"do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 11:24
NKJV) "do this in remembrance of Me" (1 Cor. 11:24
NKJV)
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Studies In The Lord's
Supper
Lord's Supper Debates
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For those who are called upon on a regular basis to wait on the Lord's table and say a few words of edification setting the stage for the partaking of the Lord's Supper it can become difficult after a time to find something to say that one has not already said before. One feels as though he does not want to get up and just read the same passage and make the same comments every time his turn comes around and so we often struggle to find something to say. This is especially true in the smaller congregations where one's turn often comes around many times a year.
The purpose of this page is to hopefully lend assistance to brethren who find themselves in this situation, one I have often shared in the past and so I know how difficult it can be. There is no intent here to do anything other than present passages that can be read that would be appropriate for the occasion and suggest a line of thought (an idea) you can develop as you please. Certainly the talks are not meant to be literally read before a congregation. This is simply what I would call a seed planting page whereby you can get some ideas of your own. Hope you find help here.
I feel it is very helpful that the person attending the Lord's table make an attempt to say a few words prior to our partaking. There is no law that says this has to be done but it is a good practice and often helps us draw a little nearer Jesus at that time in our own thoughts and reflections on the cross plus, my personal opinion here, I think it shows a little more respect in that we have taken just a little time and spoken of Him. It is a little difficult to have a memorial service and not even speak of the one of whom it is all about.
This page will slowly fill up. Why? Well, no man would need more than one passage and talk a week thus it is not felt urgent to fill this page up quickly. In fact, even in a small congregation generally a man would need no more than one a month so with other things pressing me I will add to this page only occasionally.
What you will find below is seed for thought for talks that will last from 1 to 3 minutes depending on how you develop them. I am presenting here introductory thoughts that will lead you into your final comments along the lines that we have before us a memorial supper in remembrance of the Lord's death on our behalf, etc., with the explanation of that. Most of us do not need help with that but can use help with some introductory remarks such as you will find here. Hope what you find below helps. (All scriptures in red bold print come from the New King James Version.)
Prov. 20:9 "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin'?"
The words of Solomon spoken long ago still ring true today in that we all feel the guilt of sin. Paul said he was the chief of sinners and thus felt the sting of sin in his past. The good news, however, is that Jesus "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14 KJV). While we have no power apart from Jesus to be made pure from sin yet in Him we find cleansing because of his sacrifice on the cross on our behalf those many years ago. It is with both joy and sadness that we assemble together to remember his death on the cross, the death that brought life to so many.
Matt. 16:21-23 "From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'"
The word offense in the NKJV is in other versions translated a "stumbling block". Peter's statement was an encouragement to Jesus to abort his mission on earth, disobey the Father, and sin. He did not mean it that way but nevertheless that was its effect. This was always Satan's goal, get Jesus to either sin so he would not be the needed perfect sacrifice for sins or else get him to abort his mission (which for him would also have been sin). Jesus was unwilling to do either and did not approve of the temptation. When anyone encourages us to be disobedient to God in any matter they are playing the role of Satan. Jesus, however, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Satan lost and man won the victory through Jesus who would not disobey the Father.
Matt. 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
As a mother hen protects her chicks so Jesus seeks to protect and care for man but as the baby chick must seek the shelter of the mother's wings so must man seek Jesus if he is to find safety. The phrase "in Christ" is used 77 times in the KJ NT. It is an interesting study to go through the list and see all the blessings that are to be found "in Christ", under his sheltering wing so to speak, found in Christ, not outside of him. Things like faith and love (1 Tim. 1:14), the promise of life (2 Tim. 1:1), grace (2 Tim. 1:9), salvation (2 Tim. 2:10), no condemnation (Rom. 8:1), the love of God (Rom. 8:39). Thus there are great blessings to be had in Jesus who proved his love for us and his willingness to suffer and die for us by going to the cross. As the mother hen fights to save her chicks so Jesus fought sin to the death to save us. It is fitting that we honor him and his sacrifice in partaking of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of the price he paid on our behalf. We have been blessed indeed by Jesus.
MATTHEW 27:46 "...My God, God, why have You forsaken Me?"
Jesus always knew the truth and spoke the truth. Sometimes he spoke words for the simple reason that we needed to be informed and not because he needed to utter them. These words of Jesus spoken on the cross teach us how dreadful, how fearful, the end result of sin is - forsaken of God. Jesus bore our sins on the cross with the result being that he was forsaken by God the Father for a time. He was forsaken for a time for our sins in order that we might not be forsaken for all time. How thankful we ought to be!
[I am aware that some do not believe the above passage teaches what it appears to be teaching. I am not among their number. Please understand, however, that I am not among those who believe Jesus became a sinner on the cross. Our sins were still our sins, not his, while he hung there. There is a good article by Ron Cosby under "Studies in Print" related to this general topic. See it by clicking here then hitting your back button to return here.]
MARK 4:37-40 "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?'"
"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?". Does Jesus care about us? "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Yes, Jesus cares. He cared that night in the boat many years ago and he cares today. How much has he cared? Enough to die for us.
MARK 4:37-40 "And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?' Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, 'Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?'"
