The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper has not always been well understood by people. For example, the Romans accused the early Christians of cannibalism because they were thought to be eating flesh and drinking blood in their gatherings. Of course, this was not true. But what is actually happening when we “eat the bread and drink the cup” (11:26)? Paul addresses this question in writing to the Corinthians, who saw the Lord’s Supper as a free-for-all party. (For more background to what was happening, read 1 Cor. 11:17-22). Paul was not actually there at the Last Supper when Jesus instituted the ceremony (he was not one of the original disciples), but he had received instructions directly from Jesus on what happens at the Lord’s Supper, so he speaks with authority.

Explore: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What would I like to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. What is happening when I eat the bread and drink the cup? What am I doing?

Reflect

Most churches celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a regular part of their church services. Some denominations do this every service as part of their liturgy, and others do it less regularly (often once a month). The early Christians, who ate together frequently, may well have remembered Jesus’ death at every meal, but eventually the celebration was included more formally into their gatherings. It was probably a weekly occurrence, but the Bible doesn’t spell out how often we need to participate, so churches have developed their own patterns.

You may also notice differences in how Christians perceive what is happening as they participate. Some historic denominations believe that the bread and cup actually become the body and blood of Jesus through a divine transformation that happens in the ritual. They focus on Scripture saying, “This is my body” (11:24). Other denominations see the Lord’s Supper as a “remembrance” ceremony (11:24, 25). The bread and cup jog our memory to remind us of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. Other Christian groups sit somewhere in the middle. While they don’t believe the bread and cup are physically transformed, they see something spiritual happening through the actions as participants “proclaim the Lord’s death” (11:26).

Whatever you believe is happening with the elements (bread and cup), the Lord’s Supper is a special spiritual event. It was instituted by Jesus (11:23) as the way in which the church was to remember and proclaim his death until He returned (11:23-26). It is very, very important. Celebrating Jesus’ broken body and shed blood has been a foundational feature of the church’s worship for 2000 years.

The significance of the Lord’s Supper is also highlighted by Paul’s warnings in 11:27-29. It’s a risky business to participate in an “unworthy manner” (11:27), without “discerning the body of Christ” (11:29). Now before you start to panic about your slightest imperfections when you participate in the Lord’s Supper, you need to understand the context. Through the Lord’s Supper, the Corinthians were highlighting the divisions in their church by allowing the rich to selfishly gorge themselves while the poor went hungry (11:17-22). Paul was horrified by the brazen selfishness surrounding their memory of Christ’s sacrifice. So he’s talking about major, entrenched sin and injustice here. Still, it’s always a good idea to check your heart and motives before eating the bread and drinking from the cup.

Pray

Thank you, Jesus, for showing me how I can celebrate and proclaim Your sacrifice for me. I want to be thankful all the time, but I pray that those times when I celebrate Your Supper with my Christian brothers and sisters will be significant to me and honouring to You. One day I will be feasting face to face with You, but until then, please receive my obedient worship as I eat the bread and drink the cup.

Respond

Next time you know your church will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper, take some time to read through this passage again and prepare your heart.

Written by John Sweetman