The Lord's Supper

Introduction

Today is the last Sunday before the start of a new year. New years often signal new opportunities, new moments for reflection and making new resolutions, new commitments, sharpening up that which has left unkept. It is a great time to honestly reflect with the Lord and ask, “How is my faith.” As a Pastor, the great burden on my heart that I think of week in and week out is, how your faith is doing? The questions that keep me up at night are about the challenges this flock has before them, and how I can come alongside each of you and seek after Christ fully together. When it comes to resolutions, I can imagine that many of you will have any number of ideals you will be chasing after in the coming year. But today I want to take some time to teach on an area that God has laid heavily on my own heart, and that is the topic of the Lord’s Supper, the Communion Meal.

Allow me to explain a bit of the background. When Covid first began, we had a very short season as a Church where we were not meeting in person. For those few months, we as Church wrestled through whether or not we should take the Lord’s Supper together, and how to do that well. That query sent me into a season of increased study on this topic. What I found was that God was beginning a journey for me that was far more profound than simply answering that particular question. The more I reflected on the Lord’s Supper and allowed the Scriptures to deepen my theology, the more the Lord pressed it on my heart how vital this Sacrament is not only to each of our walks with the Lord, but to our community’s life with the Lord as well.

And so today we are going to spend an entire sermon looking at the theology around the Lord’s Supper. And I believe if you will permit, that this sermon is fitting for the start of a new year. If you are looking for fresh conviction in your walk with the Lord, fresh strength in your faith, fresh revelation from the Lord, I do believe that rightly practicing the Lord’s Supper may be a significant part of that new step.

Move 1: Signs & Seals

The Command

Let’s look together at our short text today. We are going to be in Matthew 26. The Lord’s command to take this Communion Meal together are in three of the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. if you recall this moment was just before the betrayal and arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gesthemane. Jesus is seated in the Upper Room with his disciples sharing the Passover Meal. That’s important context that we’ll get to more in just a moment. Hear the words of Christ.

Matthew 26:26-28 “26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Understanding the Context of The Passover Meal

Let’s consider the context just a little bit before. The Passover Meal is a meal full of deep symbolism. Nearly every element of the meal contains signficance. Jews continue to practice the celebration of the Passover annually even today. It is an annual reminder of the moment that the Lord’s judgment “Passed Over” the people of Israel. God’s peopel were being held in slavery in Egypt under a ruthless Pharaoh who would not let them go. God’s final plague sent upon Egypt in the book of Exodus was the death of the every firstborn son in the land. The Israelites were spared from this judgment by taking a lamb, sacrificing it, and spreading its blood over the doorposts of the home. When the angel of death came to bring the judgment, the angel would see the blood of lamb over the door, and passover that family.

Unleavened Bread

All of the elements are deeply symbolic. As an example, during the Passover every bit of bread with leaven in it was removed from the home. They only ate unleavened bread. Why? It was a picture for them of the immediacy with which they finally left Israel, they did not have even enough time to allow their bread to rise.

Bitter Herbs

Similarly, at one point in the meal, the family would eat bitter herbs. The bitter herbs would taste bitter in the mouth and would remind the Israelites of the bitter life they lived while in slavery, and how God had redeemed them from it. There’s much more, but what’s important that you understand is that everything in this meal was symbolic.

Jesus Adds New Depth to Two Elements of the Meal

So Jesus gets to the part of the meal where they break bread and drink wine. And rather than applying the old incomplete meaning of these elements of the Passover Meal. He looks to his disciples and he applies utterly new meaning to these two elements. With the bread he says, “This is my body.” With the wine he says, “this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus is looking forward to what is about to happen to him on the cross, and he is saying, “I want you to commemorate my death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins through this ceremony forever.”

Sacraments are Signs & Seals of the New Covenant

Now let’s dig in and really try to understand all the details of what is signified in this meal. Biblically and historically, we often refer to the Sacraments as signs and seals. That language is very important and I would like you to really work to remember these two functions of the Sacraments. They are signs and seals. As a sign, they signify something, they symbolize a truth. And a seal, it is a public authoritative declaration of the authenticity of your faith, much like King’s Seal on a letter.

Two Types of Signs: Elementall & Ceremonially

What is a sign? A sign is an outward display that appeals to the senses that signfies some deeper meaning. The sign signals something. In the Lord’s Supper the elements of the bread and the wine are perceived by the eye and by the mouth. These are the Elemental Signs. The elements themselves have meaning that is applied to us when we take the meal. Then there are the Ceremonial Signs, the process of breaking the bread and distributing the wine just as Jesus did on the night when he was betrayed. These procedures also are part of the overall sign that is communicated.

Elementally

Let’s consider the elements, the bread and the wine. What do they stand for?

The Lord’s Death

First of all, they are a sign fo the Lord’s death until he comes. We read this in 1 Corinthians 11:26.

1 Corinthians 11:26 “26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

The bread which Jesus said represents his body which was broken. And the wine which Jesus shared represents his blood that was poured out. The whole meal is asking us to deeply reflect on the reality of Christ’s death for us on the cross.

I will note here that I have been convinced through my study that when Jesus established the sign he did not intend for us to tinker with it. He said, “bread and wine,” not “bread and juice.” Now, that might seem like a minor thing, and historically I have thought of it as a minor thing. But the more I have reflected on the words of Christ and the meaning that he applied to these specific elements, the more I am convinced we should be using wine. In the coming months I will begin offering “wine” as our regular element for this Communion Meal. For some, I recognize juice is appropriate and we will continue to make that available.

The Full Hope of the New Covenant

Secondly, the bread and the wine are a sign for us of the full hope of the New Covenenant.

1 Corinthians 11:25 “25 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.””

Whenever we take the Communion Meal Together we are reminded that God has made a New Covenant, not like the old covenant. It is a New Covenant. Christ is the mediator of that new covenant. His blood is the ratifying element of the promises of that new covneant.

Hebrews 8:8-12 “8 … “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people… 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.””

The communion meal is a sign that we are living under the new covenant, where God remembers our sins no more. All because of the Blood of the Lamb. Hallelulah. Every time we take this meal we are declaring all of the promises of the New Covenant. “The whole of Christ, with all of its benefits and power and strength. All of that in this bread and this wine.

Spiritual Nourishment

Thirdly, the bread and the wine symbolize Spiritual Nourishment.

John 6:56-57 “56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.”

Now that verse was not directly connected to the Communion Meal, that verse came in the midst of completely different teaching from Jesus. But his point is important. He of course was not teaching that his disciples needed to eat him. Jesus was saying that you must nourish your soul on Christ daily. You must go to him as nourishment for your life and soul. You see the Bread and the Wine are a symbol for us of that nourishment. All through the week we feast on Christ when we engage in His Word and cherish his nearness in the Holy Spirit, and pray ceaselessly. And then regularly we come to this table and take the bread and the wine and swallow the elements and it is a sign of nourishing our souls on Christ.

Procedurally

Those are the elements, the bread and the wine and what they are a sign for. But what about the ceremony itself of preparing and eating the elements. What is being signified then?

The Blessing:

We read in Matthew 26:26 that the first thing Jesus did was say a blessing. Historically the Lord’s Supper is always begun with a brief prayer of blessing. This blessing acknowledges our communal guilt before God, and thanks him for the provision of his son and his death on the cross, and then sets these elements (the bread and the wine) apart as appropriate elements to take this Communion Meal. When the Elders of a Church bless the elements in preparation for receiving them as appropriate elements to fulfill the Lord’s command, we are remembering how Christ did the exact same thing. He said a blessing.