"Peace, be still!" Jesus calmed the troubled sea that night so many years ago and in doing so brought peace to the hearts of his fellow travelers. The Bible says there was a great calm. The storm was calmed as was fearful hearts. With Jesus with us what storm of life is there that we cannot face? All because of the cross of Jesus. The violent cross became our cross of peace. Why are you so fearful? With Jesus you will not perish.
Mark 5:25 - 29 "Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; for she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction."
I suspect most of us at one time or another, for a short period of time or a long one, have or will find ourself in a similiar situation to this woman. We come to the end of our rope, the end of the line. What can we do? Our resources are gone and we are desperate. It may be our health, our finances, our relationships but we are at our end. But, there is Jesus. There is always Jesus who is there for us. We will find our needs met in Him who died for us of whom Peter says healed us by His stripes. We honor Him the first day of every week in partaking of the Lord's Supper in His remembrance and take joy in Him for we are glad He is our friend in deed and need.
Mark 5:25 - 29 "Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; for she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction."
This woman was healed of her bodily affliction, healed by Jesus, through his power. I am sure she rejoiced greatly. Yet, there are many people who have excellent health but whose souls are so burdened down with the sorrows and troubles and sins of life that they despair. The greatest need we all have is for spiritual healing, the healing of the soul. The teaching of the entire New Testament is that Jesus will heal us spiritually if we will only allow it. Peter says we are healed by his stripes for the cross was God's means of the healing of the soul of man. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus thus went to the cross and died for us. We honor him this first day of the week in partaking of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of that event of so many years ago that means so much to us even today and which means more and more to us as time goes by.
Mark 10:43 - 45 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus came to earth for a reason, he was born of man for a reason, he died for a reason. He was well aware of the purpose of His life. He was sent from God, the creator of man, on a mission to redeem the creature he had created. This was all in the eternal purpose of God who knew man would be imperfect and need a Saviour. Jesus knew what we needed and knew what it would take - his suffering and dying on the cross. He lived with the knowledge of what was to come for years and yet did not turn back. In Jesus we see courage, honor, and above all love for both God the Father and for man. He came to earth to serve God most certainly but in doing so he served us. We shall live eternally in glory with Him because he served and gave His life a ransom for us all.
Luke 9:28 - 31 "And it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. Then behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem."
This is the account of the transfiguration of Jesus and perhaps one of the most comforting passages in the Bible if we give it some thought. Who were Moses and Elijah? From the perspective of men still living on earth Moses was a dead man and Elijah had long since disappeared and would be too old to be living now. It seems they are carrying on a conversation with Jesus much the same as Peter and John, living men would. What is the lesson? For those who live a righteous life there is no need to fear death, nothing bad is going to happen. Remember God buried Moses in an unknown location so while his body was buried Moses was in reality alive in glory and doing well indeed. What does this have to do with Jesus and the Lord's Supper? Simply this - because of Jesus. Jesus and the cross made this possible for Moses and Elijah and for you and me.
Luke 19:41-42 "Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'"
On Jesus' last trip into Jerusalem when he reached that point on the Mount of Olives where He could see the city the Bible says He "wept over it". One is reminded of the passage in Peter where he says the Lord is not willing that any perish (2 Peter 3:9). One only weeps when overcome by emotion and that because one cares. When a loved one dies we cry. Jesus cried because He cared. The Bible teaches He cares about you and me today, that He died for us on the cross. The Lord's Supper is a memorial of that death which He suffered, suffered because He cared. When we partake of the Lord's Supper today we ought to determine to so live that He will not have to weep over us for Jesus cares.
Luke 22:43 "Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven , strengthening Him."
Many Bible scholars believe the angel of the Lord of the Old Testament was Christ. I believe they are correct. When Jesus was in the garden praying being in agony an angel appeared to Him strengthening Him. Jesus is at least figuratively our strengthening angel who gives us strength to face death with hope because he ministered to us in giving His life on the cross for the remission of our sins. His promise is eternal life. Blessed be His name for His great love and gift to us.
Luke 22:50-51 "And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, 'Permit even this'. And He touched his ear and healed him."
I am sure that you are aware this event took place in the garden as Jesus was being arrested. Jesus was about to be drug off to his death, a death that would make life eternal possible to all men who fall short of the glory of God, each one of us, for all have sinned. This account shows the great need man has of a Savior. Sin can make us so depraved that even a miracle performed before our very eyes will not, would not, move us from our sin. Sin has power over men, power for evil. That power can only be overcome by turning to Jesus who by His death on the cross broke the strangle hold Satan and sin had on man. We honor Him for the freedom from sin He has given us as we observe the Lord's Supper each first day of the week in memory of the price of that freedom, His death on the cross.
Luke 22:61-62 "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.' Then Peter went out and wept bitterly."
The Lord was looking at Peter. We are about to partake of the Lord's Supper in memory of the Lord's death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Do you believe He is here with us today? Do you believe He sees us. Do you believe He sees our heart? What is He going to see today in your heart and mine? Do we need to weep? So "let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup."
JOHN 1:29 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'"
Isaiah says that God laid on Him, speaking of Jesus, the iniquity of us all. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, God's sin offering for us. His sacrifice fulfilled the demands of justice being upheld, sin being punished, while allowing God at the same time to extend mercy, grace, and forgiveness. God's love sent Jesus to us but Jesus' love said I'll do it. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life of his friends."
