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THE LORD’S SUPPER
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Matthew 26:26-29

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

“…Jesus took bread,

and blessed it…”

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER
 
Towards the end of the Passover meal, Jesus instituted a new sacrament, the Lord’s Supper, that would replace the old. The Passover pointed to the cross-work of Christ. The Lord’s Supper which is the sacrament of a better covenant points back to the cross-work of Christ.
 
Two elements are involved in the Lord’s Supper: the bread and the cup. They symbolise the body and blood of Christ respectively (cf. John 6:26‑63). The bread is still bread, and the wine is still wine. They do not magically become the actual flesh and blood of Christ. Neither are the actual flesh and blood present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine. The bread and cup merely represent the body and blood of our Lord, and the partaking of them is for the purpose of commemoration (cf. 1 Cor 11:23-25). Jesus said, “this do ye… in remembrance of me.” We are called to remember what Jesus did in His flesh which points to His perfect obedience in His life as well as in His death. In the flesh, He fulfilled the Law perfectly. For His death to be effective, He must bleed for “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb 9:22). The blood is important. His blood is powerful to deliver a man from sin (Acts 20:28).
 
The whole ceremony is not only a memorial service but also a spiritual exercise. Christ is not present physically but spiritually in the bread and wine. And our souls are spiritually nourished when we partake of the bread and cup by faith.
 
The Lord’s Supper also points towards what Christ will do in the future. Jesus said, “I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” It points to the second coming of Christ. The Lord will return one day to receive His Bride, the Church. The Church at this time observes the Lord’s Supper alone, but at the Marriage Supper (Rev 19:9), Christ will be there to eat with them!
 
THOUGHT: “When celebrating the Supper, we shall indeed worship Him as present, but with minds upraised to heaven.” (Calvin)
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for Thy body broken and blood shed for me on the cross.

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