time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we should always remember what Christ accomplished in our behalf.
When you add to the Lord’s Supper the foot-washing, which helps to prepare our hearts before we partake of the Communion service, we should also get a sense of the communal nature of this ordinance.
With the Cross so vividly symbolized through the partaking of the bread and wine, we are reminded that whatever earthly things divide us, we are all sinners in constant need of grace. The Communion service should help us all to realize our obligations, not just to the Lord but to one another, as well.
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This is the most amaizing study. Opens my eye, and see the threshold of the door where the blood of the lamb is spread turn into the cross, a threshold into his Kindom. We have to share this with Jewish friends, this one study could turn thousands of Jews into devoted followers of Christ. Amen
The night before the unprecedented mass exodus took place, an episode of painting door post with blood speaks in volume the profound nature of the blood symbolically represents.
It is true the passover event is not honoured in this day and age, however, it is still commemorated in the context of Lord's supper. I am indeed delightful of foot-washing sacrament that reminds me of the fateful day when my creator and coming king Jesus went through beating, spitting, shaming, nakedness, condemnation, mockery, rediculing, they said all manner of things against Him. He suffered agonishing pain from laceration and shed the innocent blood for me. Was suspended in space and hanging there as a malefactor. He didn't deserve such a harse treatment from His very own but when I look at the nature of the person, He came prepared so that through Him, someone like me can have a new lease of life.
Thank you Jesus for having me in your mind when you were on the cross. Just because of you, am liberated indeed from the supression, agression and the cruelty of sin which I have nothing to recompense you for, otherwise, I wouldn't know where I would be.
The blood price was not paid only in the new testament by Jesus, but also on the old testament. A "blood cros" on each door pillar simbolizing the death and spilt blood by the Saviour of the universe. How I love you Lord for this big sacrifice you made. The detail in preparing us to understand this emence sacrifice is just Wow!
This is a touching lesson indeed.I like the way you friends explain the whole set of events that take place during the holly communion. Footwashing representing the humilliation that Jesus our Lord went through and the real supper representing his actual death on the cross. The blood that Jesus shed on the calvary has its power even up to now.
When i am washing my friends feet, i should remember that humility and the mockery that my saviou went through. And when I am partaking the real supper itself I should remember his actual crucifiction and blood of covenant which saved me.Those who never applied lamb's blood on the door posts received the distruction of the first born son. So if i want to be spared in the forthcoming destruction I have to apply blood in my heart too; taking Jesus as my saviour. Oh my Jesus. How wonderful this lesson is. Amen
I am not sure why our church does not do this significant ordinance more often. This service gives more meaning and purpose to our lives, remaining us that our savior is still ministering for us and will return one day
Praise God for His amazing grace. "Christ was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as he deserves..." I wonder how much Black Friday stuff can match up to what I received on Good Friday? If all I have is Jesus, I have everything I need. Praise God! Amen!
when I think how Jesus stoop so low Just to save me,even before my great grand parents ever existed,just to save me, it makes me weep for Joy at the height of love God has for me.PRAISE THE LORD.
Jesus is a master communicator, why do I say this? He always use the most appropriate methods of communicating His messages. Take the wine and bread, for example, which He said that we should partake of until He returns. We take the wine and bread physically into our bodies. Physical food taken into the body has the role of nourishing the body by providing necessary nutrients thus enabling the body to fight diseases and remain healthy. One of the lesson I get from the bread and wine is, the bread is the word of God that we must feed upon daily along with the blood of Christ applied to our hearts daily. This has the effect of nurturing the soul by providing spiritual nurtients necessary to fight against the wiles of the devil daily in our lives. Jesus is simply the best of the best. Thank you Jesus.
Friends, thanks for your help in my two last questions. Your answers were very helpful to me. Today i have another small question that i need your help. Exactly how often are we supposed to take the Lord's Supper, everyday, weekly, monthly, quartly, etc and why? Any biblical reference on this?
Paul, there is no biblical directive for how often we are to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
It seems to me that the first Christians may have done this daily right after Pentecost. (Acts 2:42-46)
In Seventh-day Adventist churches we generally follow the tradition of doing this once a quarter, but there's nothing wrong with doing it once a month, once every two months, or whatever the local congregation decides. Whatever schedule is followed, what is more important than the schedule is that it remain meaningful to the participants. It should not become common-place and done as a mere rite.
I thank Jesus for dying for my sins. I imagine if he did not come to this world to save mankind how many animals will be killed every year, Jesus death on the cross is enough for us to look up and remember Him every time we are facing challenges. I love you Jesus.
What does Paul mean in 1 Corinthians 11:27 – 29, when he says that we can partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner? Any thoughts?
Hi Jacob, I believe that partaking of the Lord's supper in an "unworthy manner" is similar to using the Lord's name in vain. If we treat the Lord's Supper as a common event and do not honor the Lord and His sacrifice, we are partaking in "an unworthy manner." In fact that becomes fairly clear in the context, particularly 1 Cor. 11:29: "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body."
The key words are "not discerning the Lord's body."
Some people stay home from communion service because they are conscious of being sinful and "unworthy" but a feeling of "unworthiness" is exactly appropriate for the service. None of us are "worthy" of what Christ has done for us. He died for us while we were still lost in sin! He is the one who changes us, and He invests our lives with "worthiness."
Due to our SDA churches being closed due to covid 19 we have not had any communion service for the last 3 quarters. When it was suggested that we conduct the service on zoom, with members of family washing each others feet, and we making our own bread and wine, it was vehemently opposed. Is it wrong to conduct the service in such a way.
I don't have a problem with what you intend to do. In the circumstances it is probably most appropriate, particularly because we interact with our family members more than anyone else.
Paul said:
There is nothing special about the timing or location, as long as it is done in remembrance of Jesus.