John 3:14 - 15 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
When the children of Israel became discouraged in the their wilderness travels and began to complain against Moses and God, God sent fiery serpents among them causing many of them to be bitten and to die. They had sinned against God. However, when they repented and sought God, God provided salvation for them by means of a bronze serpent erected by Moses. God's message to them was if you are bitten look at the bronze serpent and you will live, not die. You had to believe or else you would not look. Spiritually speaking Jesus has today taken the place of that bronze serpent of so many years ago. If our faith is strong enough to look to him and what he did on the cross of calvary on our behalf we too shall be saved. The Lord's Supper is a memorial to remember Jesus' death on the cross for our salvation.
John 19:25 "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene."
One doubts that there is any pain deeper than the loss of one's son or daughter. If you have ever been in the presence of a mother or father who have just lost their child the sorrow, the weeping, is gut wrenching, almost more than one can bear. To see Jesus, a son of perfect love and compassion totally innocent of all wrong doing being put to death, must have torn the heart out of Mary, his mother. But Jesus also had a Father, a Father in heaven. The pain of the cross bit deep into the soul. However, realizing this, we are given by its realization a glimpse into the deep love for man that both the Father and Son had that they were willing to put themselves through this great trial that man might live. The question then becomes what will our reaction be to the suffering endured on our behalf? Will we make light of it or will we honor the sacrifice made? Those who observe the Lord's Supper in a spiritual manner are blessed greatly in so doing. By doing so we are telling Jesus that with us, yes, His sacrifice made a difference and we are full of love and thanksgiving to Him for it. We will remember and we will not forget. We will not forget. So be it.
(The thought for the above came as a result of seeing my sister and her husband lose unexpectedly their daughter.)
Acts 1:3 "to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."
Sometimes people live in such a way that they bring suffering upon themselves. It is often said of such people that they brought it upon themselves and are receiving their just dues. Peter tells us however that Jesus went about doing good and healing. He lived a perfectly pure and sinless life, a life of a servant, who did all he could to benefit and bless man. Yet, he suffered. He suffered because of man's sin. The Bible says even Pilate knew Jesus had been brought before him because of envy and that he was not deserving of what he got.
It is easy to speak ill of those who brought Jesus to the cross, sinners everyone. Yet, we too are the sinners Jesus died for. Who can stand before God and declare his innocence? Where is the man that can look into his past and not find a single thing said or done that he does not regret for he knows he did wrong? Jesus suffered not only for us all but in a sense because of us all - because we have not done that which is right. We ought to honor such a man, the God-man Jesus, who would willingly suffer to save such a bunch as we have been.
Acts 2:22-23 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know - (23) Him being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;" Acts 2:37 "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?'"
As I am sure you are well aware these verses come from Acts chapter 2 where Peter preaches the first gospel sermon ever heard. It is easy to speak of how awful the men were who crucified Jesus or who at least took part in it one way or another. However, the Bible teaches that a number of them obeyed the gospel on that day of Pentecost many, many years ago. They repented of their sins and set out to live the Christian life. We suspect a number of them succeeded and will be in heaven with Jesus some day. What love Jesus has for man that he would die at the hands of men and yet forgive and save them. When we remember Jesus' death we are remembering a love greater than any ever known.
Rom. 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
The word "gospel" means "good news". Paul says he is not ashamed of that good news. Why? Because there is power in it, saving power. And, what is that good news that has the power to save? It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the remission of the sins of mankind . There is power in the gospel to give us eternal life, power to overcome the fear of death, power to live by while we are here. It should be an honor to each of us to be able to partake of the Lord's Supper and remember his sacrifice on our behalf. He is deserving. It is His gospel, his gift to us.
Rom. 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
There are some people who have lived in such a way in their life that they feel little need for God or salvation. They see themselves as good people, who have lived a good life, and thus God could not be good and condemn them. They are deserving of salvation as they are. What they fail to see is the sin of "pride" they have. They have also made God out to be a liar for He says they have sinned and fallen short and they have made Jesus out to be a fool for He did not need to die on their behalf after all. Their sin is indeed great. Those who partake of the Lord's Supper acceptably in God's sight are those who readily admit that there has been sin in their life and that they are in need of Jesus indeed every hour of their life. We have been humbled by God's word which has shown us our sin and our need.
Rom. 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
One advantage of growing older is that it gives one opportunity to experience life in such a way as to be able to make observations and learn. If you have lived long enough you can readily recall people that are now dead and gone but whom you can remember as strong, vigorous, competent, and capable people who could perhaps out do you even in your prime of life. One lesson in life we are to learn is that this life is at best but a temporary thing. The day comes when even the strongest must die. We are fortunate if we can learn enough to prepare for that time. Learn enough to accept that we have been sinners, must meet Jesus in the judgment, and realize our only hope is in accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour. The Lord's Supper is a memorial of Him, our Lord, our Saviour, in whom only we have hope of life eternal.
