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COMMUNION AND COMMITMENT

(What The Lord’s Supper Means To Me)
March 28, 2010 (Palm Sunday

    Jesus used the Lord’s Supper as an analogy of the Christian experience.  He said, “I am the Bread . . . [the Living Bread that gives life].

    I . . . am this Living Bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread, he will live forever; and also the Bread that I shall give for the life of the world is My . . .(body).

    I tell you, you cannot have any life in you unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you appropriate His life . . .

    He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has . . . eternal life, and I will raise him up . . . on the last day.

    For My flesh is true and genuine food, and My blood is true and genuine drink.  He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood dwells continually in Me, and I . . . dwell continually in him.

    Just as the living Father sent Me and I live . . . (through, and because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me . . . and is nourished by Me] shall . . . live through and because of Me.

    This is the Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate, and yet died; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever” (John 6:48-58, amp).

    Now, Jesus is not advocating cannibalism.  Instead, he is giving a dramatic analogy of salvation:  The Lord’s Supper re-enacts our decision to take Christ into our lives.  When we accept Christ, we are allowing him to live in us.  As bread and drink enters our body to become part of us, to nourish and sustain us, Christ resurrected life enters us to change and strengthen and guide us.

    This memorial includes several purposes:

I.  FIRST, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A REMEMBRANCE.

    It reminds believers of Jesus’ life and death.  We have many problems, obstacles, frustrations and distractions on this earth.  It’s so easy to get busy and forget spiritual things.  The Lord’s Supper helps us to remember.

    A poet wrote:

    I had walked life’s path with easy tread,
    And just followed where the pleasure led.   
    But, one day I found a quiet place,
    And I met my Master face to face.
    I remember joy that came to me,
    He restored my soul and set me free.
    O my heart was filled with love and grace,
    When I met my Master face to face.

    The Lord’s Supper reminds us of our meeting with God, and serves as a remembrance.

    “On the night when the Lord Jesus was handed over to be killed, he took bread and gave thanks for it.  Then he broke the bread and said, ‘This is my body; it is for you. Do this to remember me.’

    In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup. He said, ‘This cup is the new agreement that is sealed with the blood of my death. When you drink this, do it to remember me” (I Cor. 11:23-25, edb).

II.   SECOND, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A REASSURANCE.

    In Jesus’ day, a meal was used to seal an agreement.  It made a covenant permanent.  The Lord’s Supper gives believers a feeling of security.  They  know that their reconciliation and relationship with God is eternal.

    It’s like burning the mortgage and framing the deed to your home.  This gives you absolute ownership and the knowledge that nothing can foreclose on it or take it away.

    The Lord’s Supper reenacts the covenant we have with our Heavenly Father, and serves as a reassurance.

    “As they were eating, Jesus took a small loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it.  Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take it and eat it, for this is my body.’

    And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it.  He gave it to them and said, ‘Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and His people . . .” (Matt. 26:26-28, lb)

III.   THIRD, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A UNIFIER OF BELIEVERS.

    As the church, which is the body of Christ partakes of the bread and wine, they pledge their love and loyalty to each other.  The Lord’s Supper demonstrates our unity as a church.  A poet said:

    I met a friend one cold dark night
    Whose lamp had ceased to shine.
    I paused to help and let him light
    His little lamp from mine.

    A tempest sprang up later on
    That shook the world about
    And when the wind and storm were past
    I found my lamp was out.

    But back to me my good friend came
    His lamp still glowing fine.
    He smiled and held the precious flame
    And lighted mine.
         —Adapted by Maralene Wesner

    As Christians, we are like that.  We help each other and encourage each other.  Wherever and whenever we meet another believer, we instantly recognize that they are family!  The Lord’s Supper demonstrates that we are God’s family and serves as a unifier of believers!

    “We give thanks for the cup of blessing,which is a sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread that we break is a sharing in the body of Christ.  Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body, because we all share that one loaf” (I Cor. 10:16-17, edb). 

IV.   FOURTH, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A WITNESS TO THE WORLD.

    People notice and understand rituals and actions more than words.  The Lord’s Supper is a dramatic symbol of our faith.

    We forget much of what we hear.  We remember a little more of what we see; but we are impressed most by seeing, hearing and experiencing.  Jesus knew that the world is watching.

    One man remembers his mother’s words when he went out on a date during high school.  She would say, “Don’t forget who you are.  Remember, you are a Christian.”

    When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we are reminded that we belong to the family of God.  We are reminded that  we bear Christ’s name, and that we are challenged to bring honor to our heavenly father.

    For centuries, people have searched to find out what God is like.  Today, they look at Christians.  If you wear the name, you represent Christ.

    The Lord’s Supper serves as a witness to the world!

    “Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again” (I Cor. 11:26, lb).

V.   FINALLY, THE LORD’S SUPPER IS A SOLEMN RE-COMMITMENT FOR EVERY CHRISTIAN.

    Jesus said we can’t have divided devotion.  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and possessions” (Matt. 6:24, nlb).

    Paul says the same thing concerning the Lord’s Supper.  “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons also.  You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” (I Cor. 10:21, edb).

    So, above all, we are to use this occasion as a moment of reflection and dedication.  A poet wrote:

    All those who journey, soon or late,
    Must pass within the garden’s gate;
    Must kneel alone in darkness there,
    And battle with some fierce despair.
    God pity those who cannot say,
    “Not mine, but Thine,” who only pray,
    “Let this cup pass,” and cannot see
    The purpose of Gethsemane.

    The Lord’s Supper enables us to re-visit Gethsemane and renew our spiritual vows, and serves as a solemn re-commitment for every Christian!

    “So, if anyone eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily, that person is guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord.  That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking from the cup” (I Cor. 11:27-28, lb).

    Jesus said, “God’s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33)
    In taking the bread and wine into us, we are saying, “I’m taking Christ into my life.  From now on, I’m letting him live his life through me.” 
    Paul said, “I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me” (Gal.  2:20.

    Jesus is living through us; to encourage others.
    Jesus is living through us; to care for others.
    Jesus is living through us; to love others

    He wants to continue his message and his ministry through us.  If you aren’t willing for him to do that, you should not partake of this sacred ordinance.

    So, we invite all of you who wish to observe a remembrance of God’s love;
        Who wish to be reassured of God promise;
        Who wish to demonstrate that we are God’s family;
        Who wish to be a witness to the world;
        Who wish to renew your spiritual vows;
        To join us in observing the Lord’s Supper.

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Copyrighted 2010 by Miles and Maralene Wesner, Idabel, OK.  PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS MESSAGE IN ANY WAY YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.  The only thing we ask is that you give credit for original material in PUBLISHED works. 

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Miles E Wesner