The Lord's Supper

The Institution

Most the material that that I have read suggest that the Lord’s supper was instituted about AD 30 which i agree with. it was the same year that Jesus was crucified fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel 9:27. What happened? well the disciples prepared for the Passover according to Matt. 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13. Jesus washes His Disciples’ feet John 13:1-12. Jesus celebrates Passover with His disciples Matt.26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-21; John 13:31-35. Finally at the institution of the Lord’s supper Jesus predicted Peter’s denial.

The Reason

Well according to the Apostle Paul in the book of Hebrews Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

it was set up to teach us humility, it was set up to be a source of encouragement for often times the Christian is beat down, desperate and sometimes discouraged.

According to Ellen White, “A Reminder of Christ’s Second Coming

As they were gathered about the table, He said in tones of touching sadness, "With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come." Luke 22:15-18. {CCh 301.3}

But the Communion service was not to be a season of sorrowing. This was not its purpose. As the Lord's disciples gather about His table, they are not to remember and lament their shortcomings. They are not to dwell upon their past religious experience, whether that experience has been elevating or depressing. They are not to recall the differences between them and their brethren. The preparatory service has embraced all this. The self-examination, the confession of sin, the reconciling of differences, has all been done. {CCh 301.4}

Now they come to meet with Christ. They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross, but in its saving light. They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. With hearts cleansed by Christ's most precious blood, in full consciousness of His presence, although unseen, they are to hear His words, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." John 14:27. {CCh 301.5}

As we receive the bread and wine symbolizing Christ's broken body and spilled blood, we in imagination join in the scene of Communion in the upper chamber. We seem to be passing through the garden consecrated by the agony of Him who bore the sins of the world. We witness the struggle by which our reconciliation with God was obtained. Christ

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is set forth crucified among us.”

The Reaction

The disciples were in utter shock to see their Lord and master stoop down to wash their dirty feed. they were shocked to hear their Lord and master say that one among them would betray Him. Peter was offended when Jesus told him that he would deny thrice, and to top it off the disciples were still arguing over who would be chief among them. the disciples were sad that Jesus told them that this was the last Passover, they were sad that Jesus told them that He was going away; but this was not the right reaction if they only knew that Jesus was a better paschal Lamb and that all the other lambs where only shadows that pointed to Him. If only they knew that HE Needed to go away so that the Holy Spirit could come who would teach them all things that Jesus was trying to teach them and give them power. if only they knew that Jesus was going to the Father to plead on their behalf and make atonement for their sins. If only they knew that Jesus was going to set up a better Kingdom not made by man’s hands but made by God Himself. If only they Knew that God was going to come back and renew this world and make it a better place, they wouldn’t have been Shocked; they wouldn’t have been Sad; they would not have been selfish and self-serving. if they only Knew what this newly instituted communion was all about, they would have been satisfied, and grateful, and praising God for His Goodness, Love and Mercy.

Looking upon the crucified Redeemer, we more fully comprehend the magnitude and meaning of the sacrifice made by the Majesty of heaven. The plan of salvation is glorified before us, and the thought of Calvary awakens living and sacred emotions in our hearts. Praise to God and the Lamb will be in our hearts and on our lips; for pride and self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary. {CCh 302.1}

As faith contemplates our Lord's great sacrifice, the soul assimilates the spiritual life of Christ. That soul will receive spiritual strength from every Communion. The service forms a living connection by which the believer is bound up with Christ, and thus bound up with the Father. In a special sense it forms a connection between dependent human beings and God. {CCh 302.2}

The Communion service points to Christ's second coming. It was designed to keep this hope vivid in the minds of the disciples. Whenever they met together to commemorate His death, they recounted how "He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." In their tribulation they found comfort in the hope of their Lord's return. Unspeakably precious to them was the thought, "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come." 1 Corinthians 11:26. {CCh 302.3}

These are the things we are never to forget. The love of Jesus, with its constraining power, is to be kept fresh in our memory. Christ has instituted this service that it may speak to our senses of the love of God that has been expressed in our behalf. There can be no union between our souls and God except through Christ. The union and love between brother and brother must be cemented and rendered eternal by the love of Jesus. And nothing less than the death of Christ could make His love efficacious for us. It is only because of His death that we can look with joy to His second coming. His sacrifice is the center of our hope. Upon this we must fix our faith. 546 {CCh 302.4}