Breaking of the Bread

Next we see that Jesus physically broke the bread. He took a loaf and broke it. He actually says that the meaning of the sacrament is in the breaking of the bread. That breaking symbolizes his body which was broken for us. Interestingly, the text does not specifically say that Christ poured the wine out of a container, though you may be able to assume that. And so, traditionally when the bread is broken by the Elder of a Chruch in the presence of the Church family, that breaking is meant to draw your attention to Christ’s body hanging on the cross.

Distribution & Reception

Thirdly, typically (before Covid we normally did this, but we have temporarily moved to these packets for the time being), the Chruch comes forward and the elements are distributed, just like Jesus did. In your personally receiving the elements you are signifying your personal decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

Seals

As you can see, there is deep significance behind this ceremony. The Lord’s Supper is a sign, but it is also a Seal. That word might be lost on us but it is so important. The Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are Signs and Seals. In the old days when a letter was sent, the sender of the letter would place their seal on the envelope. It authenticated it in someway to everyone around you. The letter does not become legitimate because of the seal. But its an outward display of its authenticity.

Illustration: Imagine the Lord Jesus Came In Here Today

When you take the Communion Meal in full faith in Christ, it as if the Lord Jesus is handing you a letter with his seal on it declaring your righteous standing before His throne. Imagine that for a moment. Imagine if the King of Kings walked into this room right now, and handed you a letter with his royal seal on it, declaring your forgiveness of sin and your eternal place in his court. What would that do you to your soul to receive such a letter. That’s what the Communion Meal. It’s a seal strengthening you.

As a Seal: There is a Power to Strengthen Your Resolve in Christ.

Oh - this is lost on so many of us, but it is for this reason that I wanted to preach this message today. Many of us practically forget that this is a seal. But this Communion Meal is meant to strengthen you for the battle. It’s an outward public proclamation that you belong to the Lord. You already belong to the Lord by grace through faith, but when you take this bread and wine you say it to the whole world, “Here I stand.” And the Lord uses this seal to strengthen you.

Move 2: Common Misunderstandings

The second thing I would like to address are Common Misunderstandings with the Communion Meal. I have shown you what the Communion Meal is and what the Scriptures intend for it to be. Now let us address what it is not.

The Catholic Error: Transsubstantiation

Definition of Transsubstantiation

First, let me begin with the most common misunderstanding and that is the Roman Catholic view. Now I must say up front, my aim is never to be bash Catholics. There are however a number of very clear differences between our faith systems and the Communion Meal and its significance is one of those differences. The Roman Catholic Church believes in a doctrine called transsubstantiation. That is the Catholic belief that the bread and the wine, after the priests preparations, physically and literally become Jesus flesh and blood in your body. Not symbolically, but they physically turn into flesh and blood. This is a false belief that arose around the 12th century. On a surface level, it is easy to see how came to be. After all, Jesus said, “This is my body.” A very wooden and overly literal interpretation of that sentence leads one to believe that the bread supernaturally becomes flesh in your stomach.

Why This is Wrong

The problems are many with this view. Jesus was not adding some form of cannibalism to the Church practice. Everything in the Passover Meal had significant meaning. The bitter herbs were the sufferings of the Jews. The unleavened bread was the hasty exit from Egypt. In very similar way, the bread and the wine are the body and the blood of Christ. This is similar to how Jesus said, “I am the true vine,” or, “I am the bread of life.” We understand that Jesus is not literally a vine or a loaf of bread, but he was speaking a deeper truth. Secondly, Jesus this rigid view of interpretation

Luke 22:20 “20..“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”

Jesus said, “the cup is my blood” not the wine. Of course no one would believe that’s what Jesus meant, but you can see how an overly wooden rigid interpretation of Jesus’s words is not helpful.

Catholic View Has Led to Deep Idolatry

You might be saying these differences are unimportant. Well, unfortunately they are important. Over the years this false Catholic teaching has become a major division in the history of the Church. Quite literally wars have been fought over this issue. This is one of the central issues that divides the Catholic Church from the Protestant. Now, while I do not think we should be fighting physical wars over this issue, I do believe the Catholic tradition is deeply flawed and has led to an idolatry of the elements of the Lord’s Supper. Today if you were to go to a Catholic Church you would find the elements being worshiped, prayers being addressed to it, they refer to the elements ‘the host’ and carry the elements back and forth in various processsions. Why? Because they believe they have literally become Jesus himself and therefore should be worshiped. This is idolatry, and we shouldn’t hesitate to say that.

