The LORD's Supper

I Corinthians 11.23-26

This is the most sacred act of worship in the church.

We know that Jesus took the Passover Meal, less than 24 hours before He died, and out of it put forth this sacrament to remember Him and His death by. This rite, now almost 2,000 years old, began with Jesus and the apostles in an upper room in Jerusalem and it is celebrated around the world today by all believers.

Israel had completed the tabernacle. (Exodus 40.1-2) and set it up in the first month, the same month they celebrated the Passover. Now Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples. It has been celebrated for approximately 1,800 years when He eats the Passover with them. The Passover is Israel's birthday as a nation. It is a National Holy Day. But Jesus is not speaking at this meal about the kingdom being restored to Israel (yet). He is speaking of His kingdom which is not of this world. He is pointing to the coming of God's Kingdom and the New Covenant.

Jesus left us with this act of worship to be done often in remembrance of Him. It is good for us to do it and it is also good for us to look closely at the words of our LORD, recorded by Paul, the apostle, in his letter to the Corinthian Church.

1. It speaks of His Body. -v.24
This is My Body
Philippians 2.7 being made in human likeness. As the Christmas Hymn says, "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the Incarnate Deity."

Jesus did show us how to live. He taught us God's Word. Yet the primary purpose of His birth and becoming a man was to die on the cross for our sins.

Philippians 2.8-9 The Word become flesh.

2. He Gave Thanks. -v.24
The bread symbolizing the body of our LORD was in His Hands. He was about to break it.
*He was giving thanks that He was doing the will of God.
*He was giving thanks to set an example for us so that when we do this we are thankful.
*He was thanking the Father for the plan of redemption.
We ought to give thanks when we come to the table.

3. He Broke the Bread. -v.24
He did it.
Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. - Ephesians 5.25
Speaking about His life- No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. John 10.18
This is My Body which is broken for you.
Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.
He laid down His life for you because of His great love for you.

4. He took the Cup. -v.25
The Blood of the New Covenant- His Blood.
His blood was poured out.
We proclaim the LORD's death until He comes.
Luke 22.18 For I tell you I will drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.

5. In Remembrance of Me. vs.25-26
When we take the LORD's Supper it is to be in Remembrance of Him. Can we actually forget what Christ has done for us?! Probably not as a fact of History but very possibly without the gratitude and love we should have for it.
We remember what He did for us.
Salvation- our salvation comes out of this act of Jesus on the cross.

Yet we live in the world- work, business, going about the necessary things, if we are not careful, they can steal our focus away from Christ. The LORD's Supper helps us focus. We hold the bread and wine in our hands- we must set Him apart as LORD in our hearts and be reminded by His Spirit.

This feast is for His disciples. It is to be done in memory of Him and with strong hope in His coming again.

The amount of readership of this blog is very humbling. Each month now over 400 people read the messages here. You are one of them. If you are a believer and this message is your main way of getting the Word I would love for you to continue joining with us. However to really experience the joy of this morning's message you need to be in a fellowship. No church is perfect but we all need to be a part of one. The LORD's Supper was designed by our LORD to be taken in a group of people. Find a church and get into it if you are not presently a part of one. You need it! We all need it! God bless you this day!