COMMUNION: THE LORD’S SUPPER
Luke 22:14-20
Introduction:
Leonardo
Da Vinci painted the Last Supper scene on a dining room wall in Milan. As a
visitor stood viewing the finished work, he commented on the realism of several
goblets on the table, exclaiming that they were so real he felt as though he
could reach out and pick them up. Upon hearing those words Da Vinci quickly
grabbed a brush and painted out the goblets. Pointing to Jesus he said, “It’s
His face! His face that I want you to see!”
There is a church in Millan, Italy that
was bombed during WWII. All of the walls of the church fell down during the war
except one. The wall left standing had Leonardo Da Vinci’s "Last
Supper" scene painted on it. What a wonderful illustration of how this
meal that we call the Lord’s Supper has survived throughout the last 2000 years
and will continue to be celebrated until He returns. While Jesus was
still alive, he gave several commands to his disciples to obey out of that list
two commands they were to follow until he returns. They are: Baptism and
Communion. These two ordinances have been kept up by the church over the
centuries.
Last
week we looked at the significance of Baptism. Today we will learn about the
other church ordinance called Communion, its origin and the significance of its
different elements and why we are commanded to partake in the communion on a
regular basis. So, let’s get started.
I
COMMUNION: THE LORD’S SUPPER
What is Communion? The word "communion" is defined as the act of sharing, or holding in common; participation. In the
Greek word "koinonia" means
a partnership, participation, fellowship, communion, communication,
distribution, contribution. The KJV Bible uses the word communion in its translation,
“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" (1 Corinthians 10:16) KJV.
Communion is a fellowship of
believers by which they gather together to remember the sacrifice of the LORD
Jesus Christ. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to the heaven, the early
Church earnestly and eagerly participated in communion fairly on a daily basis
for them it was actually a supper. Frank Voila describes communion this way,
“Contrary to today’s practice, the early church took the Lord’s supper in the
context of a normal meal. When Jesus instituted the Supper, it was taken as
part of the Passover Feast. In fact, the Passover was the forerunner of the
Lord’s Supper.”[1]
With a desire to bring back the
practices of the early New Testament church some emerging churches actually put
up a huge meal and within that context celebrate Communion. But many churches
are in the practice of celebrating communion once a week or month, by partaking
of the bread and wine (grape Juice) like we do here at Hope Church. Either by
eating an elaborate meal or simply taking crackers and a cup of juice we are remembering
the great sacrifice that Christ has made to obtain us salvation. Therefore, the
essence of communion is more important than the method or the format of
communion. So, what is the essence?
II. THE SETTING OF THE FIRST COMMUNION (Vs1-8)
We can learn a number of things by simply observing what was
happening in and round the last Supper that Jesus ate with his disciples. Jesus said to his disciples, Vs 8, “Go
and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” This tell us that it was not a spontaneous meal, but quite a lot
of preparation went into preparing this Passover meal. Similarly, before we
come to take part in the communion we prepare our hearts, and come with
anticipation. Vs 15-16, Jesus said, “I have eagerly desired to eat this
Passover with you before I suffer. Vs 16, For I tell you, I will not eat it
again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.”
This shows how much Jesus was
looking forward to have this Passover meal with his disciples before he was
crucified and also, he will be eagerly awaiting to eat with them and with all
those who would believe in Him through their preaching at the end of the age,
when he comes back to the earth for the second time. What is the significance
of a Passover meal?
For Jewish believers it was a moment
of celebration, Joy and thanksgiving as they ate, they remembered how the angel
of death passed over their homes, keeping them alive. For them, the Passover
meant, freedom from slavery and a glorious entry into the Promised Land. Jesus used the Passover meal as an object
lesson to show them how he was going to die by shedding his blood on the cross
and how his death and resurrection will bring forth the ultimate redemption and
freedom to all those who are bound by sin and Satan.
After enjoying an elaborate spread
of food, when the hour came Jesus reclined at the table and took two elements
from the feast, to convey some important truths and principles, they are: The
Bread and the Cup. Let’s look at what they mean and represent.
III. THE BREAD, (Vs 19)
Vs 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.”
(Use a loaf of bread, as an object lesson) Let’s read these words slowly,” And
he took bread…gave thanks…and broke it…and gave it to them… What a powerful
symbolism do we see here in what Jesus has done. Ann Vosakamp in her book “The Broken
Way, expounds these words, “he gave thanks” in the Greek, “gave
thanks” reads eucharisteo. Which comes
from two root words and they mean, “Grace and Joy”
When Jesus took the bread, he saw it
as grace and gave thanks for the Joy that was set before him. What was the Joy?
It was the redemption of mankind. If we pay close attention, we may hear him
saying to his disciples, “this bread is representing my body.”
How this bread is made by broken and
crushed wheat, similarly my body is going to be crushed and bruised for you on
the cross. But I am glad I can do this for you. In fact, I am eagerly waiting
for this moment to offer up myself. After this meal, I am ready to go to the
cross. In Hebrews 2:12, we read, “fixing our eyes on (Lit: Looking to) Jesus,
the author (Lit: the leader) and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God.”
Jesus went on to say something else,
“Do this in remembrance of me.” In other words, “I offered up my body on the
cross. I don’t want you to forget what I have done, each time when you
celebrate communion eating bread which symbolizes my body I want you to
remember the price I paid through my body to bring forth redemption. And do
this as often as you can.”
IV. THE CUP
Vs 20, “In the same way, after the
supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which is poured out for you.” In my study I learned some new things about the
“Cup” In the Jewish Passover they use not one cup but four, when each cup is
filled it has a different name. The first cup is called, “The cup of
sanctification.” The second is, “The cup of Plagues.” The third is referred to
“The cup of redemption or the cup of blessing.” The fourth is “The cup of
praise.” When Jesus took the cup according to the tradition it was, “The third
cup.” Jesus calls this cup “the new covenant in My
blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). The
Apostle Paul calls it, “the cup of blessing which we bless,” as well as “the
cup of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 10:16,21). Both Jesus and Paul draw on
something from Jewish tradition to provide insights not previously understood.
By calling the cup “the new covenant in my blood,” Jesus makes a direct
reference to the promise of Jeremiah 31. God had declared that He would make a
new covenant because the previous covenant had become “broken” (Jeremiah
31:32).
To violate a covenant agreement with
God would surely incur His wrath and judgment—a terrible cup! But instead, God
promised through Jesus a new covenant of grace and salvation.”[2] These
are the in-depth meanings of the “bread and the cup” in the communion.
With that understanding I invite you
this morning to partake in Communion. Let’s come before him with thanksgiving.
Let’s come repenting of our sins. Let’s partake the bread and the cup knowing
that our sins have been forgiven, and have been set free. In closing,
“Communion is a time of remembrance, celebration and proclamation. In communion
we are coming to a table of thanksgiving, gratefully remembering the
sacrificial death of Christ represented by the bread. We celebrate the new
covenant of peace, blessing and salvation represented by the cup. We are boldly
proclaiming to the world about the death and the resurrection of Christ, and we
will continue to do this joyfully until he returns. Amen!
[1]
Frank Voila, Reimagining Church, Page 74
[2] https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/newsletter-mar-2002/the-mystery-of-the-passover-cup/
