Our Glorious LORD!

Introduction: (What?)

Today as we partake of the LORD’s Supper, we will consider what the elements represent and how that impacts each of us. Before we partake we will take time to do a self-examination to determine if we should participate. Self examination questions we should ask are:

Have I fully surrendered my life to Christ?

Is there any sin that I have not confessed to God and from which I have not repented?

Is there a relationship with another believer that needs repair?

Am I aware of anyone in the Body of Christ who has something against me?

Examination: (Why?)

This is My Body

Mt 26:26 “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.””

Mark 14:22 “As they were eating, he took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.””

Luke 22:19 “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.””

In each of these passages Jesus “This is My body”. There is disagreement as to what He meant. Catholics believe in something called transubstantiation which means that the bread actually becomes the body of Christ. Most Protestant Denominations believe that the bread REPRESENTS the body of Christ or is a reminder of the Body of Christ.

Often you will hear pastors using the KJV translation which says “This is My body BROKEN for you.” The better translation is “given for you” because we know that not a bone of His body was broken. John 19:36 “For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken.” This comes from the admonition in Exodus and Numbers that no bones of the sacrificial lamb at Passover were to be broken.

Amanda will now lead us in a hymn after which we will partake of the bread which represents the body of Christ.

This is My Blood

Mt 26:27-28 “Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Mark 14:23-24 “Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”

Lk 22:20 “In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Again we find the three synoptic Gospels all using essentially the same terminology. Jesus took the cup of wine, gave thanks and then told them to drink it. OT Covenants were always accompanied by the sprinkling of the blood of a sacrificial animal. The New Covenant Jesus referred to was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-33 ““Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke even though I am their master”—the Lord’s declaration. “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”—the Lord’s declaration. “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Amanda will now lead us in a hymn after which we will partake of the juice representing the blood of Jesus shed for the forgiveness of sin.

Come See My Glory

Lk 9:27-36 “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.” About eight days after this conversation, he took along Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly, two men were talking with him—Moses and Elijah. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep, and when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. As the two men were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, the Chosen One; Listen to Him!””

Many people get hung up on trying to decide whether or not Jesus is referring to His second coming. If that is the case then some of the disciples would remain alive until then. However, we know that all of the disciples died. Jesus was referring to His transfiguration which showed to Peter, James and John the glory of Jesus as He appears in heaven. John saw this same glory later in his heavenly vision in Revelation 1:12-15 “Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters.”

In Rev 1:3 John admonished his readers; “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.”

You and I have access to the vision of our Glorious LORD in the book of Revelation. That is a blessing reserved for those who have surrendered to Christ and who continue to read, memorize and meditate on God’s Word.

Application: (How will I apply this to my life?)

If you have never surrendered your life to Christ, I urge you to pray right now… “Lord, I give you my life.”

If you are not experiencing the joy of the LORD, ask God what is hindering that in your life. When He reveals the hindrance, recognize and confess that as sin, and turn from it to Christ. Nail it down by coming and telling me or one of the deacons.

If God impresses you today that you should become a member of this church, please come and tell me so that we can welcome you to the family.