Parsonally Speaking: The Lord’s Supper Part 1

By Pastor Tom Burgess

Ever since the early Christians met publicly in the temple to worship and secretly in their homes to break bread, the church has been celebrating the Lord’s Supper as a time to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42, 46). All too often, this time we call Communion is taken for granted as something we just do religiously (Acts 20:7). In reality, it should be far more than this!

The Lord’s Supper is a unique opportunity for the church to worship Christ by remembering his Last Supper and what he did for us through his death and resurrection. It is a time when we rehearse the Good News of the Gospel in the ears of both those who know it and those who may not (Acts 14:27). It is also a time for us to reflect upon our individual relationships with Jesus (Philippians 4:8).

The Apostle Paul received a revelation that Communion is, first and foremost, a time of commemoration: “Do this in remembrance of me” or, literally, “call to mind” the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of our Lord (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). We are not offering a new sacrifice; we are remembering his “once for all” sacrifice (Hebrews 10:9-10). Remembering is more than just recalling that an event took place. It involves stirring up the mind to relive with Jesus Christ as much of his life as humanly possible.

The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember that our Lord: left heaven to be born in a human body (Philippians 2:5-7); became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9); bore our sins in his own body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24); willingly took our place at Calvary (Isaiah 53:4-6); shed his blood for our redemption (1 Peter 1:18-19); conquered death for us forever (1 Corinthians 15:55-57); and ascended back to heaven to serve as our eternal intercessory High Priest (Hebrews 7:24-25). It is a time to remember!

Communion is a time of contemplation. Not only are we to remember what Jesus has done for the world, but we are to contemplate what this means to us as individuals. He died on the cross to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). What does that mean to you? Have you been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8)? Does his sacrifice move your heart away from sin and toward God (Hebrews 6:1)? Does the fact that he is alive forevermore thrill your soul and cause you to bow before him in worship (Revelation 1:17-18)?

During the Lord’s Supper, we should reflect on what the work of Christ means to us personally as individual Christians. Our minds should reflect on what his death and resurrection has done, is doing, and shall do in our lives. It is a great time to consider your personal walk with the Lord! Is it all it should be? Are you living in a manner that pleases him? Is your heart right with Jesus? Consider your personal relationship with God during this special time, “that you may walk worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10).

Communion is a time of identification. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are publicly identifying ourselves with Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection. It is possible for an unbeliever to partake of Communion and never come to Christ, because this event holds no saving power. However, for those of us who believe, it is a time to proclaim publicly our faith that his death and resurrection were for us and that he is coming back (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Rev. Tom Burgess is pastor of Hope Christian Fellowship in Canastota.

One Comment on "Parsonally Speaking: The Lord’s Supper Part 1"

car hire ireland on Wed, 16th Sep 2009 11:44 am

This is a great read – thank you. My nephew is due his first communion that is what attracted me to reading this post….

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Parsonally Speaking: The Lord’s Supper Part 1

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