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BCT 13 - The Lord's Supper

The occasion was the night of His betrayal and the eve of His death. It was a deeply moving scene as Jesus Christ gathered with His disciples for what has come to be known as The Last Supper. Millions from every part of the world instantly recognize the scene when it appears in Christian art. The early believers marked it upon the walls of the Roman catacombs as it was etched into their memory. It was on the night of the Jewish Passover that the Lord Jesus introduced something entirely new. He took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to His disciples saying, "Take, eat; this is My body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28). Two other gospel writers join in the same account (Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20).

[Mat 26:26-28 NKJV] 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

[Mar 14:22-25 NKJV] 22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave [it] to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

[Luk 22:14-20 NKJV] 14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "With [fervent] desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide [it] among yourselves; 18 "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke [it], and gave [it] to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 Likewise He also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup [is] the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Names of the Supper

It is called the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20) since He has convened it and He is the principal guest of honor. “The Lord’s table” (1 Corinthians 10:21) has a wider meaning and includes all of His provision for His people, not simply the Supper. The feast is called the Communion (1 Corinthians 10:16) because there is a common sharing or fellowship with Christ and one another as we partake. It is called the Breaking of Bread (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 10:16) because it reflects the simple manner of an ordinary meal in which the phrase would normally be used. Many speak of remembering the Lord because of His command which was expressed in this way. There are others who have used the expression eucharist, meaning “thanksgiving,” since He gave thanks for the elements (Matthew 26:26), but it is not called this in Scripture.

[1Co 11:20 NKJV] 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper.

[1Co 10:21 NKJV] 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons.

[1Co 10:16 NKJV] 16 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?

[Act 2:42 NKJV] 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

[Act 20:7 NKJV] 7 Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

[Mat 26:26 NKJV] 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."

Certain churches apply the word “sacrament” to the supper. This came from the Roman soldier’s oath of allegiance upon joining the army (sacramentum). Later understanding of this word has drifted considerably from this idea. There are churches which consider a sacrament to mean a rite by which God confers His grace (“a means of grace”) and that it has supernatural properties which do something for the participant. It is believed by some to be linked with the forgiveness of sins. However, there is no such teaching as this in the Bible. Those who emphasize the sacramental idea are in contrast with those who see the feast as a commemoration or memorial in which the symbols reflect (rather than confer) spiritual realities. It is well to recall that the Jewish animal sacrifices never removed sins but were an anticipation of the blood of the Lord Jesus shed on the cross. His blood alone could remove sins (Hebrews 9:12-14).

[Heb 9:12-14 NKJV] 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Historical Background Of The Supper

The Lord’s Supper was instituted on the night of the Jewish Passover. God’s hand had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt 1500 years before. At His command they slew a spotless lamb and applied the blood to their doorposts as a protection from judgment about to fall upon the whole land (Exodus 12). Each detail of the feast, ordained for their perpetual observance, had profound significance. It pointed to the great sacrifice which would truly protect from God’s judgment by taking away the sins of the world. God was preparing His own Lamb long before (Genesis 22:8; Isaiah 53:7). Jesus was hailed by John the Baptist as “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). One of His glorious titles is The Lamb (Revelation 5:6, 12). He was the fulfillment of the Passover feast. “Christ our Passover, is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The older feast was only a shadow of the greater fulfillment to come (Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 10:1).

[Gen 22:8 NKJV] 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.

[Isa 53:7 NKJV] 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

[Rev 5:6, 12 NKJV] 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ... 12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

[1Co 5:7 NKJV] 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

[Col 2:17 NKJV] 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

[Heb 10:1 NKJV] 1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Every godly Jew faithfully kept the Passover (Matthew 26:17). It was a remembrance of his redemption. On the night of this sacred observance, Jesus introduced the memorial observance of bread and wine. Thereafter it was to remind believers of His body given and His blood shed for their salvation. It was to become to Christians what the Passover was to the Jews, and would be no less sacred. It replaced the Passover in the eyes of God. Israel had many ceremonies, but the Christian church was given only one collective observance.

[Mat 26:17 NKJV] 17 Now on the first [day of the Feast] of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

The Lord Jesus directly communicated to the Apostle Paul the importance of that which was delivered unto believers for their observance. Jesus said, “This do … in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). The Lord’s Supper became a regular part of their worship (Acts 2:42, 46). The early church kept the observance once a week as the center of their gatherings (Acts 20:7). It was celebrated on the day of Resurrection. The so-called early church “fathers” or leaders noted that it was celebrated every Lord’s Day or Sunday (Justin Martyr and the Didache or Teaching of the Twelve).

[1Co 11:23-25 NKJV] 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of Me."