Rom. 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
It has been often said that the hardest thing to do in making a person a Christian is to get him to repent. Pride keeps us from humbling ourselves. We do not want to admit we have sinned and need saving. Yet, it is certain that every individual can think back over their life and remember things said, done, or not done that should have been done. These things prick our conscience, hurt us as we think back on them. Jesus died on the cross saying to us I know and I died in order that you might have a clear conscience again and be as innocent as you were when a babe. I died that your sins can be washed away as though they never existed. What great love, what a glorious cross. We glory in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14) as we remember that cross in partaking of the Lord's Supper on this first day of the week.
Rom. 3:21 - 25a "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith ..."
One of God's attributes is that he is a righteous God who cannot bear evil. God has never had a desire to destroy his creation whom he loves even though we have been unrighteous and undeserving and have done evil things. In sending Jesus to earth to suffer and die on our behalf God found a way to save us because of His great love for us. In doing so Jesus also had to love us enough to die for us. This he did even though he could have called down 12 legions of angels and saved himself. We thus owe him our own love and devotion and thanksgiving as we remember his suffering and death on the cross in partaking of the Lord's Supper here on the first day of each week.
Rom. 4:25 "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification"
The thought has probably crossed all of our minds at one time or another how could Jesus be crucified because of my sins when I was not yet born? John tells us that God the Father sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world (1 John 4:14). The Bible also tells us that "all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23) and that "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10). Jesus did not die on the cross just because of the sins of a select group of people living at a specific point in time. As the Savior of the world he died for all men in whatever age and time and place they have lived or will live. Why was it necessary to die for men not yet born? Because they would sin and Jesus is the Savior of the world for as long as the world stands. Yes, Jesus was delivered up because of our offenses as much as for anyone else's and we too need the cross of Jesus.
Rom. 5:1 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
The Bible teaches we have been justified by faith but faith in whom, in what? Well, we say faith in Jesus. But, what constitutes faith in Jesus? Is it not true that the faith that makes a difference, the faith that gives us peace with God, is the faith that is convinced that the cross made a difference and thus leads us to loving obedience to Jesus as Lord and Saviour? Why observe the Lord's Supper? Because we believe the cross of Jesus has made all the difference in the world and most certainly in our own life.
Rom. 5:9-10 "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (10) "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." 1 Thess. 5:9 "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ"
When things are going badly in our life and we grow fearful we need to stop and meditate on God's word knowing He would never lie to us and knowing we can depend on His word. In His word the faithful child of God will always find comfort. The passages just read are of such a nature. They teach us that no matter how tough things are now the days to come will be brighter for He says we shall be saved, we are not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation. No doubting about it. What a wonderful comforting promise. And why? How? Through Jesus who died for us, who loves us, and whom we give praise and thanksgiving to in this observance of His memorial supper.
Rom. 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
It is natural for men to fear physical death for it is an unknown entity. However, if we believe the Bible as Christians we can view death as a wonderful gateway through which we will walk into a wonderland of beauty and glory unlike anything we can even imagine. The Bible teaches we are not really going to die anyway but simply change our location, we are just moving. God is giving us a glorious gift and He says it is in Jesus His son. Jesus is the one who bought us on the cross and who is bringing us with Him. Who would not want to worship and honor Him in partaking of a Supper in His remembrance? Praise be to Jesus.
Rom. 11:20 "Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear."
The Bible says we "stand by faith". What does that mean? Does observing the Lord's Supper have anything to do with standing by faith? Paul says in the book of 2nd Corinthians (5:7) that "we walk by faith". Walking by faith, standing by faith, simply means we believe what God has said through his word so strongly that we act upon it. We are compelled to act for our faith forces us to do so like Noah building the ark. So, is observing the Lord's Supper a part of standing by faith? Absolutely, for we partake because we believe what God's word has taught us about the cross and about our need to remember the death of His son on that cross. We partake by faith and in doing so stand by faith.
1 Cor. 1:18 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
To many in the world the death of Jesus on the cross means nothing. They do not honor Christ nor fear God and feel superior to those that do. James says, "what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." How much better it is to live and die in the faith with hope for tomorrow. We partake of the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week not because we have to, that is there is no gun at our back, but because we want to for we believe with all our heart that Jesus came to earth from heaven, suffered and died for the remission of our sins, and will come back some day to take us home with him eternally. We wish to honor Jesus in the partaking of the Lord's Supper and we wish to die and depart from this earth when our time comes as those who have loved and believed in the Lord.
1 Cor. 1:23 "but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness"
The cross is the central theme of the Bible. Everything prior to that event was leading up to it. Everything afterwards looked back to it for meaning. All hope man has for eternity, every comfort such hope gives, all peace of mind, all faith, all comfort of love rests on Christ crucified. Without that event we live as hopeless human beings who grow old and whom soon must die and pass from this world in dispair. Because of the cross we can die in hope and faith, in confidence, and with joy as did the apostles. We will simply be gathered home and who knows of a better place than home. Jesus made it possible and we rejoice in His gift to us as we remember on this first day of the week that great sacrifice he made.
1 Cor. 5:7 "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."
In the Old Testament we read how the children of Israel were saved from the death angel when he passed over by the blood of the passover lamb that was sacrificed when that lamb's blood was applied appropriately, a story we are all familiar with. Christ is the Christian's passover lamb whose blood cleanses us from all sin when it is appropriated. As the blood of the passover lamb in Egypt could not save without the sacrifice of the lamb's life so it was with Christ. Blood was shed even unto death but it was the blood of salvation. Our life was/is saved by the blood of the Lamb of God, Christ, our Passover. We remember that sacrifice this day.
