CD - What is the Lord’s Supper? - 1 Corinthians 11:23-24

The Lord’s Supper is what Jesus gives to us from the Passover meal. The Passover meal was that meal which was to be eaten in commemoration of the passing over of the angel of death just before the children of Israel were rescued from their bondage of slavery in Egypt. The Passover meal was to be eaten every year. This meal was to be eaten with everyone, even shared with the stranger who was living or visiting with the householder.

When Jesus gives us His Supper, which He takes from the Passover Seder, you will notice who is with Him. When Jesus gives His Supper He does not invite everyone, even the foreigner or stranger, rather He gives His Supper only to His eleven closest friends, those with whom He shares an intimate fellowship and confession. During the Passover meal Jesus takes the bread, brakes it and gives it to His disciples and says that this is His body. He does not say this symbolizes or is turned into His body, but that this is His body. Likewise with the wine. He takes the (cup of) wine, blesses it and gives it to His disciples saying that this is His blood, not that this symbolizes, nor that it is changed into, but that it is, His blood.

From Jesus’ giving of this supper we understand that it is His Supper and we do it best when we do it the way in which He has given it to be done. In much the same way that we would not go to someone’s home to whom we have been invited to dinner and say, I do not want to do dinner the way you are serving it, I want to do it my way. So, when we come to the Lord’s table we come at His bidding, according to His invitation and according to the way in which He has given it. Meaning, we come to His table with those with whom we share an intimate fellowship and confession.

When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we do this in remembrance. This means that we do this as we participate in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through our remembrance, through our participation Jesus’ death becomes our death and His resurrection becomes our resurrection.

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was given and commanded by God for salvation. The Sacrament of the Altar is given and commanded by God, but is not “necessary” for salvation. This reminds us that there really is no such thing as emergency communion, like emergency Baptism. With that it mind I would suggest that we best make use of this meal by making use in our own congregation, with those people with whom we have pledge a shared confession, and under our pastor who is in charge of our spiritual well being, in this way our pastor can care for us and we will have less or no doubt concerning the confession of the members with whom we are sharing in this fellowship meal.

Dear Father in heaven, forgive me when I forget that this Supper is Your Supper. Forgiven me when I am tempted to abuse and misuse Your Holy Meal. Continually prepare me so that I may come to Your table and be given Your gifts of faith, forgiveness and the confidence of life eternal. Thank You for these Your good gifts. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.