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The Lord’s Supper
The Christian world has identified the "Lord’s supper" as the last meal that Christ ate with his apostles. As we all know, this is when the symbols were introduced by Jesus Christ which represented his body and shed blood. This very important event is to be remembered, as Christ instructed in Luke 22:19-20.
Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (KJV)
Jesus Christ gave his body and shed his righteous blood in sacrifice for the payment and penalty for sin. This is why this event is to be honored and remembered in a very solemn and sincere manner. Christ said, "this do in remembrance of me" (note the words "this do"). Therefore believers are also in some way to copy and do this event of Christ breaking and giving the bread and passing the cup to the apostles. Please read my booklet; "Repentance and Obedience", which explains the symbols of this event, and the profound importance in what is known as "ceremonial obedience".
This "ceremonial" command of Christ is not difficult to obey! By obeying this very important command, believers are "showing" Christ’s body given in sacrifice, and they are also "showing" his shed blood. This remembrance of Christ’s death can be carried out in a simple easy method by imitating what Christ also did at the "last supper". The Christian world of today has chosen to honor this remembrance in a symbolic fashion known as the "communion service". In John 6:54 Christ stated in no uncertain terms that if believers "eat" of his flesh and "drink" of his blood, they will have eternal life.John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. (KJV)
This "eating and drinking" of course could only be done in a symbolic manner. Most of the Christian churches of today have chosen to use bread and wine (or grape juice) to represent Christ’s flesh and blood. However the early Church might have honored Christ’s death in a much different manner than the modern churches do today. I want to point out that the emphasis should be on obedience, and not necessarily on the method of remembering Christ’s death. It is evident that the early Church often had "feasts of charity", and these feasts could very well have been used in some way to remember Christ’s death. See Jude 12.
Jude 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (KJV)
I believe the last supper that Christ ate with his apostles was not the Passover meal (according to Moses law). Christ himself was the Passover, and he knew that he would be dead when the Passover was to be eaten. Notice in Luke 22:15 that Christ only stated that it was his desire to eat this Passover (according to "Jewish" law).
Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: (KJV)
The "Lord’s supper" is found in the context of the following statements made by the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 11:17-22. Please read these verses very carefully.
1 Corinthians 11:17-22 Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise [you] not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not. (KJV)
It is interesting that Paul never mentioned the Passover in explaining the Lord’s supper. However I want to point out that Paul does mention the Passover in other scriptures. The Corinthians were coming together for the worse and not for the better because of their divisions (verses 17, 18). Please notice that they came together into one place, indicating that they understood they were to assemble to eat and drink. However Paul carefully warned them of their divisions and serious partiality in eating and drinking among themselves. Therefore Paul implied when eating and drinking with these serious divisions "is not to eat the Lord’s supper" (verse 20). Please understand this! This indicates that they were attempting to "eat and drink" in remembrance of Christ’s death. The implication is that they were making the "Lord’s supper" into a common meal of which some were bringing food and others were not. Paul rebuked them sharply for this, and he implied that they might as well stay home! They were despising the Church, and bringing shame on them that had no food (verse 22). Paul explained that they were to "tarry" (or wait for others) before eating, as it shows in 1 Cor. 11:33.
1 Corinthians 11:33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. (KJV)
It is evident that they were calling this "eating and drinking" the "Lord’s supper", because Paul in the following verses carefully explained the meaning of the "Lord’s supper". This symbolic "eating and drinking" was designed to show and remember Christ’s death "till he come". See 1 Cor. 11:26.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (KJV)
Meaning of course that after Christ is come, this showing of Christ’s death would no longer be necessary. Paul warned the Corinthians if these divisions were not repented of, they would be unworthy of the death of Christ. Therefore making them guilty of the body and blood of Christ. This truth is clearly explained in 1 Cor. 11:27.
1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (KJV)
This unworthy "eating and drinking" is not allowing for Christ’s body to bear the damnation and judgment brought on ourselves. The sin debt was put on the body of Christ, however if Christ’s body is not properly discerned, the sin debt could bring damnation (judgment) on ourselves. The seriousness of "not discerning the Lord’s body" is explained in 1 Cor. 11:29.
1 Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthy, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (KJV)
A believer can "eat and drink" damnation to himself by causing division in the Lord’s body, which is the Church. It is very important for believers to come together in one place (as we have seen in 1 Cor. 11:20), and they are to participate in this "eating and drinking" together as one body with no division or partiality toward other members. The members of Christ’s body are to be united together as one body in showing and remembering Christ’s death. It would not be coming together in one place if believers decide to divide and "eat and drink" apart from the main established body of believers. Paul was grieved, and carefully instructed the members of the sinning Corinthian Church on an individual basis ("let a man") to examine themselves if any have this serious flaw of division and partiality. See 1 Cor. 11:28.
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. (KJV)
Paul also carefully explained to the divided Corinthians that the cup and the bread was the "communion" of the blood and the body of Christ. See 1 Cor. 10:16-17.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (KJV)
Paul further explained that they were one bread and one body, partaking (in communion) of that one bread, which was Christ. The word "communion" is no. 2842 in Strong’s Lexicon, and is translated most of the times as fellowship. This is very important to understand!
2842 koinonia {koy-nohn-ee'-ah} from 2844; TDNT - 3:797,447; n f AV - fellowship 12, communion 4, communication 1, distribution 1, contribution 1, to communicate 1; 20
In a divided Christian world it is a must for believers during Passover season to seek out a fellowship group that take the communion service very seriously! It is evident that most of the Christian world looks on this most solemn occasion in a indifferent manner. Therefore if I may say so, most Christian people do not and cannot properly "discern the Lord’s body". Believers are also commanded to obey the instructions and example given by Christ of a symbolic "cleansing", known as "washing feet". See John 13:14-15.
John 13:14-15 If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (KJV)
The importance of assembling, the doctrine of fellowship, "washing feet", and the one body of Christ is carefully explained in my booklets, "What is the Church?" and "Repentance and Obedience"; and should therefore be carefully read.
Questions or comments?... Email: wickey777@verizon.net