Celebrating the Lord's Supper
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper
Mark 14:12-21
We're in the last section of Mark's Gospel, the last few days before the cross. This section of the Gospel reads almost like a movie script, cutting from one scene to the next, from one conversation to the next, as the drama builds towards its conclusion.
For the next few weeks we will look at different parts of this story to learn some powerful truths about what it means to follow Jesus. We'll look at the story of Jesus praying alone in the Garden of Gethsemane; we'll look at the difference between Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and Peter, who denied him. And today, we'll take a look at the story of the last supper.
One thing common to Christians throughout the world and throughout the ages—in spite of all our differences—is that Christians have always observed what we call the Lord's Supper. Some call it by a different name, and we'll look at that in a minute. Some observe it more frequently than others; some churches have communion every Sunday, others have it once a month, or once a quarter, once a year, and some churches have it daily—but we all observe it, because Jesus told us to. Luke's Gospel reads...
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." (Luke 22:19)
Do this in remembrance of me. In a few minutes we will take communion together; first I want us to take a brief look at the significance of this ceremony, and what it means to us today. First of all, let's look at...
1. The names are significant.
We call this ritual "the Lord's Supper" (it's the term Paul used in 1 Corinthians), but it is also commonly called by the name "Eucharist" and "Communion."
Eucharist. The word Eucharist means "thanksgiving." It's taken from verse 26, which says,
(v. 22) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, and broke it...
The word "gave thanks" is eucharisteo. In calling it the "Eucharist" we are reminded that this is a meal of thanksgiving to God. It is a time when we can say, "Thank you, God, for all you've done for me." There are so many things that we can be thankful for; the most important thing is that he sent his son into the world to die on the cross for our sins, even though we didn't deserve it. Taking the Lord's Supper with an attitude of thanksgiving helps us to remember that our salvation is a gift, not a paycheck. So, as we take the Lord's Supper today, remember to take it with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Communion. The Lord's Supper is also called "Communion" or "Holy Communion." One of the ancient church fathers, Damascene, wrote that we call this ceremony "communion" for two reasons.
One, when we partake of the Lord's Supper, we are entering into a communion with Christ. We don't teach that there is anything mystical or magical about the bread and the wine; they are purely symbolic. But this is what they symbolize: the communion we have with God through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is through his sacrificial death on the cross that the barrier between God and humanity was broken, and now, through Jesus, we have a personal relationship with the living God. This is what the Apostle Paul said...
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)
The Lord's Supper symbolizes the communion we have with Christ. It also symbolizes the communion we have with one another. Partaking of the Lord's Supper reminds us that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. We're all equally in need of God's grace. Those who have been saved and sanctified for 50 years are on the same level as those who have just surrendered to Christ this week. We share a common guilt of sin and a common need for forgiveness. When we partake of the Lord's Supper together, we are communing with one another as brothers and sisters, as equals.
Don't get confused by the different names; they all make sense. Today, as you take the bread and the cup, take it with an attitude of thanksgiving for the mercy that God has shown you. And also, as you take the bread and the cup, let it be a time of communion between you and God, and between you and your fellow believers.
2. The symbolism is significant.
Let's talk about the symbolism of the Lord's Supper. As I said a minute ago, the bread and the wine are symbolic of the sacrificial death of Christ. Mark writes...
23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” [1]
The Bread. When Jesus and his disciples had the last supper together, they were actually celebrating the Passover meal. This is what the Lord's Supper is founded upon, and Jesus incorporated some of the symbols from this Jewish ceremony into the last supper. At one point in the Passover meal, the leader breaks a loaf of unleavened bread and says, "This is the bread of affliction which our fathers ate in the land of Egypt." Jesus gave that symbolism new meaning when he said "this is my body." He wasn't speaking literally; he was speaking symbolically. The bread symbolizes his body that is about to be broken; it symbolizes his life that is about to be taken. He is referring to the crucifixion; he is referring to his death.
In order for us to be saved, it was necessary for the son of God to die. When we partake of the bread, we are reminding ourselves of the sacrificial death of Jesus upon the cross. He died for us, for our sins. Through his death paid the price for our sins, because we could not pay it for ourselves. So when you partake of the bread today, remember to remember what it symbolizes: the fact that Jesus' body was broken for you; he died on the cross for your sin.
The Wine. The wine symbolizes the blood of Christ. In the Old Testament we see again and again that blood is required for reconciliation to God. The book of Hebrews says,
...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22)
Many modern people struggle with this concept, calling it a "slaughterhouse religion." I'm not going to try to defend the Old Testament sacrificial system. I'm just going to say this: Jesus himself said that through the shedding of his blood—in other words, through his death—we are forgiven. The Bible says we are justified through his blood (Romans 5:9); we have redemption through his blood (Ephesians 1:7); we have peace with God through his blood (Colossians 1:20); and that the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:7). As the old hymn says, "There is power in the blood."
This serves to remind us that salvation is not free. It came at a very high price—it cost Jesus his life. Because of this, our relationship with God is not something to take casually. He is serious about our relationship with him—and he was willing to die in order that we might be saved. He was willing to shed his blood in order that our sins might be washed.
