The Lord’s Supper
(A Night Like No Other – Part 2)
#138 in Series: “The Life of Christ – in a Harmony of The Gospels”
(Summary statement: On the night before going to the cross, the Lord Jesus instituted a special way to commemorate His death, to celebrate our union together in Him, and to symbolize the hope we have in Him. It is called The Lord’s Supper.)
The night before Jesus went to the cross, He met with His Apostles in the Upper Room… They shared the last Passover meal together. Jesus spoke to the issue of humility and service – to the fact that one of them was to betray Him – and He spoke directly to Peter about his coming denial… There was a lot to take place in that room that night…
We read all four gospels to try and get a handle on the order of events, and it is next to impossible for us to do so… In fact, few commentators agree to the exact chronological order of the events that unfolded that night.
I believe that Judas had left the room, in his determination to go and betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders and Romans, when Jesus did something that the remaining 11 did not anticipate… As the Apostle Paul later summarizes –
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which 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 He took the cup also 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.
This is of course the initiation of what has become known as … The Lord’s Supper.
This is an established practice Jesus has given the church. It is one of only two ordinances the church is to follow until Jesus returns…
The first is the ordinance of baptism… Once one is born again – once they come to faith in Christ – they are to openly, unashamedly, even joyfully proclaim their trust in Christ by following Him in believer’s baptism…
Baptism is the act of placing one under the water, symbolizing the death and burial of the old person… The newly redeemed individual is publicly identifying with the death and burial of Jesus. The interesting, and ironic truth is that Jesus’ death took place on behalf of the believer – and it is the very act necessary for bringing life, eternal life, to the believer… His death brings life…
In baptism, one is declaring death to their old self as they are being placed under the water … we obviously don’t leave them there… When they are raised up out of the water – they are identifying with the resurrection of Jesus! We can now say, as Paul said –
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Baptism then, is a testimony to the gospel… So is the Lord’s Supper.
Whereas baptism – a legitimate baptism – is a one-time event in the life of a believer – the participation in the Lord’s Supper is an event that is repeated many times throughout our lifetime as a … reminder of the price that was paid for our salvation!
Let’s spend our time today delving into what the Scriptures say about the Lord’s Supper… This particular practice of the N.T. church has been rather … sad to say … a divisive matter among those who call themselves Christians.
In fact, this is where denomination labels can be helpful. There are strong contrasting views about what we are more comfortable calling “The Lord’s Supper”. This is also commonly referred to as The Lord’s Table, and Communion… Some would assign even more labels, which speak to the distinctives of their denomination in many cases… Though I will refer to some of those differences, this will not be a mere historical survey about the topic…
Our approach will be more thematic, than exegetical. We want to think broadly about this specific ordinance Jesus has given the church, but we will also limit our study to what is revealed in Scripture, more than what scholarship has said about the subject through the years…
Though there may be several aspects we should consider, we will limit our remarks to four specific areas in our time today. Let’s begin with –
1. The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper
There are physical elements received into the body, for the sole purpose of demonstrating a physical act that has a symbolic, and spiritual meaning…
Let me quickly overview the four “interpretations” of the Lord’s Supper that has been believed by different groups throughout history…
The Roman Catholics believe that the elements received into the body actually become flesh and blood – the body and blood of Jesus as it is comsumed… The theological term is called transsubstantiation… We reject this meaning. It is … canabalism and false.
Another view, or meaning, is held by our Luthern friends… Though they do not believe that the elements become flesh and blood – they do believe that … somehow Jesus’ body and blood are somehow “present” in this meal… This is called consubstantiation… It is a bit … mystical.
A third view comes from our Anglican friends. Everything about this meal is … spiritual. Christ’s body and blood, and the consumption of it is spiritual and not physical in the receiving of these elements… This is closer, but still too … mystical.
The forth view has been referred to as the Zwinglian view. Ulrich Zwingli was the reformer who articulated clearly that the Lord’s Supper is a symbolic memorial. The bread and wine (or “fruit of the vine”) are merely symbolic representations of Christ's body and blood. They serve to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. The Lord’s Supper a memorial and commemoration of His death, not a means of receiving His physical presence… Zwingli’s view is clearly the more biblical view…
The purpose is to remember!
Context is vital in accurately understanding God’s Word… What was the context where Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper? – It was in the Upper Room with His disciples, afterthey had celebrated the Passover Meal together. The Passover was specifically given as a … reminder to Jewish people that they had been delivered out of slavary – by the grace and power of God Alone!...
Using some of the same elements that we used for that meal, Jesus introduces a new meal, that commemorates a new covenant, and this meal also serves as a reminder!
Let’s read about it from Mark’s record –
22 While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” 23 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
This is also recorded by Matthew in 26:26-29, and Luke 22:17-20. John alludes to it in chapter 13 of his report, and the Apostle Paul comments on it in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
John MacArthur says – “Jesus took that ancient feast and transformed it into a meal with new meaning when He instructed His disciples to drink of the cup and eat of the bread in remembrance of His death on their behalf. Therefore, Calvary has superseded the exodus from Egypt as the greatest redemptive event in history. Christians don't recall the blood on the doorpost and the lintel, but the blood shed at the cross. The Lord's Supper is a memorial that Christ Himself instituted. He became the ultimate fulfillment of deliverance from sin and death when He died on the cross and shed His blood.”
