The Lord’s Supper
As seals they reassure us of the promises. They are visible signs of spiritual realities. We don’t rest in the sign we rest in Christ. Go past the bread and cup that Christ died and shed His blood for us. It reminds us that Christ saved us. A sacrament is a sign to direct me to faith in Christ.
The bread and the cup are the signs. The cup stands for whats in the cup. The wine stands for the blood. The bread stands for His body.
The Bread:
Mat 26:26 – this is a metaphor. “this is My body” – He is making a connection. Visible sign is the bread. As literal bread gives life to the physical body Christ gives you eternal life.
John 6:51 (NKJV) “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
Most of the disciples could not understand this. They took it literally. In the 1st century the Christians were accused of cannibalism. In AD 110 a letter was written to the emperor which accused them of this.
When He said eat this He wasn’t saying literally eat His flesh. He passed out bread not His flesh. He is teaching you must believe in Him. Take, eat, remember and believe.
Matthew 26:26 (NKJV) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it,] and gave [it] to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
The Cup:
God would not have commanded to drink literal blood. The life is in the blood. It was also pointing to His sacrificial death. V27-28
Matthew 26:27-28 (NKJV) 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave [it] to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Abraham’s son was almost sacrificed. This was a type of Christ. But Christ was sacrificed. The passover: The lamb is slain and put on the door. John the baptist comes and says behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus message is believe. The lords supper assures us that if we believe we have eternal life in Him. Every time we partake remember your life is not sufficient you must have His life. Remember we deserve death but in Him we have life.
Why do we do it? Some belittle this sign. Jesus commanded it. It is a blessing. It means we need a savior. We need His life and death. We need His sacrificial death. By faith eat and drink and have life in Him.
1 Corinthians 11:18-34 (NKJV) 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of [others;] and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise [you.] 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner [He] also [took] the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink [it,] in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks [this] cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
Belgic Confession Article 35 – The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper