The early church celebrated “Agape/Love” Feasts.
Corporate meals, which concluded by remembering Jesus’ sacrifice w/ The Lord’s Supper
Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
I. The Lord’s Supper
A. Paul’s Source Of Instruction V. 23 a
1. Paul seeks to correct their wrong understanding of the Lord’s Supper as being a common festival, with only Jesus’ name attached to it.
2. It was meant to be much more than that, and Paul seeks to instruct them.
3. For I received from the Lord…
Paul’s instructions were not to be understood as being his own ideas, but rather direct instructions from Christ Himself, carrying the very authority of God.
a. Paul received a direct revelation of the gospel and a direct revelation of the Lord’s Supper.
b. The Lord gave him special instructions concerning it — remember that Paul was not in the Upper Room at the institution of the Lord’s Supper.
4. that which I also delivered to you- An important aspect of the Christian life.
a. We must first receive revelation, from Jesus before we can give it to others
b. Paul was faithful to communicate only that which Jesus had taught him
B. The Breaking Of The Bread V. 23b-24
1. the same night in which He was betrayed…
a. Betrayed- As Jesus was being betrayed, Judas having left to betray Him
b. Paul communicated the solemnity of the Lord’s Supper.
2. V. 24- The “breaking”, and what it signifies
a. Broke, broken- The bread which represented Jesus’ body was broken
b. Regarding crucifixion victims: Roman soldiers would hasten their death by breaking their legs, prohibiting them the ability to push up and take a breath
c. John 19 tells us that instead, Jesus was pierced with a spear to confirm His death. John said that also fulfilled prophecy regarding Jesus.
d. Why did Jesus say His body was “broken”?
e. Other Bibles say: This is my Body, “given”…
f. The bread, which represented His body, was broken and distributed
g. 15x’s in N.T., each time, used of breaking bread: communion, or loaves/fish
h. What does “breaking” mean?
i. The bread at the Last Supper was broken to provide some for all.
ii. The purpose was distribution and provision for many
iii. The one piece was shared by many; in a sense, making them one
iv. It is a picture of the inclusiveness of those who believe in Jesus, sharing together the benefits of His sacrifice for His own
3. Broken/given for you…”you” is plural, the disciples
a. The disciples were a varied group: contrary to one another, fighting for prominence, different cultural backgrounds, different political goals, and different spiritual interests.
b. Peter, Andrew, James, John: Four commercial fishermen, two of which had very bad tempers (James & John, Sons of Thunder), and the other one (Peter) very impulsive, all with Jewish names
c. Andrew & Philip- Greek names, spoke w/ Greek seekers, possibly bi-cultural
d. Matthew- A Jewish traitor to Israel, a tax collector working for Rome, and extorting money from his
countrymen
e. Simon the Zealot- a pro-Israel political activist who probably wanted Jesus to overthrow Rome.
f. Judas Iscariot- the financial controller, a thief and the betrayer of Jesus
g. Some from the rural setting of Galilee, others from the metropolitan are of Jerusalem
4. The early church was part of the “you”
a. The early church was comprised mainly of Jews
b. Initially, they could not conceive of Gentiles being saved
c. Great dispute when God began to save Gentiles.
d. Jesus brought together to very diverse and divided cultures
e. Turn to Ephesians 2:11-22
5. We are a part of the “you”.
a. Many different backgrounds, cultural inclinations, goals, talents, likes/dislikes, ways of life
b. Yet Jesus’ body was broken for the corporate “us”, regardless of any human distinctions.
6. We are not saved by His physical suffering, but that suffering was part of the process whereby His blood would be shed.
7. Eat the bread, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for us
C. The Cup V. 25
1. New covenant– a new agreement, different than the one made with Moses.
a. Previously, the people brought sacrifices for their sins
b. Those sacrifices never removed the sins of the people
c. Those sacrifices looked forward to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
2. In my blood– This new agreement between God and man wasn’t sealed with a king’s mark on soft wax, not sealed
by the sacrifice of an animal, but sealed and made sure by the shedding of the blood of Christ.
a. Hebrews 9:22 without shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins)
b. Matthew 26:27, 28 27Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
c. Romans 3:21, 22 21But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the
Law and the Prophets, 22even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
3. V.25- This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
No prescribed frequency, but that it should be done in remembrance of Christ.
II. Remember
His sacrifice for all of us. His sacrifice for you. Discern the Body of Christ, His church.