THE LORD'S SUPPER

Matthew 26:17ff

If you really want to dig in deep on the Lord's Supper, check out the account in 1 Corinthians 11, Mark 13, and Luke 23. Corinthians is the earliest at around 50-55 A.D., followed by Mark not long after, then Matthew and Luke.

The Supper is also called Communion and the Eucharist. It's the heart of the Catholic Mass. Catholics believe the ritual transforms the elements into the literal body and blood of Jesus. They believe the secondary qualities (looks and taste for example) remain the same, but the primary quality is the real body and blood. It thus conveys grace. Official teaching recommends confession the night before and fasting from then until the mass.

A second view, held by Lutherans, Episcopals, and some others, is consubstantiation. This view is half and half. They believe the bread remains bread and the wine remains wine, but the real presence of Christ is there and conveys grace.

Baptists and most other Protestants believe the Supper is not magical, nor does it automatically convey grace. It is an important way to remember Jesus and His death on the cross. For Baptists, it is one of two ordinances (not sacraments). The other is Baptism. (Catholics have 7 sacraments, including penance (confession), marriage, ordination, confirmation, Anointing of the sick – especially last rites.

Catholics and Episcopals observe the Eucharist at almost every service as do Disciples of Christ (aka Christian). Baptists are free to observe as they wish. In practice, most churches observe the Supper once a quarter, often on the first Sunday of that quarter (except July because of Independence Day). They may add a special serice around Easter or Christmas. I know of one Baptist church that observes Communion every Sunday.

Personal observation. In some churches where I was growing up, the Supper was celebrated at the very end of a full-length service. It gave me the impression of being tacked on, and I vowed not to do that. My solution was to make it the focal point of the service with a meditation prior to observing the Supper and often having the choir sing during the distribution of the elements. (FBC Ruston does this.) I usually ended the service with a 5-10 minute sermon, less than the usual 20-30 minutes.

Observance in the early church was likely very different. It was part of a regular meal. Imagine a congregation that met in a home or a rented building, perhaps a courtyard similar to those you see in the NOLA French Quarter. It may have been a potluck affair or members may have taken turns. In 1 Corinthians 11, we learn some were abusing the service by arriving early, getting drunk, and eating up the best part of the meal. Paul admonished them this was no way to remember Jesus and His Cross. He further said that such people were “eating and drinking damnation to themselves” if they were eating “unworthily.” That verse has troubled many people who are concerned over their sins. But that's not what Paul meant. He was talking about the rowdiness and drunkenness, rather than a meditative state, reflecting on what Christ had done for them.

We can also remember Jesus's warning about offering a gift on the altar while still having hostility toward another. Leave the gift, He said, and first go be reconciled with your brother (fellow Christian or anyone?). Then come offer your gift to God. We cannot overestimate the importance of forgiveness and church fellowship. Remember in the Lord's Prayer, the only qualification in the prayer and the only additional comment after the prayer is forgiving our sins in the same way we forgive others. Church fellowship is so important that we must always ask ourselves before stirring up conflict whether it is worth disrupting the fellowhip. Very few things are.

Backing Up

I want to back up a chapter and then look at the first part of this chapter for two specific things left out of the lesson, but of great importance.

Sheep and Goats:

In Matthew 25:31ff, Jesus talks about the last days when He returns and separates the “sheep and the goats.” The basis of that choice is whether they have served Christ by feeding him, offering him drink, shelter, and clothing, or perhaps visited him in prison. When asked about it, He said whenever you did this for anyone – even “the least of these” you did it for Him.

This gives practical advice for how to keep the second great commandment, “love your neighbor as yourself.” This kind of love is not an emotion, it is practical service. Very practical service, the kind anyone can do. Remember how He said whoever gives a cup of cold water in His name will receive a reward? You don't have to donate millions. You do have to give of yourself, your time, and sometimes your money. Ultimately Christianity is about giving, remembering the One who gave all!

Anointing Jesus's feet.

Earlier in Chapter 26, we have the story of the woman who anointed Jesus feet with very expensive and fragrant oil. Pharisees gathered around mentally criticized Jesus for allowing a woman off the street to do such a thing. At least one disciple, Judas, criticized Jesus for allowing it, preferring she sell it and give money to the poor. Jesus, however, stood up for her, claiming she had done a beautiful thing and was anointing Him for burial.

Along the way Jesus commented the “the poor you always have with you.” Many have taken that as a prophesy and an excuse not to try to help the poor because they will always be there. In context, Jesus was saying, “You can help the poor anytime. I won't always be here to anoint or whatever.”

I also think of this as a partial justification for spending money on beautiful buildings. Catholics and Orthodox have traditionally built glorious buildings that last for centuries. Of course, many churches don't have the money to do that, and many feel other needs are stronger. Still, there will be wealthy churches from time to time who may choose, yea even be led, to build gloriously. And there are still churches whose choirs sing glorious music from the masters, such as Handel's Messiah. I also think many churches could display quality art reproductions from the masters at key points. We've been influenced by the attempt to avoid displaying images, but when we do show the occasional picture, it's usually poor quality or an illustration for the children's stories.

