Broken For You

1 Corinthians 11:23–26

“This is my Body, Broken for you.” 

These words stand at the heart of the Lord’s Table.  

Sadly, one of the greatest promises of Christ has become a point of division among his followers; how to understand the real presence - is this bread really his body?

Catholic - transubstantiation; Lutheran - consubstantiation; Baptistic - memorial; Reformed - Spiritual

In these words we hear the echo of Calvary, the mystery of the dying Son of God, and an intimate call to faith. Tonight, as we reflect on this passage, I want us see how the Lord’s Supper shows:

Christ's voluntary sacrifice for our salvation

The personal nature of His sacrifice

Τhe covenant God has made with us in Christ

And our calling to make the message known

The Voluntary Sacrifice: “This is My Body... Broken”

After giving thanks, Jesus took bread, and broke it…

The breaking of the bread is not merely symbolic; it points us to the God redeems his people. 

What the bread symbolized in the passover

Unleavened - not touched by yeast/sin

Flat bread - baked in a hurry - broken and shared at the table by the family of God

A reminder of the means by which God redeemed his people from slavery

Jesus is the bread of life (John 6) - the manna in the wilderness, the true food that satisfies

What does it mean that his body is broken?

His gives himself to us, that we might feed on him spiritually.  John 6:53–56, Jesus said “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you… Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

At the table we are reminded how Jesus redeemed us from sin and death, and we share in Him as God’s family

1 Cor 10:16–17  The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

Though not a bone was broken (fulfilling prophecy, John 19:36), His body was indeed broken in the sense of being torn, crushed, and poured out unto death for our sin.

Isa 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities…” 

This sacrifice was voluntary.

Not cosmic child abuse - The Father putting his Son to death for some great ritualistic sacrifice - as if God the Son were an unwilling participant.

Covenant of Redemption: the Triune God did willingly work together for the redemption of his elect. From all eternity God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit covenanted to share their eternal love and fellowship with their creatures. 

God the Father covenanted to create a people, whom He knew would sin; to choose His people and give them to Christ, whom He would “crush” on the cross according to His eternal will. 

The Son covenanted to accomplish their redemption: “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.”

The Holy Spirit covenanted to apply the work of the Son to those the Father chose, “until we acquire possession of it.”

Jesus was not broken by chance or by human will. He laid down His life willingly.

John 10:18 "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

Application: Paul calls those who would partake in the table to “discern the body…” As you come to the table, let the broken bread teach and remind you that grace is not cheap. It cost the Son of God His life, it cost the Father His beloved Son.

The Personal Nature: “Broken for You”

Jesus took upon Himself the punishment we deserved.

Penal substitution:

A penalty was set. God’s law has been broken and sin has been committed against him. God is the one who prescribes the penalty and exacts it. The penalty God laid down for sin is death, exclusion from fellowship with him for ever.

Substitution of course means someone else took this penalty in our place. 

Galatians 2:20 “...the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Christ himself willingly submitted to the just penalty which we deserved, receiving it on our behalf and in our place so that we will not have to bear it ourselves.

1 Pe 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

These words weren’t just for those in the upper room, they are personal. Christ was broken for you. For His people. For all who are united to Him by faith.

Christ died not merely to make salvation possible, but to actually secure it for His elect. His death accomplished redemption. He did not just open a door, He brought His sheep through it.

When Jesus says, “for you,” He means it. He died for your sins. He bore your shame. He paid your debt.

When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within, Upward I look and see him there, Who made an end of all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, My sinful soul is counted free, For God the just is satisfied To look on him and pardon me

Application: Finding your name at the table - a place is set for you

Ps 23: He sets a table before me in the presence of my enemies

Come to the Table not as a spectator, but as one who is deeply loved and personally redeemed.

The Covenant Meal: “This Cup is the New Covenant in My Blood”

The cup after the meal - the cup of redemption, served with the bread: As the blood on the doorpost marked those who were passed over in the midst of God’s judgment, the blood of redeemed, purchased by the blood of the lamb, by the shedding of his blood, our sins are forgiven.

The New Covenant

The Old Covenant

Between God and the nation of Israel, mediated through Moses

Accompanied with laws, sacrifices, and grand ceremonies

Was a gracious covenant (God’s grace called, delivered, and provided), but the means of entering the covenant was through obedience to God’s commands.

The New Covenant

Between God and His elect from every tribe and tongue, mediated through Jesus Christ

Accompanied by sacraments, teachings, and simplicity

Is a gracious covenant entered through faith, resting in and receiving Christ as he is presented in the gospel.

Jeremiah 31:33 “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

The Lord's Supper is not just a remembrance; it is a sign and seal of the new covenant in Christ’s blood, in which God promises forgiveness and eternal fellowship.

The sacrament is a means of grace. The bread and cup are not empty symbols—by the power of the Holy Spirit, they truly nourish our faith as we receive Christ spiritually.

The Ongoing Message: You Proclaim the Lord’s Death Until He Comes

Every time we take the bread and the cup, we preach the gospel. We declare that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

The Lord’s Supper is both backward-looking and forward-looking. It anchors us in the past event of the cross and lifts our eyes to the future glory of Christ’s return. It is a meal of memory, communion, and hope.

Titus 2:13: “...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Application: Participate with joyful anticipation. The Savior who was broken for you will one day return to restore all things.

Conclusion:

“Broken for you.” Simple words with eternal meaning. The body of Christ, given in love, securing a new covenant, calling sinners to remember, believe, and proclaim.

Come to the Table in reverence, trusting that Christ meets us here to strengthen our faith. Come to the Table with a heart of faith, a spirit of humility, and a hope that looks for the day when we will eat and drink anew with Him in glory.