WHAT DOES THE LORD’S SUPPER MEAN TO THE CHRISTIAN?

Matthew 26:26-30

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,

"Drink from it, all of you.

28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the

forgiveness of sins.

29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that

day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Exodus 13:3

3 Then Moses said to the people, "Commemorate

this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of

the land of slavery, because the LORD brought

you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing

containing yeast.”

Exodus 12:12

12 "On that same night I will pass through Egypt

and strike down every firstborn--both men and

animals--and I will bring judgment on all the

gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

Jesus’ Sacrificial Death is a judgment against:

• Human self-sufficiency & pride

• The contention that sin isn’t that bad

• Every attempt to approach God on purely human terms. Every man-made religion or philosophy.

• Human selfishness and self-absorption.

• Every instance of grumbling and complaining

• Every apathetic and half-hearted attempt to serve God

Luke 9:23

23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me,

must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me”

The Unleavened Bread
“This is My body..”

• Luke 22:19

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body

given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

Isaiah 53: 5-7

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was

crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us

peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned

to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of

us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his

mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a

sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his

mouth.

1 Peter 3:18

18 “For Christ died for sins once for all, the

righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to

God. He was put to death in the body but made

alive by the Spirit, “

When you ate the bread did you

consider the body of Jesus?

• The Scourging

• “As the flogging continued, the lacerations

would tear into the underlying skeletal

muscles and produce quivering ribbons of

bleeding flesh…The Roman soldiers amused at

this weakened man who had claimed to be a king,

began to mock him by placing a robe on his

shoulders, a crown of thorns on his head…Next,

they spat on Jesus and struck him on the head…

Moreover, when the soldiers tore the robe

from Jesus’ back, they probably reopened

the scouring wounds” (Jama, March 21, 1986 pp. 1457-1458)

When you ate the bread did you

consider the body of Jesus?

• The Scourging

• The Crucifixion

• “ The weight of the body, pulling down on the outstretched arms and shoulders, would tend to fix the intercostal muscles in an inhalation state and thereby hinder passive exhalation…Adequate exhalation required lifting the body by pushing up on the feet and by flexing the elbows and adducting the shoulders. However, this maneuver would place the entire weight of the body on the feet and would produce searing pain. Furthermore, flexion of the elbows would cause rotation of the wrists about the iron nails and cause fiery pain along the damaged median nerves. Lifting of the body would also painfully scrape the scourged back against the rough wooden cross… As a result, each respiratory effort would become agonizing and tiring” (Jama p. 1461).

The Cup
“The new covenant in My blood..”

1 Corinthians 11:25

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."

Micah 6:7

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as

silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of

life handed down to you from your forefathers,

19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish

or defect.

Exodus 12:13

13 “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses

where you are; and when I see the blood, I will

pass over you. No destructive plague will

touch you when I strike Egypt.”

Romans 5:8-9

8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in

this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for

us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood,

how much more shall we be saved from God's

wrath through him! “

Exodus 12:25-27

25 “When you enter the land that the LORD will give

you as he promised, observe this ceremony.

26 And when your children ask you, `What does this

ceremony mean to you?'

27 then tell them, `It is the Passover sacrifice to the

LORD, who passed over the houses of the

Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he

struck down the Egyptians.' " Then the people

bowed down and worshiped.