What The Bible Says About The Lord's Supper

By: Barry L. Cameron


In 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, the Apostle Paul wrote these words, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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.’  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.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.  Therefore, 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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

We observe the supper the Lord instituted on the night He was betrayed every Lord’s day here at Crossroads.  Jesus didn’t say how often we should do it.  Rather, He said whenever we do it we should do it “in remembrance of Him.”  Some churches have opted out of this observance altogether.  Others minimize its importance or downplay its necessity in their worship gatherings.  

Partaking of the Lord’s Supper is a serious part of our worship every week and central to everything we do.  When we take the bread, it symbolizes His body.  He was crucified for us.  When we take the cup, it symbolizes His blood, which was shed for us.  Isaiah 53:5 reminds us, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities . . .”  When we take communion (the Lord’s Supper), its a reminder of His suffering in order that we might be saved.  His crucifixion made possible our conversion.  His pain, our peace.

Every time we observe the Lord’s Supper its a time for remembrance.  Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” We should remember His death, burial and resurrection.  We should remember His love for us and what He has done for us.
 
Its also a time for reflection and repentance.  Paul said, “A man ought to examine himself.”  This is a time for us to look back on the previous week and confess our sins, asking God for His forgiveness.  1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  Verse 10 goes on to say, “If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.”  

Whenever we observe the Lord’s Supper its a time for us to focus on ourselves, not anyone else.  Since the Bible says all of us have sinned (Romans 3:23) we have more than enough to focus on within ourselves without focusing on anyone or anything else.  The Lord’s Supper also provides us with a time to ask God for strength for the week to come.  We can’t live a holy life, that wholly honors Him, without His help.
 
Each time we come to the time in our service, where we observe the Lord’s Supper, it should be a time of prayerful reflection and spiritual reverence.  We ought to bow our heads in prayer and quiet meditation.  It isn’t a time to visit with our neighbor or check for cell phone messages.  The only movement in the building should be the ushers serving us.  The rest of us should be remembering, reflecting, repenting, praying, thanking God and thinking about what Jesus did for us on Calvary’s Cross and what He means to us.
 
In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”  We focus on His cross and His coming.  Observing the Lord’s Supper reminds us how God has made provision for our past (His Cross) and provision for our future (His Coming).  He also gives us provision for the present.  Because our past has been covered by Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross and our future is secured by the promise of His soon return, we can face the present with hope.
 
The Lord’s Supper ought to be the most meaningful, wonderful part of our worship each week.  Once you’ve partaken in His Supper, the way you ought to, then, you’re ready to worship.  Then, you’re ready to pray.  Then you’re ready to sing.  Then, you’re ready to give.  Then, you’re ready to hear a fresh word from Heaven.
 
Let’s make sure we reverence the Lord’s Supper at Crossroads – every time we observe it – the way Jesus intended.