Do This In Rememberance Of Me

Introduction: Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23–30

• Today, we are going to reflect on the Lord's Supper. As we delve into the significance of this command, let us set our hearts and minds on the Scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 11:23–30 as we go through this lesson. This passage recounts the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus Christ Himself, during the Passover meal. It is a moment that marks the beginning of what will become a new covenant between God and humanity, a covenant sealed by the sacrifice of our Savior through the shedding of His blood.
• In Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22-26, Luke 22:14-26, we see Jesus’ institution of what we refer to as the Lord’s Supper. This act of love and sacrifice is the foundation of our faith and the reason we come together to remember and honor Him.
• As we explore the origin, meaning, elements, manner, frequency, and purpose of the Lord's Supper, let us do so with reverence and gratitude. Let us examine ourselves, reflecting on Christ's sacrifice, and renew our commitment to live for Him. My hope is that this lesson will inspire us to keep Christ central in our worship, encourage unity and fellowship, and stir our hope for His return.

I. The Origin of the Lord’s Supper

A. Instituted by Christ

• Matthew 26:26–28
  Jesus established the Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal. He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples saying, "Take, eat; this is my body." He then took the cup, 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."
• This marked the beginning of what will become a new covenant between God and man.
  • Hebrews 9:16-17 (16)  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (17)  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

B. Commanded for the Church to Observe

• 1 Corinthians 11:23–25
  Paul recounts the institution of the Supper as a command from the Lord: “This do in remembrance of me.”
• It was not optional—it was commanded as a continual remembrance of Christ's sacrifice.

II. The Meaning of the Lord’s Supper

A. A Memorial

• Luke 22:19
  Jesus said, "this do in remembrance of me."
• The Lord’s Supper serves as a solemn reminder of Christ’s body and blood given for us.

B. A Proclamation

• 1 Corinthians 11:26
  “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”
• Each time we partake, we declare our belief in Christ’s atoning death and anticipate His return.

III. The Elements of the Supper

A. The Bread – Symbol of Christ’s Body

• Matthew 26:26; 1 Corinthians 11:24
  The bread represents Christ’s body, which was broken for us. His physical suffering and crucifixion secured our salvation.

B. The Cup – Symbol of Christ’s Blood

• Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25
  The fruit of the vine represents His blood, the blood of the New Testament, shed for the remission of sins.
• His blood established a new covenant with God's people. Remember, His blood was not shed until He was in the process of His crucifixion (He was beaten, a crown of thorns was forced upon His head to mock Him, He was nailed to the cross, and He was later pierced in the side to ensure He was dead.) He did not bleed in the garden of Gethsemane or else why go to the cross; that blood would have been enough.

C. The origin of the Bread and Cup

• The elements of the Lord's Supper, the bread and the cup, have their origins deeply rooted in the Jewish Passover meal. During the Passover, unleavened bread and wine were consumed as symbols of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. In Exodus 12:8, it is written, "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it." This tradition was redefined by Jesus Christ during His last Passover meal with His disciples. This transformation of the Passover elements into the symbols of His sacrifice is what we now observe as the Lord's Supper, an act of worship that continues to remind us of both The Father’s and Christ's love and redemption.

IV. The Manner of Partaking

A. With Self-Examination

• 1 Corinthians 11:28
  “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
• This is a time of reflection, repentance, and readiness. Notice the order of these commands; we examine and then partake. We must make sure our hearts, our minds are in the right place before we partake.

B. With Reverence

• 1 Corinthians 11:27, 29
  Warning is given not to partake “unworthily,” for doing so brings guilt and judgment.
• It must not be taken lightly or with a careless heart.

V. The Frequency of Observance

A. “As Often” – Regular and Meaningful

• 1 Corinthians 11:26
  There is no specific command about how frequently, but Paul says “as often.”
• 3 Ways the Bible authorizes Christians: 1. Direct command: “This do in remembrance of me.”; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be save, he that believeth not shall be damned.” 2. Necessary inference (not specifically stated but a logical inference can be made): Acts 2, Peter’s only answer to the question asked by the Jews present there was this, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (to receive forgiveness) of sin.” Why, because their question, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?,” logically implies faith and confession of that faith in Jesus as the Christ. 3. …

B. Apostolic Example – Acts 20:7 (verse 6)
First-century Christians gathered on the first day of the week to break bread. Note: This is not a common meal as in Acts 2:46. (Necessary Inference)

• The emphasis is on regular, meaningful remembrance, not routine or ritual. If we simply make it a habit or something we do, then it becomes common and profane.
• Partaking every first day of the week, every Lord’s Day, every Sunday, does not mean we are profaning the Lord’s Supper and making it common. How we partake every first day of the week, determines if we are profaning the Lord’s Supper.
• This is the same reason why we don’t observe the Lord’s Supper any other day of the week. There is no example in the NT of first-century Christians partaking on Monday thru Saturday.

VI. The Purpose (of the Lord’s Supper) for The Church Today

A. To Remember Christ’s Sacrifice

• The focus remains on the cross, keeping Christ central in our worship.

B. To Encourage Unity and Fellowship

• 1 Corinthians 10:17
  “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
• The Lord’s Supper emphasizes our unity in Christ.
• The “One’s” of Ephesians 4
  • Ephesians 4:4-6 (3) “Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit…” (4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
  • Matthew 26:39, 42 (39) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (42) He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

C. To Renew Our Commitment

• Partaking is a reaffirmation of our faith and a rededication to live for Him.
• It is the first day of the week. We should remind ourselves why we are gathered here; it isn’t just simply because it is a command or because people expect us to be here, it is because we love God and want to praise and worship Him for all that He has done for us. The Lord’s Supper helps us to put into focus for the remainder of the week what Paul through the Holy Spirit said in 2 Corinthians 13:5 (5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (The context of the New Testament encourages us to do this daily and not just every once in a while or when we are going through a difficult time in our lives.)
  • I John 1 reminds us that we can and will sin. However, once we have come into contact with the blood of Jesus through the waters of baptism, then it can continually wash us and keep us clean before God, if we acknowledge and repent of that sin and continue to walk in the light of the Gospel.

Conclusion

• The Lord’s Supper is a sacred memorial and a public proclamation. It reminds us of Christ’s death, binds us in unity, renews our faith, and reminds us of our hope for His return (1 Peter 3:15 (15) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:). Being able to fully and accurately explain the Lord’s Supper according the Scriptures is one way to give an answer for the hope that is in us.
• Let us partake with reverence, gratitude, and love—“till He come.”
• Let us remember to focus on walking in the light of the Gospel daily and remember the purpose of the blood of Jesus.
• Invitation

Author: Patrick King