The Lord’s Supper - Lesson 2
The Lord’s Supper is not like any other meal. It is the only thing Jesus asks us to do to remember how he suffered for us. He died on the cross for us and his blood is the one and only thing that will remove our sins. His body was beaten. He was bruised and insulted for us. Jesus did nothing wrong. His death was not because he was wrong; he died because all men are wrong and he is the only one who can save them.
Just before he went to die on the cross he had a last meal with his disciples. At the end of the meal, "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 Father's kingdom. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Now read Luke 22:29-30.
On the first day the church was formed they ate this memorial supper (Read Acts 2:40-42). Later, when Paul was on his way to Jerusalem he stopped in a city named Troas. "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight" (Acts 20:7). Breaking bread does not mean eating a common meal. "Breaking" is another word for eating. That’s where we get "Breakfast" from. When we eat the morning meal, we break fast. Fast is another word for not eating. The church at Troas broke the bread of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday at church. They waited seven days to eat this great feast. Every person who is a Christ must eat this supper every Sunday.
The things eaten in this supper are just two things; the juice of the vine (grape juice) and unleavened bread. Bread that is unleavened is very plain. It is not supposed to be tasty or good to the taste. It is supposed to remind us that Jesus went through terrible treatment for us. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me" (1 Cor. 11:23-24). Today when the bread is eaten in the Lord’s Supper, we give thanks for it first and then eat it.
The fruit of the vine, or grape juice, is also a part of this meal. When a Christian drinks this juice he is to remember the blood that Jesus lost when he was killed on the cross. "After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Cor. 11:25). The Lord’s Supper is a great memorial that is very important to Christians.
The purpose of this act of worship in the church each Sunday is to remember and never forget what Jesus did. "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come" (1 Cor. 11:26). Today we have funerals for those who die and whom we wish to remember and honor. Grave stones are put up in cemeteries so that we can go there and remember people who have died. The Lord’s Supper is like a funeral or grave stone for Jesus. During the Lord’s Supper Christians are both sad and happy. They are sad that Jesus had to die but happy that he promised to come again.
Eating of the Lord’s Supper is very serious. To be irreverent, to misbehave, or be silly during the supper is a sin. "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Cor. 11:27). He added that those who drink in an unworthy manner sins. To drink in an unworthy manner is to drink not thinking of what the Supper means.
Only Christians are invited to this meal. That is why those who are not members of the church should not take part in this part of the worship. Jesus said, "and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you
Luke 22:30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom" (Luke 22:29-30), It is in the kingdom that people eat and drink at his table. His kingdom here on earth is the same as his church. That is why the Bible shows people who had been baptized on the day of Pentecost took part of the "breaking of bread" with the other Christians. The church at Corinth took the Lord’s Supper because they were in the kingdom of God.
Scriptures to read and study:
Luke 22:29-30
Acts 2:40-42
Acts 20:7
1 Cor. 11:23-27
Questions for Study:
1. What does breaking bread mean in this lesson?
2. What kind of bread is to be eaten in the Lord’s Supper?
3. What kind of juice is to be used?
4. When should the Lord’s Supper be eaten?
5. Where should it be eaten?
6. How often should it be eaten?
7. What should one remember when eating the bread?
8. What should one remember when drinking the fruit of the vine?
9. How does Paul say one can sin while taking the Lord’s Supper?
10. How does one eat and drink the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner?
Thought Questions:
1. Should those who have not been baptized take the Lord’s Supper? Why?
2. Can you show that the church of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ are the same?
3. Why do you believe the Lord’s Supper should be taken every Sunday?
Luke 22:29-30: And I appoint unto you a _________, as my Father hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at ___ ______ in my kingdom,
Acts 20:7: And upon the ____ ____ of the week, when the disciples came together to _____ _______, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took ______:
1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my _____, which is broken for you: this do in _____________ of me.
1 Cor 11:25 After the same manner also he took the ____, when he had supped, saying, This ___ is the new testament in my ______: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in ______________ of me.
1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this _______, and drink this _____, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.
1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, ___________, shall be _______ of the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Cor 11:28 But let a man ____________ himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Cor 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh ___________ eateth and drinketh _____________ to himself, not _____________ the Lord's body.