The Supper of the Lord

I. Introduction:

II. Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-33

III. Authority for the Lord’s Supper

A. Instituted on the night Jesus was betrayed to remember His sacrifice

B. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 Jesus intended it to be a memorial that Christians would observe until He came again.

C. Elements of the Lord’s Supper

D. Bread

E. Mark 14:22 – The body of the Lord Even here, it is obvious that He is not talking about His real body but that the bread represents His body. The unleavened bread memorializes the body of Jesus that hung on the cross as a sacrifice for sin.

F. Fruit of the vine

G. Mark 14:23-24 – the blood of the new covenant Hebrews 9:16-22 – all covenants sealed with blood The Old Covenant, between God and Israel, was shed with blood, though with the inferior blood of animals, Exodus 24:7-8

H. When we become Christians, we make a covenant with God that is sealed by the blood of Jesus.

I. As under the Old Testament, He will be my God and I will be His child.

J. If I am faithful to the covenant, He will grant me eternal life. If I am unfaithful to the covenant, there no longer remains a sacrifice for my sins, Hebrews 10:26.

K. The fruit of the vine represents the covenant we make with the Father sealed with Jesus’ blood to give us remission of sins and reconcile us to God. As we drink the cup that represents the blood shed in order to bring us into a covenant relationship with God, we should also reflect on how well or poorly we have lived up to our part of the covenant in the previous week. If we recall a week of sinfulness or negligence, we can dedicate ourselves to doing better the next week.

L. Our weekly observance

M. In 1 Corinthians 11:26, it is obvious that this was a regular observance. In 1 Corinthians 11:20, it was the main reason the Corinthians were to gather In Acts 20:7, it was the custom of the early Christians to meet on the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week to eat the Lord’s Supper. Historical writers also attest to the Lord’s Day observance in the early church.

IV. Unique observance

A. The Lord’s Supper is a unique event in that we commune with God and one another

B. We approach God together, yet alone!

C. We are commanded to assemble to eat the Lord’s Supper.

D. This does not permit the Lord’s Supper on the run as is the practice of some (though in the case of extreme emergency for the sake of conscience one might do so).We should make every effort to assemble for the communion. We share in the remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice as a church.

E. It is also an intensely personal time of communion with God.

F. I reflect on Jesus’ death for me for my sinfulness. I reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and remember what the bread and juice represent. I am mindful of my covenant with God sealed with the blood of Jesus.

V. Drawing close to God while observing the Lord’s Supper

A. We often pray, “take our minds back to the cross.”

B. We should remember that Jesus died for us. We should remember the pain, injustice, love, and mercy of Jesus on the cross. In our reflection, we should not only remember the historical event of His crucifixion, but our sins that required such a sacrifice and the love that led Jesus to offer Himself to reconcile us to God.

C. We should approach the communion with love for God and remember His love for us

D. Romans 5:8 – He loved us first and proved it with the sacrifice on Calvary. The love of God, which we sing about and meditate upon, is a love in deed and truth.

E. How are we returning that love to God?

F. Are we bored, apathetic, or thoughtless as we eat the Lord’s Supper? Do we remember His great love for us and thank Him with great humility?

G. We should reflect on how hopeless our condition would be without Jesus’ death.

H. We would be condemned for our sins with no hope of eternal life. We are unworthy of God’s love and mercy, yet He still loved us and offered us salvation though His Son.

I. Read scriptures, songs, or meditations to help you contemplate the death of Jesus if you find your mind wandering; this time is too precious to waste.