1 Cor. 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
We belong to God. We have been purchased and what was the price paid? It was a steep price, the death of Jesus on the cross, his shed blood. It cost the Father and the Son an awful price to buy us, a devastating price to pay. It shows how deeply God desires fellowship with us, shows His great love for us. What a slap in the face it must be to both the Father and the Son when we take the Lord's Supper in a light, flippant manner, with wondering minds and hearts. What a slap in God's face when we say to ourself missing the services and the Lord's Supper on the Lord's day is a little thing. I will make it up next week. Yes, Jesus dies for us and we miss the Lord's memorial supper but we will make it up to him next week or whenever by remembering Him then. Really?
1 Cor. 10:16 "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?"
The word communion means fellowship, sharing (NAS), participation (ESV). In partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine we participate or share in the body and blood of Jesus and thus in the blessings that came about as a result of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross in giving His body and shedding His blood. It is a joint sharing with one another and with Christ. It unites us. No Christian can stay in fellowship with Christ who abandons or gives up the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper is that important. As we observe this supper this day let us realize what is taking place and what we are really doing - uniting with Christ and with one another.
1 Cor. 11:23-25 "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; 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.' 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.'"
(I will add to the number of talks from this passage as time goes by.)
When a loved one passes on and the funeral day comes around as much as we all hate funerals there is no other place we would rather be at that time than that service, a memorial service. Why? Because we loved the departed. We want to be there. We want to honor our loved one. The Lord's Supper ought to be much the same way. It too is a memorial service in honor of one we have loved and do love. When the funeral of a loved one is over you feel better. Why? Because you have done what you could and all you could and there is comfort in that. The Lord's Supper is no different in that regards. We come, we partake spiritually as well as physically, and we leave knowing we have done what we could and we find peace in that. The Lord's Supper is surely a blessing to the spiritual man.
1 Cor. 11:27-31 "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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."
We have always emphasized that this passage speaks to us about reverence while the Lord's Supper is being observed rather than about being personally worthy to partake with the idea being that none are really worthy. Certainly, this is true, all of it. Yet, we may well go too far with that idea if we are not careful. Can I live in the world as a worldly person all week trampling the Son of God underfoot, counting the blood of the covenant a common thing, as the Hebrew writer says and then come in on a Sunday morning be quiet and meditate while the supper is being observed and say I have partaken worthily? Paul says, "let a man examine himself". Surely that means something. Am I trying to live in a way where my life honors Christ? It is not am I sinless but am I trying to live as Christ would have me live? A spiritual partaking requires spiritual people.
1 Cor. 11:27-31 "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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."
Paul says, "Let a man examine himself". The blood Jesus shed on the cross is in the older translations referred to as the blood of the New Testament. In the new translations it is called the blood of the covenant. The New Testament is the new covenant Jesus made with man on the cross, made by the shedding of his blood, the giving up of his life. A covenant requires two parties and those two are to be in agreement on the terms of the covenant. When we voluntarily became Christians we were giving our word that we would be faithful on our part to the new covenant. We know Jesus will be faithful in keeping his part. How about you and me keeping our part? "Let a man examine himself" lest he find himself counting the blood of the covenant a common thing. "Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup." Are we faithful to the Lord?
1 Cor. 11:27-31 "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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."
We are warned in this passage lest we partake of the Lord's Supper in a way that would not be a discerning of the Lord's body that he gave on our behalf. How does a person discern the Lord's body in the partaking of the Lord's Supper. Sometimes the best way to get answers is by asking questions. Would a man be discerning the Lord's body if he had his mind on the ball game later in the day or on his work and all he had to do? Would a woman be discerning the Lord's body by thinking about the noon day meal? Would one discern the Lord's body by talking to the one sitting next to them while the communion was being passed or by playing with the kids when the kids are doing just fine by themselves? The point is that we all really know what must be done to discern the body of the Lord while communion is being observed. Let us all strive to put all worldly thoughts far from us during this time of remembrance and do that which is necessary to a proper partaking.
1 Cor. 15:3 "For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures"
Wonder why Christ died? Sometimes we wonder why people do things. Christ died willingly for He says in John 10:17 & 18, "I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself." But, why did He do it? The Bible tells us all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that the wages of sin is death. God being a just God there was nothing to do but bring the death sentence upon us. That is hard to do when you love those whom are to sentenced. Jesus took our place on the cross saying in effect I will take the punishment for their sin. I will voluntarily substitute myself in their place. Forgive them and let them go, conditionally of course. Thus Jesus died for our sins. We remember the day of that sacrifice long ago as we gather here today to observe the Lord's Supper in thanksgiving to Jesus our Lord and Savior.
1 Cor. 15:19-23 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order; Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming."
We all must die, even our parents and our children. Into every life sorrow comes. Even Jesus wept upon the occasion of Lazarus' death. If this life was all there was it would be pretty much one of continual sorrow as our family departed one by one and our own time drew near. But Paul gives us hope "for even so in Christ all shall be made alive". In Jesus we find both hope and life meaning our life need not be one of discouragement and dispair. We shall live again and that eternally but we live because Jesus died for us. What a glorious sacrifice on His part, what love, what compassion! We indeed have a mighty Saviour in Jesus. Our thanksgiving ought to abound as we remember His sacrifice this first day of the week.
