Introduction
In his first recorded letter to the Corinthians, Paul, a colony leader of King Jesus, took that gathering of believers to task for how they were doing the “Lord’s Supper”. He wrote,
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
Notice, Paul quoted the words of Jesus, “Do this, remembering Me.”
Offering Sacrifices
From earliest days outside of Eden, people have offered sacrifices to the Creator in order to get back into relationship with Him. Abel offered fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. Cain offered some grain or produce. (Genesis 4:3-4)
Abraham traveled about the land of Canaan and offered sacrifices (Genesis 12:6-8). Isaac did the same (Genesis 26:24-25). Jacob did as well (Genesis 35:1-7). These were likely completely burned.
After Yahweh rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, He gave them instructions how to sacrifice to Him in friendship and thanksgiving. Leviticus 3 gives instructions for what to offer to Yahweh. This implies the rest of the animal was eaten by the worshipper.
All the other nations had their own ways of sacrificing to their gods. This went as far as sacrificing some of their children (Isaiah 57:5, Ezekiel 20:31).
Sacrifices to Yahweh and the Gentile gods burned some of the animal, wafers of bread without yeast, and wine being offered. The priests received their portions. Then the one who offered the sacrifice took the rest somewhere to eat and celebrate with his family and friends. This was a time of celebrating what Yahweh or the other gods had done. In consuming the meat, the worshippers took into themselves the spirit of the god involved.
Celebration of Passover
Yahweh ended His warfare against the gods of Egypt by killing the firstborn sons of humans and cattle throughout the land. This was in retaliation for Pharaoh killing the Israelites’ male babies (Exodus 1:15-16, 22).
The Master provided protection to His people through a lamb sacrificed for each family (Exodus 12: 1-30). They were to paint the lamb’s blood on the top, sides, and bottom of each home’s doorway. They were to eat the meat of the lamb with yeastless bread and burn whatever was left over.
He commanded that this become a yearly celebration. By the time of Jesus, all Jewish men came to Jerusalem from around the known world to re-enact this celebration of their rescue from slavery.
After a week of confronting the religious leaders of Judea with their ungodly, religious attitudes and practices, Jesus told a couple of His followers to prepare the Passover for them to celebrate (Luke 22:7-22). During the ritual part of the meal, when the unleavened bread and cups of wine were being passed around, Jesus added these life- giving words.
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The Rescuer of all Humanity then gave His body to be nailed to a Roman cross, His blood to flow from a Roman whipping and the spear thrust into His side.
He rose again by the power of Holy Spirit and poured out that same Spirit upon His governing assembly of believers (Acts 2:1-4). They celebrated their new life in Him with meals together, including the breaking of bread and passing around the cup of wine (Acts 2:42). Doing this, they remembered the sacrifice Jesus had already made for them.
This was not a religious ceremony of oneness with the divine. It was not a new sacrifice, repeated weekly or daily, of the Master’s body and blood. This is especially so because the eucharist is bread and wine, like the produce Cain offered to the Creator.
The believers were participating in
- the flesh and blood of His sacrifice (John 6:53-57)
- His sacrifice as the Passover lamb (John 1:29)
- the oneness/ communion/ fellowship of relating closely with each other in Him (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
Questions
Do you want the religious ritual of taking in a thumbnail- sized wafer and thimbleful of grape juice to renew your relationship with Jesus?
Wouldn’t you rather take a hunk from one loaf and a sip from the same cup to celebrate your participation, with the brothers and sisters around you, in the body and blood of Jesus?