The Lord's Supper

Luke 22:7–30 CSB

7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.” 13 So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 21 But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. 22 For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it. 24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest. 25 But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who have authority over them have themselves called ‘Benefactors.’ 26 It is not to be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever is greatest among you should become like the youngest, and whoever leads, like the one serving. 27 For who is greater, the one at the table or the one serving? Isn’t it the one at the table? But I am among you as the one who serves. 28 You are those who stood by me in my trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as my Father bestowed one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

It is true that there is a real danger in familiarity

When we become too familiar with things beautiful things stop being beautiful and ugly things stop being ugly. For example, marriage is a beautiful thing. It always starts out with this ferocious and consuming passion for another person…but familiarity creeps in. And if we aren't careful to tend to our relationship, it will destroy love. In the same way, it makes ugly things less ugly. When we become too familiar with sin we just stop noticing it in our lives. We become chalets and bloated…our hearts become hardened.

And in the same way, familiarity with the things of God can breed the same thing.

There is a real blessing and a real danger in growing up in church your whole life.

The blessing is that you can develop habits that can ignite your soul on fire for the things of the Lord. But the danger is that we become so familiar with the things of God that they lose their power over us. Things like the Bible being read, prayers being offered up to the Lord, corporate worship, all of these things are amazing blessings. But all of them if we are not careful can become just another thing. We show up, go through the motions, and go back home…the very things that are designed by God to shake up our soul.

This reality is no more true than in the Lords Supper.

What is the Lord’s Supper?

The Lord’s Supper is a Time for Communion

When Jesus calls us to sit down at the Lord’s Table he is calling us to actualize his presence with us. To remember Him—his life, his ministry, his sacrifice for sinners.

In saying, “Do this in remembrance of me...” he isnt just telling us to eat a wafer and drink a sip of juice (as important as those symbols are)...In a very real and tangible way…when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper we are reminded by the fact that Jesus invites us into his presence. He literally invites us to pull up a chair at his table just like the disciples did and have relationship with him.

So The Lord’s Supper is an invitation to communion with God…but not just with God, but also with one another.

Look at what Jesus says in verses 14-17

Luke 22:14–17 CSB

14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves.

When Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of me...” he invited his disciples to sit down at His table with himself and enjoy his presence…but also to sit across from the table with the other disciples and enjoy their presence. The Lord’s Supper is a meant to be a shared meal. It is meant to be done in fellowship with other people.

One of Paul’s most critical rebukes to the church in Corinth was in their lack of sharing for their brothers and sisters during the Lord’s Supper. He writes,

1 Corinthians 11:17–22 ESV

17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

The Lord’s supper was never intended to be a meal that was just between me and God…it’s “we and God.” It is a communal meal where we are all invited to experience God corporately as brothers and sisters who have been adopted into God’s family. It isn't meant to be rushed or just tagged on to the end of a service just because it’s something we’ve alway done. It is a time where we are called to slow down, put away the to-do list and just be with God and with each other.

This is also why it isn't possible to do the Lord’s Supper alone at home.

Don’t get me wrong…I think there are a few rare exceptions to that rule. A global pandemic or being homebound would be on that list…but even then doing the Lord’s Supper alone is never ideal.

God did not create us to be lone-rangers. In the creation story we read about in Genesis 2, we are told that God made everything good except for one thing. The one thing that God said wasnt good is found in Genesis 2:18.

Genesis 2:18 CSB

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper corresponding to him.”

We were made—designed—for communion…Communion with God, first. AND communion with other people.

And can I just say that this is probably one of the areas where we fail the most when we participate in the Lord’s Supper? We have so focused on me, what Christ has done for me, and my relationship with God …that we have forgotten about the we…WE HAVE FORGETTEN THE PART WHERE JESUS SAYS… “TAKE THIS AND SHARE IT AMONGST YOURSELVES”

And this isnt unique to us…the disciples didn't make it out of the room with Jesus before they had made the Lord’s Table all about themselves:

Luke 22:24 CSB

24 Then a dispute also arose among them about who should be considered the greatest.

The Lord’s supper is an invitation to recapture what I once heard called “Dining Room Table Christianity”…where we sit down across the table with friends and family, we put down our agendas, and we just enjoy communion—both with God and with others. And just as an aside church…our world is dying for real communion. We live in a sad time where people are more digitally connected than ever but more physically, emotionally, and spiritually more disconnected than ever. Loneliness in this day and age is experienced at an unprecedented level in human history. I dare you to do this part right—I dare you to make it your habit to not let a visitor walk through that door without having them sit down at your dinner table—I dare you. I will bet you all the money I got that if you do that—we will be doing a building campaign sooner than you think.

The Lord’s Supper is a Time For Remembrance

In the Lord’s Supper we must be careful to remember that it is the LORD’s Supper

It is not just a meal.

It is not just a piece of bread and a small cup of juice.

It is a divine meal that Jesus ordained to take place right before his death and to be practiced as a meal of remembrance from then until he returns.

Looks at what Luke writes beginning in verse 17

The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember…but what are we to remember?

Jesus doesnt just tell us…he shows us. He demonstrates what we are to remember in this meal with 2 things that would have been common on any Jewish table in the first century: Bread and Wine.

So he picks up a loaf of bread…and Luke tells us that he took bread…gave thanks…and broke it…gave it to them and then he said these words… “This is my body, which is given for you…Do this in remembrance of me.”

In the Lord’s Supper we are called to remember that Jesus was broken for our sins.

The Supper is a reminder that they only way that we have life is through death.

Think about it…in order to live…something has to die. Death is what sustains life.

Animals and plants have to die in order for us to live. Otherwise we would starve.

In the same way, the Supper is a reminder that the only way that human beings can have life...

Isaiah the prophet writes about this truth:

Isaiah 53:7–12 CSB

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 10 Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. 11 After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

And here’s the most amazing part of this whole thing to me…Jesus did all of this joyfully.

Look at verse 14

Luke 22:14–15 CSB

14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Jesus fervently desired to show his disciples what he was going to the cross to do...

He wasnt begrudingly going to the cross…he was joyful…yes sorrowful…yes with a holy angst…but with joy.

The writer of Hebrews captures this well:

Hebrews 12:1–2 CSB

1 Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord’s Supper is a Time for Anticipation

Luke 22:14–18 CSB

14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Twice Jesus reminds the disciples that this supper is something is should cause us to anticipate His second coming.

Verse 16: For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.

Verse 18: For I tell you, from now on I will not drink the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.

So when we eat at the Lord’s Table…we are called to anticipate and to celebrate Jesus’ return.

There is coming a day where God will once and for all right all wrongs.

Revelation speaks about this day:

Revelation 19:6–10 CSB

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” 10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold firmly to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

So let us be glad and rejoice church…as we share this meal.

Let us put away every sin…as we look across the table toward one another in a time of communion…let us look backward at what Christ has done…and let us look forward toward his coming again...