2 Cor. 4:16-18 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."
This is a great hope passage. When Paul says "we do not lose heart" he is saying we do not lose hope. Things can get really tough in life. It is hard to keep going at times. Paul says earlier in this chapter that they were "hard pressed on every side". Earlier in the book Paul says they "despaired even of life" and yet they did not lose hope - hope of life eternal. Life eternal because of Jesus and the cross of Christ whereby our sins could be remitted by His blood through faith and obedience. This is and was the great hope of Paul and it is our great hope. In observing the Lord's Supper we are saying we have not lost hope. We still believe. We believe in Jesus and the cross.
2 Cor. 6:10 "as sorrowful , yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."
Paul in this passage is talking to the Corinthians about himself and his fellow workers. He says they have nothing yet possess all things. Sometimes poor Christians become discouraged but what was true of Paul is also true of every faithful Christian - we possess all things - for in the end the only thing that is worth anything is eternal life. One either has eternal life or he has nothing. What would a million dollars profit a dying man? What does that man have if he does not have eternal life? The man who has Jesus in his life and is in a close personal faithful relationship with him possesses all things. That man can rejoice in Jesus and in the salvation brought to him by the cross. He became poor that we through his poverty might become rich and rich we are.
2 Cor. 8:9 "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."
As you know the word "grace" means favor, sometimes we say unmerited favor. We do not often think of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as being a "favor" to us but it was. Those who do us a favor realize we can use some help and through graciousness of heart they lend a hand, we are thankful, and feel beholding to them. We love and appreciate them more for their kindness to us. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was a favor and favors do not have to be done. They are done out of the goodness of the heart. Should we not love and appreciate Jesus more for His favor to us? When we partake of the Lord's Supper and remember the cross we are remembering a favor done to us, one we greatly needed, and a favor that cost Jesus dearly. Let us strive to love Him more and reflect on His love to us as we partake.
Gal. 1:3 - 4 "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father"
Jesus sacrifice on the cross was clearly the will of God the Father. As Jesus said in His prayer in the garden not my will but thine be done. But this passage just as clearly teaches us that Jesus "gave himself" and did so for a reason - that "He might deliver us from this present evil age". When God gives us a command it may not be our will to obey, it may be a hard commandment. Jesus teaches us by the cross that we can surrender to God the Father and make His will our own. He did, so can we. What the Father wants we can want. Both the Father and Jesus the Son wanted us saved and delivered from the judgment to come. That is God's will for our life and Jesus through his giving of Himself made it all possible. We thus honor him for his feat this day - a feat of love.
Eph. 5:1-2 "Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
We probably do not talk enough about love. It has just kind of gotten to be another word but the word is a symbol that stands for a reality, attitudes and actions toward others. 1 Cor. 13 talks much about the reality. Would you rather be loved or hated? Paul says love is kind (1 Cor. 13:4), does not seek its own (1 Cor. 13:5). Jesus loves us and is kind toward us. He was not seeking his own when he went to the cross and gave himself for us but he was seeking us - seeking us to save us, seeking us to live with him, seeking us to an abundant and an eternal life. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
Phil. 1:21-23 "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better."
The force of this passage is great for Paul is saying that there is a part of him that would like to die. It is rare to hear a healthy man still able to work, a man without mental problems, make a statement like that . Yet, Paul is confident that on a personal level death is preferable to life. He says death is "far better" for that is the force of his statement. Why is that so? Because the Bible says God is going to wipe away every tear from their eyes, there will be no more sorrow, crying , or pain, no more death (Rev. 21:4). We will have the abundant life Jesus talked about to the utmost. But, we need to remember "because of Jesus and the cross, because of his suffering, because of his self sacrifice".
Phil. 2:4-8 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."
It is hard for man to be humble. How difficult it is to feel humility down in the depths of our souls - not just to talk about it but to actually feel it and experience it. When one thinks about Jesus humbling himself even to going to the cross it is all the more amazing. He had the power to speak the word and immediately exchange places with his persecutors so that they would be hanging on crosses instead of himself. He could have spoken the word and filled the oceans with gold coins, spoken the word and had the world bowing down to him. Yet, he allowed himself to be humiliated and shamed. One learns from Jesus what is most important. What is most important is not personal praise, honor, and glory but seeking the good of others. Jesus humbled himself on the cross because our welfare demanded it. Let us honor his memory this day in a spirit of thanksgiving as we observe his memorial supper and let us honor his example in our life.
Phil. 3:20-21 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."
It often takes time for a man or woman to come to that point in life where they are ready to concede that they indeed live in a "lowly body" that is wearing down and wearing out and there is little they can do about it. We grow old and we don't want to grow old. We want to be young and vigorous in all the strength of youth. Jesus himself lived in a lowly body as we do, a body that like our own could and did die. Part of the good news of the cross is that Jesus has made it possible for us by His death to obtain a glorious and immortal body in time to come that will never grow old and will always be young. The story of the cross is assuredly "the greatest story" ever told. It has the greatest love, the greatest grace, the greatest hope, and the greatest sacrifice, and provides us all with the greatest reason in the world to be thankful.