THE LORD'S SUPPER

Matthew 26:17ff

If you really want to dig in deep on the Lord's Supper, check out the account in 1 Corinthians 11, Mark 13, and Luke 23. Corinthians is the earliest at around 50-55 A.D., followed by Mark not long after, then Matthew and Luke.

The Supper is also called Communion and the Eucharist. It's the heart of the Catholic Mass. Catholics believe the ritual transforms the elements into the literal body and blood of Jesus. They believe the secondary qualities (looks and taste for example) remain the same, but the primary quality is the real body and blood. It thus conveys grace. Official teaching recommends confession the night before and fasting from then until the mass.

A second view, held by Lutherans, Episcopals, and some others, is consubstantiation. This view is half and half. They believe the bread remains bread and the wine remains wine, but the real presence of Christ is there and conveys grace.

Baptists and most other Protestants believe the Supper is not magical, nor does it automatically convey grace. It is an important way to remember Jesus and His death on the cross. For Baptists, it is one of two ordinances (not sacraments). The other is Baptism. (Catholics have 7 sacraments, including penance (confession), marriage, ordination, confirmation, Anointing of the sick – especially last rites.

Catholics and Episcopals observe the Eucharist at almost every service as do Disciples of Christ (aka Christian). Baptists are free to observe as they wish. In practice, most churches observe the Supper once a quarter, often on the first Sunday of that quarter (except July because of Independence Day). They may add a special serice around Easter or Christmas. I know of one Baptist church that observes Communion every Sunday.

Personal observation. In some churches where I was growing up, the Supper was celebrated at the very end of a full-length service. It gave me the impression of being tacked on, and I vowed not to do that. My solution was to make it the focal point of the service with a meditation prior to observing the Supper and often having the choir sing during the distribution of the elements. (FBC Ruston does this.) I usually ended the service with a 5-10 minute sermon, less than the usual 20-30 minutes.

Observance in the early church was likely very different. It was part of a regular meal. Imagine a congregation that met in a home or a rented building, perhaps a courtyard similar to those you see in the NOLA French Quarter. It may have been a potluck affair or members may have taken turns. In 1 Corinthians 11, we learn some were abusing the service by arriving early, getting drunk, and eating up the best part of the meal. Paul admonished them this was no way to remember Jesus and His Cross. He further said that such people were “eating and drinking damnation to themselves” if they were eating “unworthily.” That verse has troubled many people who are concerned over their sins. But that's not what Paul meant. He was talking about the rowdiness and drunkenness, rather than a meditative state, reflecting on what Christ had done for them.

We can also remember Jesus's warning about offering a gift on the altar while still having hostility toward another. Leave the gift, He said, and first go be reconciled with your brother (fellow Christian or anyone?). Then come offer your gift to God. We cannot overestimate the importance of forgiveness and church fellowship. Remember in the Lord's Prayer, the only qualification in the prayer and the only additional comment after the prayer is forgiving our sins in the same way we forgive others. Church fellowship is so important that we must always ask ourselves before stirring up conflict whether it is worth disrupting the fellowhip. Very few things are.

Backing Up

I want to back up a chapter and then look at the first part of this chapter for two specific things left out of the lesson, but of great importance.

Sheep and Goats:

In Matthew 25:31ff, Jesus talks about the last days when He returns and separates the “sheep and the goats.” The basis of that choice is whether they have served Christ by feeding him, offering him drink, shelter, and clothing, or perhaps visited him in prison. When asked about it, He said whenever you did this for anyone – even “the least of these” you did it for Him.

This gives practical advice for how to keep the second great commandment, “love your neighbor as yourself.” This kind of love is not an emotion, it is practical service. Very practical service, the kind anyone can do. Remember how He said whoever gives a cup of cold water in His name will receive a reward? You don't have to donate millions. You do have to give of yourself, your time, and sometimes your money. Ultimately Christianity is about giving, remembering the One who gave all!

Anointing Jesus's feet.

Earlier in Chapter 26, we have the story of the woman who anointed Jesus feet with very expensive and fragrant oil. Pharisees gathered around mentally criticized Jesus for allowing a woman off the street to do such a thing. At least one disciple, Judas, criticized Jesus for allowing it, preferring she sell it and give money to the poor. Jesus, however, stood up for her, claiming she had done a beautiful thing and was anointing Him for burial.

Along the way Jesus commented the “the poor you always have with you.” Many have taken that as a prophesy and an excuse not to try to help the poor because they will always be there. In context, Jesus was saying, “You can help the poor anytime. I won't always be here to anoint or whatever.”

I also think of this as a partial justification for spending money on beautiful buildings. Catholics and Orthodox have traditionally built glorious buildings that last for centuries. Of course, many churches don't have the money to do that, and many feel other needs are stronger. Still, there will be wealthy churches from time to time who may choose, yea even be led, to build gloriously. And there are still churches whose choirs sing glorious music from the masters, such as Handel's Messiah. I also think many churches could display quality art reproductions from the masters at key points. We've been influenced by the attempt to avoid displaying images, but when we do show the occasional picture, it's usually poor quality or an illustration for the children's stories.