Introduction:
Important events and experiences make a lasting impression on the lives of both the individual and the family. The child’s first day in school, a person’s first day at work, the day of marriage and many other events all contribute to a person’s wellbeing. The most important event in life, however, is being born again. This event, not only determines our eternal destiny, but our way of life as believers. We cannot afford to forget this most important event and to help us remember Christ instituted the sacraments. There are two sacraments, baptism to mark the act of beginning the Christian life and the Lord’s Supper to mark the act of belonging to Christ. The observance of the Lord’s Supper is not a request or a suggestion. The words of Christ “This do in remembrance of me” is a direct command.
Step One: A reminder of the death of Christ
a) Christ’s body was broken for our healing
The Lord’s supper is a reminder of the suffering and death of Christ. We remember how His body was broken that our bodies could be healed and made whole.
b) Christ’s blood shed for the forgiveness of sin
It is a reminder that Christ’s blood was shed for the forgiveness of sin “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. (Rom 6:23)
c) Christ will come again
It is also a reminder of Christ’s promise to come again “For as often as we eat this bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes”. (1Co 11:26)
Illustration:
God created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows that we have to be reminded about the suffering and death of Christ otherwise we would forget. There are many people today who have forgotten about the suffering and death of Christ and have begun to lead lives that do not glorify Him. We need to be reminded lest we forget. The communion, using the elements of bread and wine to signify the Body and Blood of Christ, is a reminder and memorial of Christ’s perfect life and of His suffering and death on the cross. We need to be reminded lest we forget as Pharaoh did when he forgot Joseph and how he saved Egypt. We need to be reminded lest we forget how Christ’s body was broken and how His blood was shed for our healing and forgiveness. If His first disciples, who were first hand witnesses of what took place on the cross needed to observe the Communion what about us? We need to remember because everything we have as Christians is the result of Christ’s suffering and death.
Application:
The Lord’s Supper, the bread and wine, remind us of how Christ, the Son of God, suffered and died on the cross for our healing and forgiveness.
Step Two: A reminder of the grace of God
a) Believers are righteous by faith
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of the grace of God. Partaking of the body and blood of Christ reminds us that by the grace of God we are “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ”. (Rom. 3:22) Christ was made sin with our sinfulness that we might be made righteous with His righteousness.
b) Believers have a new status
Partaking of the Lord’s Supper reminds us of our new status as God’s beloved children. It reminds us of God’s grace that made it possible for the Son of God to became the Son of man that sons of men may become sons of God. It was the grace of God that allowed Jesus to be forsaken and rejected so that we might be accepted as God’s beloved children who can come to Him and call Him Father.
c) Believers live under a New Covenant
Partaking of the Lord’s Supper reminds us that we are partakers of all the provisions of the New Covenant. Unlike the old it does not depend on what we do but on what God has done. It is not of works but of grace. We no longer forgive to be forgiven but we forgive because we have been forgiven. We no longer give to receive but we give because we have been given so much. Our actions are now motivated by Christ living in us.
Illustration:
The Bible has come to us in the form of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Covenant between God and Israel was dedicated with the blood of sacrificed animals. As a result of this covenant God delivered Israel from bondage. On Mount Sinai God gave them the Law as part of the covenant. The covenant bound God to His Word and Israel to the terms of the covenant. The New Testament is a new covenant enacted and sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper while He and His disciples were celebrating the Passover meal. The Passover was a type and shadow of the Lord’s Supper, and also of the Crucifixion and death of Christ. The Passover meal commemorated Israel’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt. The lambs’ blood smeared on the doorposts of their homes was for their redemption as it signified that the coming judgement had already been carried out on the sacrificed lambs. The Israelites also had to eat every part of the roast lamb before they started their journey into freedom for healing and strength and there was not one feeble person among them. The institution of the Communion was to remind them of a greater deliverance, their deliverance from slavery to sin and Satan. As the blood of the lamb saved the Israelites, so the blood of Christ saves us. In the Communion we are partaking of the New Covenant. The wine signifies the blood of Christ shed for our redemption and the bread typifies His body to be eaten for healing and strength.
Application:
The Passover meal strengthened and sustained God’s people during their journey to the Promised Land. Today, the Holy Communion strengthens and sustains believers as they journey through life.
Step Three: It is a reminder to give thanks
a) For the fellowship of believers
The Lord’s Supper is a reminder to rejoice and give thanks for being part of a fellowship of believers. What better place can we find than at the Communion Table where we fellowship with our fellow brothers and sisters in the presence of God.
b) For the unity of believers
At the Holy Communion all believers are united into one body as they partake of the body and blood of Christ. In the early Church a large piece of unleavened bread was passed through the congregation. Each believer broke off a piece for himself. The smaller portion indicating that Christ died for each individual and the larger portion that they all shared a common salvation and made up one body. What better place to give thanks than where we celebrate our unity as one body.
c) For the abundant blessings of God
What better place to give thanks than where we receive God’s abundant blessings. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, before He gave the disciples the bread and wine, He gave thanks to God. We who receive what God has blessed are blessed and our only response can only be thanksgiving for His abundant blessings.
Illustration:
The Lord’s supper reaffirms our unity as one body and our fellowship with one another in a way that no other group can ever experience. We cannot partake of it and hate or speak evil of a brother or sister. Our Lord has said He is present at every communion and we must therefore be careful to make it a meaningful experience. The bread and wine should be consumed with sincere appreciation, thanksgiving and gratitude believing that His body was broken for our healing and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sin.
Application:
The Communion is a family meal and the Lord of the family desires that His children are healthy, thankful, and love and care for one another.
Conclusion:
At the Lord’s Table we celebrate the living Christ in our hearts and lives and share in His divine nature. At the Lord’s Table we enter into an intimate fellowship with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters. At the Lord’s Table we demonstrate our unity and our mutual loyalty and love for Jesus Christ.
Personal Response:
The Holy Communion declares our oneness with Christ and “As Christ is so also are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Let us enjoy God’s abundant blessings as we partake of the Communion so that we can make a difference in the world to the praise and glory of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
