It Starts Small

The Lord’s supper is a visible sign and seal of the gospel. As Christians, we have engaged and celebrated together, the Lord’s Supper to visually proclaim the gospel and feed on Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is somber and celebratory. It is a sobering moment to remind ourselves we are sinners and in need of cleansing, something only the Lamb of God can provide. It’s celebratory because through the Lord’s Supper we taste the sweet joy of salvation.

There are many names for the “Lord’s Supper.” It is known as Communion and Eucharist. Eucharist is the Greek word Eucharisteo. It means to give thanks. Within it are layers of meaning since charis means grace or gifts if grace. Chara means means joy. SO the Lord’s Supper is a meal of giving thanks because Jesus gave thanks.

²⁷ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. Matthew 26:27

²³ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. Mark 14:23

²⁴ and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is^[b] for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

Until recently, The Lord’s Supper was a ritual performed. In all of the places of “worship” I attended (if you can even call it that), it was a just a ritual. Early this past year as I was able to attend services at my kid’s church I made several observations. The first was that it was a very physical act.

The gospel:

Enters our ears (proclamation)
Through our eyes (seeing)
Through our nose (Smelling the bread and wine)
Through our lips (We taste the bitterness and sweetness)
Through our fingers

This is all meaningless unless apart from the reality is signifies. It is a reminder of all God has promised and given to us through Christ.

The bread represents Christ’s body, broken on the cross in our place. I had a realization, a sober realization that morning that as I crunched the bread in my teeth, Jesus’ body was broken for me.

⁵ But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
Isaiah 53:5

the solemn reminder of the breaking of His body came as I chewed on the bread. I instantly was crushed with a heart full of thanksgiving. As I broke that bread in my mouth, Jesus’ body was broken on the cross for me. I realized, in that moment:

I can be made whole in Him only because he was broken for me!

The cup of win is the blood covenant poured out for the forgiveness of my sins.

I drink the cup of joy because Jesus drank the cup of sorrow and judgement.

Today, rather than wine, we use grape juice and it loses the bitterness quality that reminds us of both sorrow and joy of Christ’s grace over us. Because Jesus’ life was given, mine is spared.

²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

We have the blessing of life in Christ as one of God’s children and through it comes the power of the Holy Spirit within us! Apart from Christ, we would have none of this! These things become ours by grace through faith. Eucharisteo, or giving thanks, is a very fitting term for a meal that represents and conveys such a wonderful truth.

This is the true and satisfying Thanksgiving meal that offers joy beyond what turkey and stuff could imagine.

⁶ But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. ⁸ But finding fault with his people, he says:

See, the days are coming, says the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
⁹ not like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
on the day I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,
because they did not continue in my covenant.
¹⁰ For this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹¹ And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,
and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”
because they will all know me,
from the least to the greatest of them.
¹² For I will forgive their wrongdoing,
and I will never again remember their sins.

¹³ By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away. Hebrews 8:6-13

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Part 1: Remembering Landmark Moments
Part 2: The Overflow of Your Heart
Part 3: Saying Grace
Part 4: Blessings or Problems?
Part 5: The Lord’s Supper
Part 6: Remembering and Forgetting
Part 7: Remember God!