[Act 2:42, 46 NKJV] 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

[Act 20:7 NKJV] 7 Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Celebration Of The Supper

1. Who May Participate? Certainly if the Passover was only for Jews (Exodus 12:43), the Lord’s Supper is only for Christians. It was for “His own” that the Lord first instituted the feast. It was the disciples who began to break bread in memory of Him after He was risen. Moreover, the supper is for prepared Christians. Some believers were careless about their spiritual condition when participating and were warned of God’s judgment (1 Corinthians 11:18-31). The believers were to exclude those who continue in unjudged evil (1 Corinthians 5:12-13) as well as those holding doctrines which undermine either the gospel or the person of Christ (2 John 9-10; Galatians 5:12-13). Stated affirmatively, all who confess Christ as Lord and Savior and who have a walk consistent with that faith should be welcomed to the Supper.

[Exo 12:43 NKJV] 43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This [is] the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it.

[1Co 11:18-31 NKJV] 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of [others]; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise [you]. 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks [this] cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

[1Co 5:12-13 NKJV] 12 For what [have] I [to do] with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

[2Jo 1:9-10 NKJV] 9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;

[Gal 5:12-13 NKJV] 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not [use] liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

2. What Is The Procedure? We have the example of the Lord in His establishment of this remembrance as our principal guide. It seems to have been characterized by simplicity rather than elaborate ceremony. He did not specify any fixed rules or procedure. The upper room was not an ornate house of worship with railed-off communion table. He alone presided. The elements were simply bread and a cup, two very common elements of the table. No special kind of bread is mandatory, although it is probable that unleavened bread was used at that time. The stress is laid upon our being personally clean (unleavened) when we observe the feast, rather than on the kind of bread used (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). The cup contained “the fruit of the vine” (Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). To what extent this extract was fermented or was mixed with water is also debated endlessly. Scripture is not specific. The important thing is that we see that the loaf and the cup typify the body and blood of the Lord Jesus. We are to be occupied with Him, not the nature of the material symbols. Each of the disciples took some of the loaf and shared the cup. The section in 1 Corinthians 14:26-34 seems to be an extension of the discussion in 1 Corinthians 11 as to the type of meeting attended by the believers when there was breaking of bread. Participation by several of the brethren is indicated. The need for order, rather than confusion, is stressed. A fellowship meal was often associated with the observance.

[1Co 5:6-8 NKJV] 6 Your glorying [is] not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth.

[Mar 14:25 NKJV] 25 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

[Mat 26:29 NKJV] 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

[1Co 14:26-34 NKJV] 26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, [let there be] two or at the most three, [each] in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if [anything] is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not [the author] of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but [they are] to be submissive, as the law also says.

3. How Do We Discern The Lord’s Body (1 Corinthians11:29)? Certainly we should know the significance of the elements as they testify to the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross when He put away our sins by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:26). We should have examined our own lives in self-judgment (1 Corinthians 11:28-32). Some have erroneously related to the Supper the words which Jesus spoke about eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:53). However, the last statement is not on the subject of the Supper but refers to the believer’s spiritual appropriation of Christ in the full sufficiency of His saving work. The statement “This is My body” is similar to His
words “I am the Door.” Both use figurative language and are among many such statements. Incorrect religious teaching, suggesting miraculous transformations as occurring in connection with the elements, is examined below:

[1Co 11:29 NKJV] 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

[Heb 9:26 NKJV] 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

[1Co 11:28-32 NKJV] 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

[Jhn 6:53 NKJV] 53 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

a. Transubstantiation. This view holds that the elements are converted into the very “body, soul and divinity of Christ.” This “real presence of Christ” means that partakers are eating His literal body. This teaches that the sacrifice of Calvary is repeated with each observance and is offered for the sins of the living and the dead. Hebrews10:10-18 denies this idea by stressing that there is only one, unrepeated sacrifice for sins, never to be offered again. The sacrifice is finished and complete.

[Heb 10:10-18 NKJV] 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all]. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 "This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," 17 [then He adds], "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 18 Now where there is remission of these, [there is] no longer an offering for sin.

b. Consubstantiation. This means that the bread and wine are unchanged, but in a way which cannot be fully explained, the material substance of Christ’s body is present and communicated to those who partake. No Scripture teaches this.

c. Impanation. This view teaches that the partaker receives Christ in the Supper because "Christ transfuses His life in us, just as if He penetrates our bones and marrow" when we take the communion (Calvin). This also has no Scriptural base.

4. What Do We Accomplish By Breaking Bread? If we did nothing else we would comply with the Lord’s dying request and show that we love Him by so doing. This is a far cry from being legalistic. We would also conform to apostolic practice. Together, as believers, we remember Him in accordance with the manner of His choosing, not ours. We rejoice in the fact that He has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel and we have been included. We share personally and individually as members of the believing community, as we partake of the elements. Our unity is expressed in the one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17). The cup speaks of communion or common sharing (1 Corinthians 10:16). We are one with Him, as He is with us, in all that He has accomplished. We share His attitudes as to sin and righteousness. As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death (1 Corinthians 11:26). The feast is a salvation message. The duration is described as “until He come.” Each remembrance has the possibility of being the last one before His return.