Phil. 4:3 "And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life."
The Bible teaches that there is a book of life. In the book of Revelation it is called in one place the the Lamb's book of life. Jesus said that he came to earth that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Even though in partaking of the Lord's Supper we look backwards in memory of Jesus' death yet we realize that his cross was not about death but about life, about the book of life and having our names written in it. The cross was necessary for the cleansing of our sins and and the giving of eternal life. We honor Jesus in our hearts and mind as we remember the cross in partaking of the Lord's supper on this first day of the week. What power Jesus had in overcoming death, what love in giving his life for our own that we might live eternally.
Phil. 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Do you think we ought to be anxious about our worship? Have you ever been anxious knowing you were going to led a prayer, have the talk at the Lord's Supper, going to lead singing? Or, have you ever found yourself getting into a pattern where your mind would wonder during services resulting in your failing to worship in spirit? If we want to please God then we ought to be concerned about how we conduct ourselves both outwardly and inwardly in the worship. The passage just read tells us we ought to pray about it making request for help and praying with thanksgiving as we do so. We are now about to partake of the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Jesus dying on the cross for us. Let us pray that God will help us all to focus our hearts, our souls, on Jesus and the cross as we pray giving thanksgiving for Jesus and his sacrifice.
Col. 1:21-23 "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and irreproachable in His sight-if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel ... "
Christians are well aware that they once were active sinners serving Satan and not God and thus needed to repent and obey the gospel. Paul tells us that we have now been reconciled to God, accepted by Him, but at a cost, the cost of the sacrifice of the body of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Why did Jesus do this? Paul says that we might be holy, blameless, and irreproahable in His sight. This teaches us many things but one is that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, love us and were willing to make great sacrifices to help us to become the kind of person we need to be to live with them in their home in heaven. We might say they not only invited us to heaven but came to get us making every provision necessary for us to get there and that at great personal cost. The Lord's Supper is a remembrance of the fight against sin that Jesus waged on our behalf, a memorial, of what it cost Him to get us to heaven.
Col. 3:3-4 "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
Glory is something few of us experience much of in our lifetime. Paul says not many mighty, not many noble respond to the gospel call. We see others honored and praised but it is always for someone else it seems and never for us. We are most always on the far end of the bench and our name is not being called. The Bible teaches that will change when Jesus comes. Perhaps for the very first time in our life we will be honored. How good Jesus is to those who love Him. It ought to be easy for us to honor Jesus in view of the many blessings that are ours here and now and to come. And, that we do on the first day of the week remembering his death on the cross for the blessings that are ours were purchased at a price. Certainly, we ought to remember.
1 Thess. 5:9-10 "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
Once a man is born his spirit will always exist. It will not cease to be but there is a big difference in living eternally with Jesus and His love or living without Him in eternal punishment where the "worm does not die and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:48) Paul tells us that we ought to put on "as a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thess. 5:8) and then he gives the reason - we were not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation because Jesus died for us. Paul says we will live with Christ. How thankful we ought to be when we contemplate the two extremes, heaven or hell, and understand that it is only because of Jesus' sacrifice, His death, on the cross that this can be. The Lord's Supper is a remembrance of the day of the cross, of Jesus death, that gives us the hope of salvation.
1 Tim. 1:15 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
I suppose about all of us who will be partaking of the Lord's Supper this morning have felt much like Paul at one time or another - the chief of sinners. Those who have no regrets have never repented and thus are not Christians. Jesus came for us when He came to earth. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who left the 99 and came searching for you and me - searching for the one. As you and I would search the world over to find our own lost child or grandchild, leaving no stone unturned, no sacrifice too great, so Jesus sought us. He found us and rescued us but died in doing so. We need to feel our debt of love to Jesus as we partake of the Lord's Supper for we owe Him as one who was lost but was found.
1 Tim. 2:5-6 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,"
We have all heard of individuals in history who were kidnapped and a ransom demanded. If the ransom was paid the individual was to be set free and have his life spared if that was threatened. Because of sin in our life we have all been condemned to eternal death by a God who can be no other way than just. Sin deserves death. Yet, God does not desire that any be lost and thus sent Jesus His son into the world to act as a ransom on our behalf. He would take the just punishment for our sins. There would be an exchange, His life for ours. Paul says, however, that Jesus "gave Himself a ransom for all" meaning that His love for us was such that he voluntarily made this sacrifice. In the act of partaking of the Lord's Supper we seek to remember Jesus on the cross suffering and dying as a ransom for each one of us. We need to see Him hanging there in our place, as our Saviour, as we reflect upon His death.
Heb. 4:14-16 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therfore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Why did Jesus die on the cross? Was it not that we might come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might find mercy and grace to help in time of need? Have you never felt the need of mercy in your life, of grace to help? I think our hearts pierce us all as they ought to. Jesus died not to say our sins are okay but to say there is grace and mercy, that we can be forgiven and start life anew. While our sins ought to cause us to weep Jesus' grace given to us by way of the cross ought to cause rejoicing and deep thanksgiving to Him who died that we might live. The Lord's Supper calls us to remember what was a heroic act on His part to save us and to allow us to live a life of expectant hope.
