Speaker: Duncan Wyncoll
The purposes behind the Lord's Supper, providing a basis for thought and prayer at the Table.
Introduction 1 Cor 11.23-31
· Understand what it is & why we remember it here in the manner we do
· Words read in preparation for the Lord’s Supper (LS)
· Speaks about the blessings believers can have from it
· Ordinance – ordained by the Lord – ‘Do this in remembrance of me’
Verse 23 – ‘I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you’
· 2 symbolic ceremonies – Baptism & the LS
· Not Sacraments – where ‘blessing is channelled through the Priest’
· Symbolic ceremonies – designed to remind of foundational Truths
· Reflecting on the meaning – is all important; without faith – no meaning
Verse 26 – ‘For as often as ye eat this bread, & drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.’
· Shew – Kat-ang-gel-lo: ‘Declare, preach’ – as would an angel or messenger
· LS is a message/sermon preaching to all – Children, on-lookers, prepared by the Lord to all His people - & we listen on a regular basis
· Shows us many things – graphic reminder of great spiritual activities
· Not a saving ordinance, but ‘In remembrance of me’
· If we have never known the Lord, how can we remember him?
Verse 29 – ‘…not discerning the Lord’s body.’ For those who discern the meaning
Before we look @ the benefits of the LS – consider the 2 sides of the Symbolism
Atmosphere should be a balance of:
1. A Memorial of His work – humiliation & agonies
2. Remembering the Risen Lord – success of atoning death, victory over sin
Solemn reflection combined with great gladness & thanksgiving
What are the benefits & purposes of the LS? (8)
1. Safeguards sound doctrine in the Church
· Command to remember the Lords’ death
Verse 26 – ‘For as often as ye eat this bread, & drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.’
· The doctrine of the Atonement – our theology must never change
· So many take the opposite view – people try to think of ‘better ways’ of understanding God
· LS rebukes that attitude – the gospel age is to be dominated by Christ’s broken body
· Christ as a scapegoat, sin-bearer – this has to be the central doctrine
· LS exhibits & preserves the only true ground of salvation
2. Moves individual believers to Love
· In the symbolism of every believer taking the bread & the wine
· Christ’s work must be personally believed upon – saved as individuals
· Coldness, backsliding ® retain & rekindle humility & indebtedness to the Lord
· How often do we meditate on Calvary? The cost? He knows our needs…
What should we dwell on in the service?
Verse 24 - ‘Take, eat: This is my body…’
· He assumed a Real body – subject to like passions, yet this was the Lord of Glory
· Christ at Calvary – punched & mocked, stripped & scourged, physical pain
· Soul taking the agony of divine judgement – invisible/indescribable – for us!
· Intolerable weight of human sin, & eternal weight of punishment
· ‘We may not know we cannot tell, what pain he had to bear!’
· All our sin was laid upon Him – we should think of our sin, & repent - Drive to commit ourselves again
· Fresh realisation of unfathomable warmth & personal love of Christ to His children
Hymn 661, v 2 – Often sung prior to LS:
He loved me, and gave himself for me; And surely I myself to Him will give;
None, Jesus, will ever love like Thee, And to Thy glory only will I live
What are the benefits & purposes of the LS?
3. Inspires Gratitude & Praise
· It reminds us that we have received the benefits of salvation
· New life, conversion, understanding, new nature, spiritual & moral strength, comfort & consolation, & certainty of everlasting life - Symbolism, says, ‘All these are yours, in Christ’
Verse 23 – ‘The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread.’
· ‘I shall be broken, but that will not be the end of it…’
· LS communicates light & encouragement
· Disciples would’ve had despair by events of subsequent days
Luke 22.19 – ‘& he took bread, & gave thanks, & brake it, & gave unto them…’
Although the bread symbolised His violent execution – He gave thanks!
Thanksgiving, not sorrow was the theme of the 1st Supper – Gladness/Praise
Hymn 664, verses 1 & 2:
Jesus invites His saints, To meet around His board; Here pardoned rebels sit and hold Communion with their Lord.
Blest tokens of His flesh, And of His outpoured blood: Amazing favour! Matchless grace, Of our descending Lord.
4. Symbolises ‘Imputed Righteousness’
Verse 24 - ‘Take, eat: This is my body, which is broken for you…’
· His body was not only broken in the sense that it suffered divine judgement, but that its merits were distributed to His people - His death might atone for sin – but where is the positive righteousness?
· Christ had to also earn our eternal righteousness – His infinite righteousness secured this
· LS means – We shelter under His blood, under His cloak of righteousness
Isaiah 53.10 – ‘When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed.’
5. Privilege & Security
Verse 25 – ‘After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This is the new covenant in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.’
· A covenant/agreement
· Christ is the purchase price of the New Covenant – the highest price ever paid for anything
· Symbolism in the individual guarantee of covenant security
Hebrews 13.20 – ‘Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.’
John 10.28,29 – ‘& I give them eternal life; & they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them, is greater than all; & no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.’
What are the benefits & purposes of the LS?
6. Duty of Holiness
· LS – A place of rededication in personal holiness
Hebrews 10.16,17 – ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, & in their minds will I write them; & their sins & iniquities will I remember no more.’
· The purpose of the new covenant is holiness/righteousness
· Blood of the new covenant gives us new natures & lively consciences
· Are we striving for improvement in character? What is our main concern?
· LS is a time for honest self-examination
Verse 27 – ‘Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, & drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body & blood of the Lord.’
· Unworthily means Irreverently – heedless, selfish & indifferent to others
· We shouldn’t be like the indifferent people who were party to the crucifixion…
· Hence the challenge…
Verse 28 – ‘But let a man examine [try/prove] himself, & so let him eat of that bread, & drink of that cup.’
· LS – is like a regulator of our behaviour
· Warnings follow in verses 29-31
· Insincerity at the LS, might be followed by judgement
7. The Lord as our highest pleasure
· He is our Spiritual food - No greater source of encouragement, consolation, uplift & enjoyment
· His Word, His purposes, His presence & His Kingdom – He is our manna
· Christ & the things of Christ should be our food & drink
Hymn 589, v 1 & 3:
Emptied of earth I long to be, Nothing, save Jesus, would I know;
Of sin, of self, and all but Thee; My friend and my companion Thou!
Wholly reserved for Christ that died, Lord, seize my heart, assert Thy right,
Surrendered to the Crucified: And put all other loves to flight.
· LS is also a picture of a Royal Family gathering – friendship & affection
· Sons & daughters glad to be in the presence of the King, listening to Him
· A time to draw near – with Christ alone at the head of the table – Lords’ Table
8. Leads to Union with one another
· Great family reunion – we are a family of redeemed sons & daughters
· We should be humbled & deepened in love together
· Or do I come as an individual? Am I failing to see the purpose of the LS?
· Table is furnished with guests? Who are they? His chosen companions
· Family gathering, inner circle – a team, a firm, a mission, a faculty
5 helpful thoughts for reflection at the Lords Supper
I. Look back – the Cross, the pain, Gods’ wrath, the debt
II. Look up – majesty & power in Heaven, his attributes
III. Look forward – ‘til he come’, the judgement & heaven, our priorities
IV. Look within – Self examination, humility & repentance
V. Look around – family illus, ‘love one another’, keeping His commands