[1Co 10:16-17 NKJV] 16 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, [though] many, are one bread [and] one body; for we all partake of that one bread.

[1Co 11:26 NKJV] 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

Preparation For The Supper

Preparation for the Passover in the Old Testament involved many things. There was no careless participation. We should be no less prepared.

1. Examination. True preparation for the Lord’s Supper begins with self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28-32). This is to prepare, not preclude, the participant. One should first examine his own relationship with the Lord and confess any known sin. Then he should look at his relationship with others (especially other Christians). An attempt should be made to settle problems with other believers before partaking of the feast (Matthew 5:23-24). The Scriptures warn against neglect in the area of self-judgment lest God’s judgment come. In the church of Corinth, physical illness and death resulted from being careless in this area.

[Mat 5:23-24 NKJV] 23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

2. Meditation. If we have been entertaining ourselves recreationally and conversing on subjects not directly related to the Lord before coming to the feast, our preparation has failed. Reading the Word of God, singing spiritual songs and sharing with believers or family about the Lord Jesus are ways of spending time in preparation for remembering Him. Certainly we can only bring to Him that which has been prepared ahead of time. David said, “Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). Celebrations of the Lord’s Supper will be freed from deadening sameness when we have prepared ourselves beforehand.

Conclusion

Worship is the supreme responsibility and privilege of the believer (John 4:23; Luke 10:41-42). We offer spiritual sacrifices as priests (1 Peter 2:5). Regularly remembering the Lord as He commanded should take precedence over recreational activities, family gatherings and other obligations. As a vital part of the believer’s priesthood, we have opportunity, during communion, to offer the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips to God (Hebrews 13:15). We present material offerings to God as an act of worship (Philippians 4:17-18). Finally, we should offer afresh our bodies as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2 RSV).

[Jhn 4:23 NKJV] 23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

[Luk 10:41-42 NKJV] 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

[1Pe 2:5 NKJV] 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

[Heb 13:15 NKJV] 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.

[Phl 4:17-18 NKJV] 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things [sent] from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

[Rom 12:1-2 NKJV] 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Jesus said, “Remember Me!”

The Lord’s Supper

1. Review the account of the first Passover observance (Exodus 12:1-14). What was the purpose of the observance (vv. 1-14)?

What part did the lamb have in the observance?

[Exo 12:1-14 NKJV] 1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "This month [shall be] your beginning of months; it [shall be] the first month of the year to you. 3 "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of [his] father, a lamb for a household. 4 'And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take [it] according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take [it] from the sheep or from the goats. 6 'Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 'And they shall take [some] of the blood and put [it] on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 'Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it. 9 'Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. 10 'You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11 'And thus you shall eat it: [with] a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It [is] the LORD's Passover. 12 'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the LORD. 13 'Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you [are]. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy [you] when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 'So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.

2. How did Christ use the last Passover (Luke 22:7-18) to introduce the first Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19-20)?

What new significance did the Lord Jesus attach to the bread and the cup?

[Luk 22:7-18 NKJV] 7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat." 9 So they said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" 10 And He said to them, "Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 "Then you shall say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?" ' 12 "Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready." 13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, "With [fervent] desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide [it] among yourselves; 18 "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

[Luk 22:19-20 NKJV] 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke [it], and gave [it] to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 20 Likewise He also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup [is] the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

3. In view of the above, and considering Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29 and Revelation 5:8-9, what does the expression “Christ our Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7) mean?

[Isa 53:7 NKJV] 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

[Jhn 1:29 NKJV] 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

[Rev 5:8-9 NKJV] 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

[1Co 5:7 NKJV] 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

4. The Apostle Paul further explains the purpose and meaning of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Where did the apostle get this teaching?

What do we proclaim by partaking in His Supper? Explain.

How long should we continue to remember Him in this way? Until He comes for us.

[1Co 11:23-26 NKJV] 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 25 In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it], in remembrance of Me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

5. What additional aspects of the elements does Paul emphasize in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17?

6. How did the early church respond to the Lord’s command to remember Him (Acts 2:42; 20:7)?

[Act 2:42 NKJV] 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

[Act 20:7 NKJV] 7 Now on the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

7. In what different ways can we offer “sacrifices” in worship to God (Hebrews 13:15; Philippians 4:17-18; Romans 12:1-2)?

[Heb 13:15 NKJV] 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name.

8. What is a Christian’s responsibility before participating in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)?

[1Co 11:27-32 NKJV] 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks [this] cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

What do this passage and 1 Corinthians 5 indicate about the seriousness of partaking of the Supper with unjudged sin?

[1Co 5:1-13 NKJV] 1 It is actually reported [that there is] sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying [is] not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet [I] certainly [did] not [mean] with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what [have] I [to do] with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person."

9. What spiritual preparation do you normally make prior to taking the Lord’s Supper? What will you do to make your worship more meaningful in the future?

10. In the context of your total church experience (Acts 2:42) what commitment do you have to the “breaking of bread”?

[Act 2:42 NKJV] 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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