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Chapter 79 The First Communion Service ÒAnd as they
were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to
the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and
gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine,
until that day when I drink it new with you in my FatherÕs kingdom. And when
they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Then saith
Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is
written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be
scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into
Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended
because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I
say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me
thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not
deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.Ó (Matthew 26:26-35) By
GodÕs purpose and by his providence, the Jewish passover of the Old Testament
melted into the LordÕs Supper as the stars of the night dissolve into the
light of the rising morning sun. The ordinance could not have been
established with greater simplicity. There was absolutely nothing of
ceremonial pageantry about it. ÒAnd
as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave
it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my bodyÓ (v. 26). — With those
simple, unpretentious words, our Master established the blessed ordinance of
the LordÕs Supper. He knew all that was before him. He knew what he must
suffer. He knew what would happen with his disciples. He knew the turmoil
that was coming. Wisely and graciously, he chose this last quiet evening
before his crucifixion to bestow this parting gift to his church. How
precious the memory of this night must have been to those disciples every
time they met around the table afterward! Yet, the misunderstanding and abuse
of this blessed ordinance has been the cause of strife, controversy and
division, and of much heresy throughout church history. How sad! If there is
anything that ought to unite all who profess faith in Christ, the LordÕs
Supper is it; but sinful men have so perverted the teachings of Christ
regarding this ordinance that it has become a opportunity for controversy to many,
rather than an ordinance of communion. Let
every saved sinner seek grace to observe this blessed ordinance as it was
originally established. Indeed, if we would worship God in the observance of
this ordinance, or in the observance of any other, it must be observed as it
was established by our Lord. The Elements It is needful for us to understand the meaning of the
elements our Lord used to give us the ordinance of the LordÕs Supper. Our
Savior simply took the unleavened bread and wine of the passover supper and
incorporated them into the elements to be used in the LordÕs Supper. He said,
concerning the bread, Òthis is my body,Ó and concerning the wine, Òthis is my blood.Ó We need to understand the
meaning of those words. Error
concerning the meaning of our LordÕs words can lead and has lead men to
serious, deplorable idolatry and superstition. Papists tell us that the bread
and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ. In the mass the
priest pronounces his mumbo-jumbo, waves his hands, and pretends to magically
transform the bread and wine into ChristÕs body and blood. Thus, the mass
becomes, in the idolatersÕ minds, a sacrifice, a recrucifixion of Christ to
make atonement for sin! Luther
taught that the bread and wine were mystically and spiritually transformed
into the body and blood of Christ, so that the elements themselves became
holy and conveyed grace to the communicants. Many today have a view similar
to LutherÕs. They attach a pagan, idolatrous meaning to the bread and wine of
the LordÕs Table. I have friends who used to bury any bread and wine that was
left over after communion. They had been taught that once it was consecrated,
it could never be used again. Others make the ordinance (ChristÕs established
symbol of his finished work) to be a sacrament (a means by which grace is
conveyed to the soul). Without
question, the meaning of our LordÕs words is this: ÒThis bread represents my
body. This wine represents my blood.Ó There is absolutely no indication that
he meant any more than that. Frequently, in the Scriptures something is said
to be what it merely represents simply because there was no term in the
Hebrew language to express symbolism. Though the New Testament was written in
Greek, it retains the idiom of the Hebrew. Words like Òsignify,Ó Òdenote,Ó Òportray,Ó
Òtypify,Ó or ÒrepresentÓ are not found in the Old Testament. Here are some
examples of things being said to be what they, obviously, only represent.
The
Bible is full of expressions similar to these, which we would never think of
taking in a literal sense. Good sense demands that they be interpreted
allegorically. Our Savior is called Òthe Lamb of God,Ó Òthe Door of the sheep,Ó Òthe Lion of Judah,Ó and Òthe Vine.Ó No one would ever think of
saying that he is literally those things! And no one, whose mind has not been
perverted by religious nonsense, would ever imagine that the bread and wine
of the LordÕs Supper are anything but representatives of our RedeemerÕs body
and his blood. All you have to do is taste the bread to know that it is
bread, not flesh! All you have to do is drink the wine to know that it is
wine, not blood! The
unleavened bread represents the holy human body of our Savior. We dare not
use soda crackers or light bread. Our Lord used unleavened bread for a
reason. Leaven represents sin; and our Savior had no sin. Therefore, he used
unleavened bread to represent his body. The
wine represents his precious, sin-atoning blood. Many today have found
excuses for using grape juice, kool-aid, and other things in the celebration
of the LordÕs Supper. But no excuse will justify such perverse behavior in
the house of God. Wine is used because, like the unleavened bread, it is free
of corruption, and thus a proper representation of our SaviorÕs blood. In
verse 28 our Lord tells us four things about his blood.