Heb. 7:26-27 "For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself."
When a person gives his life for a cause there is nothing left he can give. It is considered the supreme sacrifice. Sometimes men make that sacrifice in a cause and yet find it to be of no avail. The cause is lost despite their sacrifice. When that happens we often look back and consider it a waste, that it was all for nought. When, however, we go back and look at the sacrifice Jesus made who can ever say it was for nought, that there was no power in it, no power to save, no power to make a difference? Over the ages the world has been filled with men and women, boys and girls, who can say from the depth of their hearts that His sacrifice was not for nought, that it did make a difference, and they rejoice in the difference it has made in their lives and the hope for the future they hold. In the Lord's Supper we set aside time to remember the sacrifice that did make a difference.
Heb. 12:2 "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
What do you think the joy was that was set before Jesus for which reason He endured the cross? Was it that He was going back home to heaven to be with His father? No doubt He found great joy in that. Having said that do you not also think it was because on the cross he would accomplish and complete the mission for which He came? Did He not come to earth to seek and save the lost, to reconcile man to God, to make a way for the cleansing of sin, to be our Savior? I think beyond personal doubt that part of the joy that was set before Jesus for which reason He endured the cross was in realizing that the mission of salvation for which purpose He came to earth would be and could be accomplished on the cross. His love for man was great and seeing man's salvation I have no doubt brought Him much joy. The angels rejoice over one sinner that repents. How much more Jesus? The cross is synonymous with the love of Christ for man. Our salvation brings Him joy.
1 Peter 1:18-19 "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
Blood represents or stands for life, no blood, no life. If we are a father or mother and have a son that son's blood is far more precious to us than all of the gold in the world. We would give our all to save that son. All life is precious. Jesus' life was precious to His father but also has come to be precious to us as well if we are the Christian we ought to be. We can mourn for Him in regards to what He had to go through on the cross because He has become dear to us as we have grown to know Him better and better as the years have gone by. As we reflect on the Lord's death on the cross while partaking of the Supper there ought to be within each of us a degree of sorrow as we think back to His suffering and passing away on the cross knowing full well His death was a sacrifice for each of us.
1 Peter 2:24 "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."
When Jesus went to the cross and died He carried our sins with him there and there they died with Him provided we have sincerely obeyed the gospel from the heart. Paul says we "were baptized into His death". Jesus died on the cross and we died with him when we were baptized. The new forgiven man, the spiritual man, arose from baptism. By his stripes, as the text states, we were healed. What a wonderful blessing. We are here today to give Jesus thanksgiving and praise for what he did on our behalf on the cross. We do so by partaking of His supper in honor of His memory, remembering His death until He comes again.
1 Peter 2:24 "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."
I would like to emphasize the last part of this verse "by whose stripes you were healed". Normally we would think that the one who received the stripes, or the beating, would be the one who needed healing. This verse teaches just the opposite, that it is you and I who needed the healing, not Jesus who was beaten. Healing is a wonderful thing. It means recovery, hope, a future. Jesus in going to the cross gave us all of those things. Because of the cross I can be healed of my sin and live a life in expectation of an even better eternal life in glory. We reflect on the cross of Jesus and his suffering as we surround the table this day. What should it mean to each one of us but glory, honor, and the hope of immortality through Jesus.
1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,"
In the Garden of Eden, there was a time, be it long or short, where there was no sin in the world. Man walked with God in fellowship and friendship. There was no death, no sorrow, no suffering, no pain. Sin, the breaking of God's commandments, is the cause of all pain and sorrow - all suffering. Sinful men sinning crucified Christ. Yet, he died for us that we might be brought back to God into a second Garden of Eden, heaven itself. The cross shows us how low sin can bring men in that they gladly murder the innocent but it also shows us how great love can be in that the one who could have readily of come down from the cross stayed there and died to save men, even his own murderers. Thus we all have the choice Adam and Eve had. Do we desire to live in God's garden or will we choose to live outside it? Jesus made it possible for us to go back. The cross was God's gateway to heaven to all who chose to go there. Let us go back to the cross in heart and mind and see Jesus hanging there on our behalf as we observe this memorial supper in his memory.
Rev. 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Remember when you were a small child and how if Mom or Dad or your teacher at school, any authority figure, said something was true you were absolutely convinced that things were that way and that it was impossible for it to be otherwise? We out grew that. However, the Bible teaches we need to be child like in our trust in Jesus and that we can do so with confidence. Jesus says of the one who overcomes the world "I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life". The promise of Jesus toward his faithful trusting child. It ought to be a joy for us to be able to be here today and take time to remember His great love for us in the cross he bore on our behalf and to rejoice as children in His promise.
Rev. 21:27 "But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."
You are probably aware of this passage coming from the book of Revelation dealing with the New Jerusalem, the city of God. Our interest this morning is in the "Lamb's Book of Life" mentioned at the end of the verse. The book of life is mentioned 8 times in the KJ New Testament. In Rev. 13:8 it is called the "Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". The book belongs to Jesus. It consists of names, names of those who will live with him in eternity. The names of those who were purchased with his own blood. It is the most precious book that will ever exist but it exists only because of the cross of Christ. The cross of Christ was indeed for us a glorious cross in which we glory.
book of life of