John 6:51-54 is an important passage that can help us better understand the Lord's Supper. It focuses on Christ presenting Himself to the Jewish people as the Bread of Life. In verse 51, Jesus says –
John 6:51
I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Notice carefully, that Jesus is clearly acerting that He came down from heaven! He is God’s provision of … bread! And the bread is His flesh!... This is metaphorical language that speaks to spiritual truth! Eternal life is found in Jesus Alone! He came from God! He is God’s provision!
Did the Jews understand what Jesus was saying?... Let’s read on –
John 6:52-54
52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
The Jews were making the same mistake many have made over the centuries… Jews was not talking caniblism! He was not talking about the literal eating of His flesh and drinking His blood!
He did not break off a finger and give it to the disciples that night to eat! He broke bread – and called it His flesh. The bread was merely symbolic! There is no transsubstanciation to occur! The bread does not become meat!...
This is symbolic, metaphorically language referring to truths deeper than the physical! The literal eating of flesh will not save you no more than the literal experience of getting wet (in baptismal waters) - wash your sin away!
These are symbolic acts, illustrating greater truths!
What is the greater truth? That one is receiving eternal life!... What is eternal life?... Jesus answers that clearly in His prayer to the Father –
This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
Well, we’ve already spent a lot of time reflecting on the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. Let’s move on more quickly and think about –
2. The Participants in the Lord’s Supper
Just who are the participants in this memorial meal?... This is limited to born-again followers of Jesus… Christians are the only ones that should partake of this meal…
That has been true, from the beginning of the church!
Let’s consider –
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Throughout the book of Acts, we read that the first act of a Christian after their conversion is … baptism. We read of no insidence where one shares in the fellowship of the Lord’s Supper before they are baptized…
Notice that after conversion and baptism, there were four basic activities the early church focused on in their time together:
Mark Dever gives a helpful and clarifying statement – “It is true that the Lord’s Supper is only for sinners. But within that group, it is only for repentant sinners.”
Repentant sinners, first proclaim the gospel in the ordinance of baptism, and then together with their faith family in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper…
This leads us to a third, and … vital aspect we must consider… It is –
3. The Examination before the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper has a built-in opportunity for self-examination / self-evaluation…
1 Corinthians 11:28-29
28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
James Montgomery Boice said – “At the heart of the present significance of the Lord’s Supper is our communion or fellowship with Christ, hence the term ‘communion service.’ In coming to this service the believer comes to meet with Christ and have fellowship with Him at His invitation. The examination takes place because it would be hypocrisy for us to pretend that we are in communion with the Holy One while actually cherishing known sin in our hearts.”
There is really not a lot more to say at this point … but there is a lot to do.
Examine your own heart, and be honest… It there any sin for which you have not repentented that you are harboring in your heart?... If so, confess it to the Lord and seek Him for the Godly sorrow that leads to genuine repentance, and be rid of it!...
Let’s spend a few momements doing this right now…
There are some other truths we need to realize when it comes to our sharing together in the Lord’s Supper. We will call them –
4. The Demonstrations within the Lord’s Supper
I chose the word “demonstrations” rather than “proclaimations” for a reason… When we “proclaim” something – we are declaring something … and that is certainly what is happening within the Lord’s Supper… But, it is one thing to saysomething, and another thing to … demonstrate something…
The Lord’s Supper … puts some things on display!
The Lord’s Supper, being a “church ordiance”, is a wonderful opportunity to –
This is what the Corinthian church needed to be reminded of… Paul had to give them – and thus us – some specific reminders of what this meal is for…
1 Corinthians 11:18-21, 33
18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.
33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.
That church had gotten rather … messed up in their understanding and practice of the Lord’s Supper. Paul had to address the matter that they were to be … unified, and celebrate that in their coming together for the Lord’s Supper…
Next, though we’ve discussed this in the very first point, we need to keep our focus on the truth that the Lord’s Supper is intended as –
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
In those same verses, we are reminded that this is –
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
If you are a Christian – a born-again, baptized follower of Jesus – it is God’s will for you to be in a local church where He is loved and obeyed! He wants you in such a close relationship with Him, that you will … willfully, and joyfully follow this command on a consistent basis!...
And finally – sharing in the Lord’s Supper is –
1 Corinthians 11:26
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
This meal … illustrates and proclaims the gospel!... To whom is this gospel being preached? – To ourselves!
Let’s share the Lord’s Supper.
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
John MacArthur – “Jesus took that ancient feast and transformed it into a meal with new meaning when He instructed His disciples to drink of the cup and eat of the bread in remembrance of His death on their behalf. Therefore, Calvary has superseded the exodus from Egypt as the greatest redemptive event in history. Christians don't recall the blood on the doorpost and the lintel, but the blood shed at the cross. The Lord's Supper is a memorial that Christ Himself instituted. He became the ultimate fulfillment of deliverance from sin and death when He died on the cross and shed His blood.”
Mark Dever – “It is true that the Lord’s Supper is only for sinners. But within that group, it is only for repentant sinners.”
James Montgomery Boice – “At the heart of the present significance of the Lord’s Supper is our communion or fellowship with Christ, hence the term ‘communion service.’ In coming to this service the believer comes to meet with Christ and have fellowship with Him at His invitation. The examination takes place because it would be hypocrisy for us to pretend that we are in communion with the Holy One while actually cherishing known sin in our hearts.”