Means of Grace

A second common error is the false belief that taking the Communion Meal is a “Means of Grace.” In some traditions, again mostly in the Catholic tradition, the communion meal is one of the works we must do to receive grace from the Lord. The Lord’s Supper is not a means of Grace. The only “Means of Grace” is placing your faith in the Lord Jesus. Once you have done that you are in righteous standing with the Lord period. The Lords Supper is not a Means of Grace, rather it is a Sign and a Seal of that faith. Faith is the requirement. Where is there is real faith

Illustration: Martin Lloyd Jones & the Repentant Woman

Martin lloyd Jones tells the story of a woman at his Church. As the elements were being disstributed he looked out in the congregation and saw a woman breaking down in tears violently in her seat, she refused to take the elements. He pastorally approached her and asked what the matter was. She said, “I am far too vile a sinner to take these elements.” He looked at her affirmed that her repentant heart was the exact requirment necessary to receive the Lord’s Supper properly. Repentant Sinners who know, yes. Living in Sin, no. The Communion Meal must not be taken by professing Christians who are unrepentantly living in sin. This leads to the final error.

The Modern Error: It’s Unimportant

Lastly, the most common error I see in the modern Church today is that the Communion Meal simply does not matter. It’s unimportant. It’s just something you do at Church, but it has very little meaning for you in your overall walk with God. Two thoughts to address here: Now let me ask you a question to get you to think about this. If I were to ask you, “How would your walk with God be any different if we as a Church were to suddenly altogether stop taking the Lord’s Supper?” If in all honesty, your answer is, “Well - I pretty much wouldn’t notice,” we have a problem. This sacrament is designed to strengthn your resolve and proclaim the Lord’s death, it’s not only a sign, but a seal. But secondly consider the Lord’s words in 1 Cor. 11:27-30.

1 Corinthians 11:27-30 “27 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. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.”

Why is this? Well this outward sign, is depicting an inward reality. It’s an image of your Union with Christ, of your feasting on the goodness of Christ in you. There is a deeper spiritual reality taking place, the food is an image pointing to that reality. And we just trample over the food, it signifying that we are content to trample upon the spiriutal reality as well. And God will not leave us in that state with him. We must not take this irreverantly, or unrepentantly, we bring judgment on ourselves. As Christians we must

Move 3: Applications

Illustration: Father Praying Over Family Before Communion

Recently I was listening to a podcast about a Church and heard a story that was very memorable. An older gentleman walked into a local Church that he had heard a lot about. This was a very faithful man who had raised his kids and been a part of a Church for a long time. When he walked into the Church he noticed that many of the people in the room were younger than him. One man in particular stuck out to him as he was somehow part of the service. It was young a guy with longer hair and tattoos all down his arms. The older man thought to himself, “I could mentor that guy. It would be really good if he would meet with me.” Well the service continued and they got to the part of the service where they were receiving communion. And the older man watched as the younger man went up with his wife and children, received the elements, then returned to their seats. And the tattooed man with the long hair, proceeded wrap his arms around his entire family and pray with them as they prepared to receive the communion meal together. This moment so caught the older man off guard that years later he was still remembering it fondly.

First - Men let’s follow that example. Fathers and husbands, this is how we should approach the Lord’s Supper every week.

Closing

I want to allow the Lord to do a work in you. As you consider your relationship with God, your commitment to the Church, to your Church family. Your acknowledgement of God’s ways. What adjustments need to be taken heading into this new year. God is not done with you. You have not yet reached a spiritual pinnacle where there is nothing new to learn. Ever deeper. Ever deeper. Let’s pray.