When
we come together around the LordÕs Table, we should take great care to focus
our attention on the incarnation, life, and death of Christ as our
Substitute. That is what is represented to us by the unleavened bread and
wine. The Purpose When he established the LordÕs Supper as a standing
ordinance of divine worship, our Savior plainly stated the purpose of the
ordinance. The Holy Spirit tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:24 that he said, ÒThis
do in remembrance of me.Ó The LordÕs Supper was established by Christ to be a memorial of him
and his great sacrifice of love for us, by which he redeemed his elect, no
more and no less. Immense
harm has been done by those who have taught GodÕs people that this is a
mysterious, complex thing. The fact is, as I have already shown you, it could
not have been established with greater simplicity. The
LordÕs Supper is not a sacrifice. Not a word is mentioned anywhere in connection with the
establishment or the observance of this ordinance about a sacrifice. No
mention is made of priests or altars. The fact is, once Christ was offered as
a sacrifice for our sins, all sacrifices, all altars, and all priests ceased
to be (Heb. 10:14). We have no sacrifice but Christ. We have no altar but
Christ. We have no priest but Christ. If you have any other altar, priest, or
sacrifice, you do not have and cannot partake of Christ (Heb. 13:10). The
LordÕs Supper is not a sacrament. Those who speak of the ordinances of Christ as
sacraments are in error, very grave error. The bread and wine are not sacred.
The table is not sacred. And the act of eating and drinking the bread and
wine is not sacred. I mean by that that grace is not conferred upon us by our
observance of the LordÕs Supper. It is not a means by which God conveys his
grace to sinners. GodÕs grace is conveyed to us through Christ alone and by
faith alone. The word sacrament implies a means of grace. By definition, a
sacrament is Òa solemn religious ceremony enjoined by Christ, to be observed
by his followers, by which their special relation to him is created, or their
obligations to him are renewed and ratified.Ó A sacrament is a piece of Roman
Catholic idolatry retained by Protestant churches who yet imagine that the
grace of God can be obtained by ceremonies, rituals, and works. The
LordÕs Supper is a symbolic memorial ordinance of public worship. It is not an ordinance to be
observed privately, but publicly. It is an ordinance for redeemed sinners,
for believers, for men and women who are born again by the power and grace of
God the Holy Spirit. By our public observance of this ordinance, eating the
bread and drinking the wine, we openly declare to all that we are sinners in
need of Christ alone as our sin-atoning Savior, looking to him alone for
salvation and eternal life, trusting him just as we did in our baptism when
we were symbolically buried with him in the watery grave and arose with him
to walk in the newness of life. The
LordÕs Supper is a solemn, but joyful ordinance of worship. At the end of the
Supper, our Lord and his disciples sang a hymn. Every remembrance of our
redemption accomplished by Christ should fill us with joy. John Trapp
suggested that we ought to leave the LordÕs Table with Òshouting as a giant
after his wine, singing and making melody to the Lord in our hearts. We
should come from the LordÕs table, as Moses did from the mount, with our
faces shining; as the good women did from the sepulchre, Ôwith fear and
great joy;Õ as
the people went to their tents from SolomonÕs feast, Ôjoyful and glad of
heartÕ (1 Kings
8:66). If those in the wilderness were so cheered and cherished by their
idolatrous feast before the golden calf that they Ôeat and drink, and rise up
to playÕ (1 Cor. 10:7), how much more should we by this blessed banquet?Ó Those Present This passage also shows us the character of those who were
present with our Savior at the first observance of the LordÕs Supper. Let me
state emphatically that we do not and must not make the celebration of the
LordÕs Supper a community or family service. It is not, never has been, and
must never be something to which unbelievers are invited, or something they
are encouraged to participate in. Anyone who does not trust the Lord Jesus
Christ as his Savior, as his justice satisfying Substitute before God, is
disqualified from both baptism (Acts 8:36-37) and the LordÕs Supper (1 Cor.
11:27-29). Unbelievers are unworthy of the LordÕs ordinances because they do
not discern (or understand the necessity of) the LordÕs body. However, it is
not up to the pastor, the elders, the deacons, or the church to decide who
shall and who shall not partake of the LordÕs Supper. The burden of
examination and responsibility is upon the individual. Each one must examine
himself (1 Cor. 11:28). This becomes obvious when we see who first observed
this blessed ordinance with our Savior. They
all professed to be believers and followers of Christ. While the Scriptures do
not allow for closed communion, or even restricted communion, the Word of God
does not allow anyone to forbid communion to those who profess faith in
Christ; it is restricted to those who profess to be the disciples of our
Lord. Though
all professed to be believers, one of them was a devil; and the Lord knew it
(vv. 21-23; Luke 22:14). The Lord Jesus knew what Judas had done. Yet, he did
not refuse him a place at the table. The reason appears obvious to me. He
would give no precedent for the practice of fencing the table, which gained
prominence by the legality of puritan theology. We must never attempt to set barriers around the table to
keep anyone away. The Holy Spirit makes it crystal clear that it is the
responsibility of the person who eats the bread and drinks the wine to
examine himself, to be certain that he or she is a believer, one who discerns
the LordÕs body, warning all that those who eat and drink unworthily, without
faith in Christ, eat and drink damnation to themselves (1 Cor. 11:27-30).
You, and you alone can determine whether you are in the faith. If you profess
faith in Christ, it is the responsibility of GodÕs people to look upon your
profession as genuine and to receive you Òwithout doubtful disputations,Ó without suspicion (Rom. 14:1). Our Lord knew that
Judas was a devil, and that he was at that time looking for an opportunity to
betray him. Yet, when he passed out the bread and wine, he gave it to Judas
as well as to Peter, James, and John, because Judas professed to be one of his. One
of the disciples would, in a matter of hours, curse and deny the Master.
Though our Lord knew that soon Peter would experience a terrible fall, yet he
spread the bread and wine before him. And he knew that all the disciples who
sat with him at this first communion service would soon forsake him in
weakness, fear, and unbelief. Not one child of God was for any reason
exempted from the LordÕs Supper. God never sends his erring children to bed
without supper. He evens allows a devil to sit at the table, rather than
encourage anyone to prevent any of his children from receiving this blessed
ordinance. Let no child of God look upon the LordÕs Supper as an unnecessary
thing. Let no believer imagine that he is unworthy to receive this ordinance.
Our worthiness is Christ. He who is unfit for the ordinance of Christ is
unfit for the company of Christ. Let us never be more strict in the ordinances of Christ
than Christ himself. Immutable Grace In verses 31-35 our dear Redeemer, knowing that his
disciples would soon need to be reminded of it, declares the blessed
immutability of his saving grace. He assures us that because of his one great
sacrifice for sin, God will never charge his people with sin (Rom. 4:8). As
was prophesied by Zechariah (Zech. 13:7), when the Shepherd was smitten by
the rod of divine justice, the sheep would all be scattered. So it came to
pass. Though
everyone of them were confident that they would never be offended by him and
would never forsake him, and publicly announced their confidence to one
another and to the Savior, they were all offended by their Savior. They all
forsook him. How deceitful are our hearts! But
ZechariahÕs prophecy included something more. The Lord declared, ÒAwake, O
sword, against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellowÉSmite the
Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.Ó That much of the prophecy we often quote and hear
quoted. But GodÕs word by Zechariah continues. The first part of Zechariah
13:7 announced the death of Christ as our sin-atoning Substitute, the Good
Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. — ÒAwake, O sword,
against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellowÉSmite the
Shepherd!Ó The
next line announced the weakness, sin and unbelief of the smitten ShepherdÕs
poor, depraved sheep. — ÒAnd the sheep shall be scattered.Ó But the last line of Zechariah
13:7 gives a blessed word of grace, assuring us of the immutability of GodÕs
grace to us in Christ, though we are but weak, sinful, straying sheep. —
ÒAnd I will turn mine hand upon the little ones!Ó Those
precious, sweet words of grace were in the heart and mind of our blessed
Savior as he anticipated the shameful, sinful behavior of his beloved
disciples. In verse 32 he assures them, and us, that his grace is unaltered
even by our sin. He says, ÒI will turn mine hand upon the little ones!Ó — ÒAfter I am risen, I
will go before you into Galilee.Ó Though they knew it not, the Lord Jesus was saying to
his people, ÒI will go before you in grace to recover you, wherever you may in
your weakness and sin stray from meÓ (See Mark 16:7; John 21:15-19). — ÒIf
we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himselfÓ (2 Tim. 2:13). — ÒBlessed
is the man to whom God will not impute sinÓ (Rom. 4:8). That which we celebrate in the LordÕs
Supper is absolute, perfect, immutable salvation by the grace of God in
Christ, our crucified Redeemer, by whom our sins have been put away forever! |
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