Remember - Proclaim - Examine

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Introduction: In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial to her. The shah placed his wife's casket in the middle of a parcel of land, and construction of the temple literally began around it. But several years into the venture, the Shah's grief for his wife gave way to a passion for the project.

:23-29

One day while he was surveying the sight, he reportedly stumbled over a wooden box, and he had some workers throw it out. It was months before he realized that his wife's casket had been destroyed. The original purpose for the memorial became lost in the details of construction. They built the Taj Mahal, but they forgot the reason for the building.

In a few moments, we will be partaking of Bread and Juice in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded this remembrance to be observed until the day upon which he returns.

Indeed, from the days of the early church, this meal has been partaken of and celebrated by Christians on an ongoing basis. Jesus didn’t want the church to lose sight of the purpose of his death in the details of life together so he instituted this ordinance to remind people of the gospel.

In the passage that we just read today, we see three action words in this passage that remind us of why we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.

Remember (vv. 23-25)

Illus “Most of us try to forget how those we loved died, but Jesus wants us to remember how he died? Why? because everything we have as Christians centers in that death.” - Weirsbe

The elements that we receive when celebrating the Lord’s Supper are common, ordinary items. But, they take on much greater significance and meaning when they are used to remember the Lord’s death on the cross.

Of course we can’t ignore the fact that these items were a part of the Passover celebration which adds to the significance of the meal.

The cup – filled with the fruit of the vine – which has been crushed until the crimson juice flows freely – reminds us of the blood that our Savior shed for the remission of our sins.

Of course we can’t ignore the fact that these items were a part of the Passover celebration which adds to the significance of the meal.

First of all, the Passover was also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread and it reminded Jewish people of being enslaved in Egypt and their hasty exit out of Egypt on the night when the death angel passed over the houses of those who had marked the doorposts of their home with the blood of the passover lamb.

The bread that they ate was unleavened because it did not have time to rise before they had to flee from Egypt. It is also known as the bread of affliction. The host who led the passover seder would take the bread, break it, and part of it called the afikoman was hidden until after the meal. That part would then be found after the meal and it would be shared with the participants.

The broken bread – made from wheat that has been harvested, ground into flour, and baked in the oven – reminds us of the physical suffering of our Savior when he willingly endured the cross.

Then we come to the cup - In the original Passover celebration, there is no mention of a cup, but by the time of Jesus, it had become an official part of the service. In fact Jewish tradition calls for drinking from the cup 4 times. The wine had to be red wine as a reminder of the blood of the passover lamb.

Cup 1 - The Kiddush - Sanctification

Cup 2 - The Cup of Plagues

Cup 3 - The Cup of Redemption (Cup of blessing) Always consumed after the meal.

Cup 4 - Hallel - Praise

Luke 22:20 ESV

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Luke 22:

He said that this cup is the new covenant in my blood. A direct reference to the covenant spoken of by Jeremiah the prophet in . A covenant where God would write his laws on the hearts of his people.

A covenant was always ratified by blood.

The cup – filled with the fruit of the vine – which has been crushed until the crimson juice flows freely – reminds us of the blood that our Savior shed for the remission of our sins.

Both elements are symbolic of the actual body and blood of our Lord. They are pictures of the reality of his physical death.

Isaiah 53:5 ESV

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” ()

His death is the heart of the gospel. It secures our salvation for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.

Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Most of us try to forget how those we love died, but Jesus wants us to remember how he died. Why? Because everything we have as Christians centers around his death.

c. His death is the heart of the gospel. It secures our salvation for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.

Proclaim (v. 26)

Not only do we look back upon his death when we observe the Lord’s supper, Paul reminds us that “as often as you eat the bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

“As often…” reminds us that the Lord’s supper is to be a regular observance among believers. In the early church, it is very likely that they celebrated the Lord’s Supper every time they met on the Lord’s day. Some believe it was more frequent than that - on a daily basis.

“Proclaiming his death until he comes” reminds us that even though the work of salvation was complete at the cross, the total work of Christ will not be completed until he returns to this earth to establish his rule over his earthly kingdom.

When the Jewish people celebrated the Passover, they not only looked back on How God redeemed them from slavery, they looked forward to their future redemption.

We look back upon the Cross where God redeemed us from sin and look forward to his Second Coming where God is going to complete the work of redemption.

Hebrews 9:28 ESV

so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Jesus said that he would not partake of this meal with his followers again until he returned.

Jesus said that he would not partake of this meal with his followers until he returned.

Matthew 26:27–29 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

The second coming of Christ is the Blessed Hope of the church. We look forward to the second coming, but in the meantime, our job is to proclaim his death to the world until he comes.

The Lord’s supper was originally a part of the Passover celebration. Now when the Jews celebrate Passover, the raise the cup and say, “Next year, in Jerusalem!” Maybe we as believers ought to raise our cup and say, “Next time, with Christ!”

The second coming of Christ is the Blessed Hope of the church. We look forward to the second coming, but in the meantime, our job is to proclaim his death to the world until he comes.

Examine (vv. 27-29)

Illus. I know that most every one in the room today is familiar with getting a physical exam from your doctor. He pokes you and prods you, tests you and studies you. Men have their tests that they dread and women have the their tests that they have to endure. (Ya’ll know what I mean.) We aren’t sure what the tests will show or what the doctors will say. Still, we know that we need this evaluation to understand our physical well-being and what is needed as we move forward.

Well we come to the table today for a different kind of examination - a spiritual examination. Here we take time to reflect upon the condition of our hearts.

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian church on the Lord’s supper were given because of the abuses that he knew were taking place during their observance of the ordinance.

Within the church itself, there were divisions among believers that affected their fellowship with one another.

In those days, the Lord’s supper was observed as part of an “Agape” or “love feast.” (Think covered dish all you Baptists) At the end of the meal, they would likely have preaching and teaching, then have the remembrance with the bread and the wine.

However, the love feast had lost it’s meaning because no one was waiting to eat the meal together and some of the well-off folks were not sharing.

Therefore, the poor people were going away from the feast hungry. (Imagine having a covered dish meal and instead of laying things out on a common table, your family had a meal catered just for their table and no one else could eat your food.)

Worse yet, there were people who over indulged in wine and actually got drunk - They would still be drunk when it came time to observe the ordinance of communion.

Paul says, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” In other words, Paul wants them to understand that observing this ordinance is a solemn occasion – it is not to be partaken of lightly and not to be observed with an unexamined, sin-laden heart.

While there were many sins in the Corinthian church that Paul could have focused on, he chose to zero in on the way their were treating one another.

If we are the cause of division, if we look down on other believers for whatever reason, if we are not loving one another as Christ commanded, then we need to confess and repent of those sins before partaking of these elements.

By observing the Lord’s Supper in a sinful state, you are inviting the Lord’s judgment into your life – as had happened to many of the Corinthians. (Read v. 30)

Paul reminded them that he shouldn’t have to tell them that in v. 31. The same is true today…no one should have to confront us about our own sins if we were to honestly judge ourselves.

As you receive these elements and prayerfully consider the price Jesus paid for your sin, it is the best time to consider the condition of your heart and your relationships. Then, with honest understanding of your spiritual well-being, you can turn to Him for the grace you need to move forward in His name.

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