“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1Cor 11:26)
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul gives us an account of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist/Mass/Holy Communion) and then tells of its value. It was established on the night in which Christ was handed over to suffering and death. That night marked the greatest betrayal in human history and encapsulated every betrayal and sin by every person who has ever lived (including you and me). The Lord of Glory – the God of Love – the King of Heaven allowed himself to be slain for the sin of the world. What a mystery! What a tragedy! But now it is to be celebrated as the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever known. For you! For me! What an amazing Love!! The bread is his body broken for us and in our place. The cup is the new covenant made through the shedding of his blood. God has pledged that all who come to him in faith, trusting in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross have forgiveness of sin. There is no sin too great for Christ to forgive. There is no sin to heinous for the blood of Christ to cleanse. And through this cleansing by his blood we may approach God with confidence, sharing intimacy of relationship (communion) with him.
Paul tells us we should be careful not to eat or drink in an unworthy manner. Mind you, Paul never tells us we must be “worthy” to eat at the Lord’s Table, for if that were the case, no one could partake. Though we are not worthy, we can partake in a worthy manner. To do so, he says we ought to “examine ourselves” (v 28). This means:
- We need to face our sins honestly, judge them, and confess them to the Lord — if we will judge ourselves and seek his mercy, God will not have to judge us — (v 31-32).
- We need to have love for our brothers and sisters. “Don’t think only of yourselves, think of others” (v 33). So often we come to church asking, “What am I going to get out of this service?” when we should be asking, “What can I say or do or pray to give someone else a blessing?” If we would come to worship in this way, our services would overflow with the presence and life of the Holy Spirit.
- We need to remember him with thankful and loving hearts as we receive his body and blood (“do this in remembrance of me” vv. 24-25). Think on Christ when you go to the table. Allow your mind to engage with him. Allow your heart to overflow with praise. He longs for your love and adoration and heartfelt worship!
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