THE LORD’S SUPPER

[thedrumchannell]

THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us how Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples:

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” Matthew 26:26

Afterwards, Jesus took the cup:

“Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Matthew 26:27-28

Does this mean that the cup and bread literally became His blood and body?Some teach this, however this is not what Jesus meant. He was using a metaphor.The bread and cup were symbols of His body and blood.Jesus asked that we observe the Lord’s Supper for two reasons:

He wanted us to remember the punishment that He endured and the blood that He shed for our sins. The death of Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Only through His death could there be forgiveness for our sins. Jesus wants us never to forget what He did for us. Jesus also wants us to observe the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of His return.He says in Matthew 26:29:

“I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Every time we partake of the bread and cup we are declaring that Jesus will soon return to partake with us again. Only people who are saved should partake in this observance. That is what Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 11:27 when he says that some partake in an unworthy manner. Many Christians with sensitive hearts that have sinned feel like this may be referring to them. Remember that the Lord’s Supper is to remind us about the cleansing of the cross. If you have sinned, ask forgiveness from the Lord and partake of the elements. The Lord wants you to enjoy His communion.

[Gary_the_Rev]

If you have had the opportunity to participat in a Jewish Sader (sp?) then the symbolism of what was going on in thins episode is even more amazing.  I have participate in a few abriviated Saders, the real ones take about three hours, and the ones I did were about an hour.

The whole feast if a very elaborite celebration, and one that is look forward to by both young and old a like.  All of the symbolgy on the surface are ment to remind the Jews of what God did to bring them to the promis land.  But there is also symbols of Christ all through out it.

The Bread

Go to a store and find some matsa bread.  You will note that it looks like a large cracker, it has small holes in it and brown stripes, Isaiah tells us that Christ would be perised and striped.

Now this is where it gets really cool.  During the feast, there is a special napkin that is folded into three pockets (three in one) there is a peice of bread placed in each pocket.  At a special point in the feast, the center peice is removed, wraped in another napkin and then hidden.  At this point, all the children have to close there eyes so that they can not see where it is.  Later they will have to find it, and the one that does recives a prize.  Once the bread is found, it is un wraped and show to the people.

There is some traditions that say that when the face covering was found folded, it was in the shape of this three pocket napkin.  Also it is though that the point in the feast when Jesus took the bread was when it was supposes to be hidden.  Rather than hiding it, He broke it.  Like I said, this is based on tradition, but it makes you think none the less.

THE Cup

When you would set the table for the Passosover, you would set one extra seat for Elijah.  This is because he would come before the Messiah, and if he should come on the Passover, he might want to stay and feast with you.  Now this would be the best cup in you house, and it was refered to as Elijah's Cup, or simply The Cup.

Tradition says that the cup that Jesus took was Elijah's Cup, which was to say that Elijah would not be coming because the Messiah was already here.

I just thought that I would share this with you all.

[thedrumchannell]

I actually did once but was too young to understand the full significance.

Brandon

[thedrumchannell]

I would like to say thank you for your generous reply to this message. The partaking of the bread and the cup of the new covenant was a symbol of an actual truth. Because we partake of this communion we are choosing (in our hearts) to remember our Lord's sacrifice for us. Because he is the bread from heaven, his body is the only true means to life. The key to obtaining that life is because of his shed blood through belief that in him. His body (bread) was sacrificed so that his blood could be used to cleanse us from our sins. Communion is a symbolic way to remember the actual forgiveness of our sins. Thank you Father for this opportunity today to believe in your precious gift to this world.

Brandon