WHAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHEN WE TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER

WHAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER WHEN WE TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER

INTRODUCTION:

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, WE WILL TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER TOGETHER.

BUT BEFORE WE DO SO, SOME EXPLANATION IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T LOSE SIGHT OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE.

THE TENDENCY SOME PEOPLE HAVE IS TO VIEW THE LORD’S SUPPER AS KIND OF A THROWAWAY SERVICE; A SERVICE THAT THE CHURCH JUST FEELS OBLIGATED TO DO.

BUT THE LORD’S SUPPER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OBSERVANCES THE CHURCH CAN PARTICIPATE IN, BECAUSE IT IS FILLED WITH IMAGERY AND SYMBOLISM THAT STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVER’S FAITH, AND BECAUSE IT INCLUDES A TIME OF REFLECTION THAT SHOULD CAUSE EACH PERSON WHO CLAIMS CHRIST AS SAVIOR TO LOOK AT HIS OR HER OWN WALK WITH THE LORD.

THE LORD’S SUPPER UNITES THE PEOPLE OF GOD WITH THEIR LORD IN FELLOWSHIP, AND IT PROMOTES UNITY IN THE CHURCH BY REMINDING US THAT WE ARE ALL EQUALLY UNABLE TO SECURE OUR OWN SALVATION.

AND WERE IT NOT FOR THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS, NONE OF US WOULD HAVE HOPE BEYOND THIS LIFE.

THE LORD’S SUPPER ALSO UNITES THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

IT IS A MEMORIAL OF JESUS’ DEATH, A PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL, AND AN ANTICIPATION FOR THE COMING KINGDOM OF GOD.

SO LET’S TAKE A FEW MINUTES THIS MORNING TO LOOK AT LUKE’S ACCOUNT OF JESUS INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, AND THINK ABOUT THE THINGS WE REMEMBER AS WE OBSERVE IT.

1. IN , , WE ARE REMINDED THAT HE WENT AWAY, BUT HE IS COMING AGAIN.

a. BROTHER LARAMIE POINTED OUT THIS TRUTH THIS PAST WEEK DURING OUR REVIVAL SERVICES.

b. AND HERE, JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE IS GOING AWAY, AND THAT HE WILL RETURN AGAIN.

c. TWICE IN THIS PART OF THE PASSAGE, HE POINTS OUT THAT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE, AND THAT HE WILL NOT FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS FOLLOWERS IN THIS WAY UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ESTABLISHED.

d. – 14 AND WHEN THE HOUR CAME, HE RECLINED AT TABLE, AND THE APOSTLES WITH HIM. 15 AND HE SAID TO THEM, “I HAVE EARNESTLY DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER. 16 FOR I TELL YOU I WILL NOT EAT IT UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” 17 AND HE TOOK A CUP, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE SAID, “TAKE THIS, AND DIVIDE IT AMONG YOURSELVES. 18 FOR I TELL YOU THAT FROM NOW ON I WILL NOT DRINK OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE UNTIL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COMES.”

e. I WILL NOT EAT IT, OR DRINK IT, UNTIL IT IS FULFILLED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

i. WHAT, EXACTLY, IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

f. TWO THINGS…

i. FIRST, THAT THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TIME THEY SHARE THE PASSOVER MEAL TOGETHER.

1. BECAUSE HE WAS GOING AWAY.

ii. BUT SECOND, THAT THE PASSOVER MEAL WOULD NO LONGER BE VALID, BECAUSE WHAT HE INSTITUTED THAT NIGHT WOULD SUPERCEDE IT.

1. FOR ONE THING, SOON AFTER THIS NIGHT, THE NATIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON THE GOSPEL WOULD BE REMOVED.

2. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, THE CHURCH WOULD LOSE A MEASURE OF ITS JEWISHNESS.

a. SO THE PASSOVER MEAL WOULD NOT CARRY THE SAME SIGNIFICANCE, BECAUSE IN , WE READ OF THE GOSPEL BEING OPENED TO THE GENTILE NATIONS.

3. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOCUS OF THE CELEBRATION WOULD SHIFT.

a. BELIEVERS WOULD NOT JUST CELEBRATE GOD’S GOODNESS TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL, BUT NOW, BECAUSE OF THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS, THEY WOULD CELEBRATE GOD’S GOODNESS TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN, BOY, AND GIRL THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS.

4. SO THE NEXT TIME THAT HE WOULD FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM IN THIS MANNER WOULD BE STILL WITH THEM, BUT IT WOULD BE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH, WHICH WAS TO BE BIRTHED AFTER HIS RESURRECTION.

g. AND SO, AS WE OBSERVE THE LORD’S SUPPER, WE REMEMBER THAT HE WENT AWAY, BUT THAT HE IS COMING AGAIN.

h. BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE THINGS THAT WE REMEMBER, THAT JESUS SPEAKS OF IN THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW.

2. ONE IS…WE REMEMBER THAT AS HIS BODY WAS GIVEN, THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS WAS PLACED UPON HIM.

a. AND HE TOOK BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND GAVE IT TO THEM, SAYING, “THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS GIVEN FOR YOU. DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”

b. SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM EXPUNGE.

c. EXPUNGE – TO OBLITERATE OR REMOVE COMPLETELY.

i. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD IT USED IN REFERENCE TO SOMEONE’S CRIMINAL RECORD.

ii. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD WAY OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS.

iii. THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT WHEN CHRIST HUNG ON THE CROSS, HE DID SO TO TAKE THE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN THAT YOU AND I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO BEAR.

iv. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT CHRIST NEVER BECAME SINFUL, BUT THAT HE SUFFERED THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS.

v. SO WHEN WE SAY THAT CHRIST BECAME SIN FOR US, WE UNDERSTAND THAT HE BORE THE PUNISHMENT FOR OUR SINS, AND THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SATISFY GOD’S RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENT TO ATONE FOR OUR SINS, BECAUSE HE NEVER COMMITTED EVEN ONE SIN.

vi. SO AS WE APPROACH THE LORD’S SUPPER, WE REMEMBER THAT HIS BODY WAS BROKEN, SO THAT MAN COULD BE FORGIVEN.

3. FINALLY, WE REMEMBER THAT AS HIS BLOOD WAS SHED, HE POURED HIMSELF OUT AS OUR REDEEMER.

a. AND LIKEWISE THE CUP AFTER THEY HAD EATEN, SAYING, “THIS CUP THAT IS POURED OUT FOR YOU IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

b. THINGS CHANGED WHEN JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE ON THE CROSS.

i. NO LONGER WOULD THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS BE REQUIRED TO ATONE FOR THE SINS OF MAN.

1. BECAUSE JESUS BECAME THE ONE-FOR-ALL SACRIFICE FOR SIN.

ii. NO LONGER WOULD THE HIGH PRIEST GO ONCE A YEAR TO ATONE FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.

1. BECAUSE JESUS, AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST, PAID THE PENALTY, PROVIDED THE RANSOM, TO REDEEM US FROM THE SLAVERY OF SIN.

c. SO, AS WE APPROACH THE LORD’S TABLE, WE REMEMBER THAT OUR REDEMPTION WAS PURCHASED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS.

CONCLUSION:

WHO CAN TAKE IT?

- ONLY BORN-AGAIN, BAPTIZED BELIEVERS IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

- CHURCH MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT MATTER SO MUCH.

- MEMBERSHIP IN THE FAMILY OF GOD DOES.

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

- I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT IF YOUR CHILD HAS NOT YET MADE A PROFESSION OF FAITH, THEN HE OR SHE SHOULD NOT TAKE THE LORD’S SUPPER.

WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE PROFESSIONS OF FAITH, BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN BAPTIZED BY IMMERSION?

- TO YOU I WOULD SAY THAT ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING THE LORD IN BELIEVER’S BAPTISM IS THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER.

HOW IS IT ADMINISTERED?

- HERE, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS ADMINISTERED BY THE PASTOR AND SERVED BY THE DEACON BODY, WITH HELP FROM OTHER MEN IN THE CHURCH, IF NECESSARY.

WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE THE LORD’S SUPPER?

- INVITATION

- THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT UPON YOUR WALK WITH THE LORD, AND THEN ACT UPON WHAT GOD REVEALS TO YOU.