Lord's Day 43
Devotion
The Lord’s Supper can be best understood by studying the various names given to it. We call it the Lord’s Supper, remembering Christ’s last meal with his disciples, in which he showed how he would be broken and poured out on our behalf. The apostle Paul says that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. The sacrament is also called Eucharist, which literally means “a good grace” or, “thanksgiving.” When we come to the table, we make a sacrifice of praise, thanking God and giving glory to Him for Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins. It is also called Communion, because in the meal we share, by faith, in the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and, though many, we become one body in communion with Him.
We believe that Christ is spiritually present as we gather around the table: a presence that is no less real than our physical presence. It is important to remember that Christ’s physical body is not present at the table. Rather, His physical existence is in Heaven, at the right hand of God the Father, where He prays for us and intercedes on our behalf. As we partake in the Lord’s Supper, He strengthens our spirits with His own. Just as food and water strengthen our bodies, the presence, or communion with Christ, strengthens our spirits, our faith, so that we may walk in righteousness before Him.
All who trust in Christ for their salvation; any who are tired of their sin and would be relieved of the burden of them; all who hope to live a holy life; are welcomed to this table. As we come, we are to examine ourselves, to ensure that we take the meal in a worthy way, so that we do not come in a way that will dishonor the sacrifice of our Lord.
Prayer
Gracious God, thank you for the gift of the Lord’s Supper, this meal that reminds us of your love for us in Christ, and unites us in faith with Him. May we live worthy of His sacrifice, united as the body of Christ, bringing you glory in all that we are. In Jesus name. Amen.
Question 96
Q. 96. What is the Lord’s Supper?
A. The Lord’s Supper is a Sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
Scripture Proofs
1 Cor. 11:23-26;
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Cor. 10:16.
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
Question 97
Q. 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper?
A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves.
Scripture Proofs
1 Cor. 11:28-29;
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
2 Cor. 13:5;
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
1 Cor. 11:31;
But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
1 Cor. 10:16-17;
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
1 Cor. 5:7-8.
Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.