I AM Bible Studies and Resources

The Lord's Supper

Introduction

When we celebrate the Lord's Supper (also known as the Eucharist, Communion or Sacrament) what are we celebrating? We are told by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 11:23-26, to eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of Yeshua and that by doing so we are proclaiming His death until He comes.
The purpose of this Bible study is to look more closely at the meanings of 'remembrance' and 'proclaim' in their contextual surroundings and therefore be able to celebrate the Lord's Supper in a way which will better glorify God.

23 For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Yeshua on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
24 When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me."
25 In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the 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, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.
31 For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn't be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait one for another.
34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.
1 Cor. 11:23-34

The Lord's Supper is a celebration of the victory that Yeshua secured for us by His atoning sacrifice - by His death on the cross; the victory - by His resurrection, signifying God's acceptance of His shed blood. We are encouraged to celebrate this victory when we come together as the body of Messiah.

13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15 having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Col. 2:13-15

There is a suggestion from the book of Judges that apparently in biblical times, when an army was victorious over another, resoundly defeating it and capturing it's king, they would have a 'victory meal'. The vanquished king would have his thumbs and big toes cut off and be placed under the table of the conquering king, where he would be displayed for all to see.

4 Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they struck of them in Bezek ten thousand men.
5 They found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.
6 But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.
7 Adoni-bezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.
Shofetim / Judges 1:4-7

His thumbs and big toes were cut off as a symbol of his powerlessness. Without thumbs it is impossible to wield a sword or throw a javelin; without big toes it is impossible to run.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup runs over.
Tehillim / Psalm 23:5

When we celebrate Messiah's victory, we are celebrating in the presence of our enemies knowing that they have been defeated and, as far as believers are concerned, rendered powerless. However a word of warning:
We need to be in a right relationship with God and especially as we partake of the Lord's Supper.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord's cup in a manner unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the 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, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.
1 Cor. 11:27-29

So as we come together to partake of the Lord's Supper, let us remember Yeshua's shed blood and how, through His shed blood we are able to join together with Him in celebrating, in the presence of our defeated enemies, the victory that He has attained for us; and that as we celebrate in the remembrance of His victory, we are proclaiming that victory to the heavenly realms: That His attoning sacrifice - His shed blood has made righteous all those who have come to Him in true repentance and trust.

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