And let me tell you the great thing about having our sins washed away. It is not just that we get to go to heaven when we die. It is also that we get to live in this life free from the power of sin. Through his blood, through his death, Jesus broke the power of sin, and you can be free from it. Do you struggle with lustful thoughts? You can be set free, because Jesus paid the price for that freedom with his blood, and there is power in his blood. Do you struggle with controlling your temper? You can be set free, because Jesus paid the price for it. Do you struggle with lying, or gossip, or bitterness, or envy, or anger, or jealousy? You can be set free from all those things, because Jesus paid the price for your freedom with his blood—and there is power in the blood.
Today, when you partake of the cup, take a moment to say to God, "Thank you for shedding your blood for me—the blood that gives me strength from day to day, the blood that will never lose its power, the blood that removes the penalty and the power and the presence of sin from my life. Thank you God for setting me free."
Some of you may say, "I can't say those words because I'm not free—sin has a hold of me and it won't let go." Today, you can be set free. Not by your own power, but by the power of the blood of Jesus. It will wash away your guilt, and it will break the stronghold that sin has on your life. When you partake of the cup this morning, surrender all that you have to him and say, "God, I want the power of the shed blood of Jesus to be at work in my life. Forgive me, and give me the strength to live a holy life."
This piece of bread and this cup of juice symbolizes a supernatural power greater than we have the capacity to understand. The body and blood of Jesus, broken for you, shed for you, so that you may live a victorious life. Receive it.
3. The purpose is significant.
Now, let's talk about the purpose of the ritual we call the Lord's Supper. Why do we do this? There are two key reasons.
Look Backward. One reason for the Lord's Supper is for us to take a look backward. We do this to celebrate his redemption, as I have been discussing. We celebrate with thanksgiving, we celebrate the communion we have with him, we celebrate the forgiveness and power that is available to us through his death.
Look Forward. Another purpose for the Lord's Supper is for us to take a look forward. We anticipate his return to earth to establish his kingdom. Jesus said,
(v. 25) I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.
Jesus reminds his disciples that this world is not all there is; someday he will return and establish his kingdom and we will live throughout eternity in his presence. When we celebrate the Lord's Supper, we not only look back to his sacrificial death on the cross, we look forward to the establishment of his heavenly kingdom. Today, as you partake of the bread and the cup, look back at what God had done for you, and look forward to what God has planned for you.
CONCLUSION
As a final note, Paul warns against taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:27). I've known some people who felt so guilty about the sin in their life that they refused to take communion—because they were so unworthy. Of course we're unworthy. We're all unworthy. If you think you're good enough to take communion, you've got a problem.
Taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner refers to going through the motions without giving serious thought about what this event means. But if you're serious about it, as we prepare to take communion, you will turn your heart to Jesus and ask him to cleanse you of your sin and remove anything that stands between you and God. Ask him to purify your heart. If you feel guilty about something you have done, then ask his forgiveness, and then come to the Lord's table. Remember why it is called the Eucharist, because we come with thanksgiving. Remember why it is called Holy Communion, because it symbolizes the communion we have with God our father. Remember why we use bread and wine, because they symbolize the broken body and shed blood of Christ that paid for our forgiveness and freedom from sin. And remember not only to look back at what God has done for you, but also look ahead to what God has planned for you. Amen.
Additional overview that may complete the introduction
Here are the events that take place. After the woman anoints the head and feet of Jesus with the costly perfume, Judas agrees to betray Jesus. Jesus and his disciples meet together for the Passover meal, and Jesus tells the disciple that he will be betrayed. They share communion together, and Jesus tells them that they will abandon him, and that one, Peter, will deny knowing him. He also tells them that he will rise from the dead. Then he goes alone to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, and he is arrested by the authorities. He is put on trial, found guilty (falsely) of blasphemy, and then beaten, spat upon, and imprisoned. Later that night, Peter denies being one of his disciples.
The next morning, the council of religious leaders condemns him to death and hands him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Judas, the one who betrayed him, is overcome with grief and commits suicide. Jesus is taken before Pilate, and in response to the accusations made against him, he says nothing.
Since it is Passover, Pilate follows the custom of allowing one condemned prisoner to be set free. He lets the crowd choose, and they vote for a murderer named Barabbas. Pilate asks them, "What shall I do with Jesus?" and the crowd responds, "Crucify him!" So he released Barabbas, and Jesus was beaten and handed over to be crucified.
The Roman soldiers beat him and mocked him, and then he was taken outside the city to be put to death.
He was placed upon a cross, and as the crowd hurled insults at him, his followers were nowhere to be found— except some women who watched from a distance. As Jesus neared his death, the sky suddenly grew dark and he cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Moments later he cried out again, and then he died.
He was placed in a tomb, the borrowed tomb of a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea. The tomb was sealed with a giant stone, and guards were placed in front of it.
On the following Sunday, the third day after his crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to the tomb. The ground began to shake and the women saw an angel sitting at the tomb. The angel said, "Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus, but he isn't here. He has risen from the dead. Go tell his disciples."
Matthew concludes his story by saying that the risen Jesus met with his disciples, face-to-face, and some his last words to them were: "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go make disciples of all nations. And remember that I am with you always."
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[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mk 14:23-25