The following is a summary containing some of the highlights that are found in the 11 page PDF File and the Audio below.
The Lord's Supper
The Lord’s Supper—also known as Communion or the Eucharist—is a central practice in Christianity, rooted in the very words and actions of Jesus Christ on the night before His crucifixion. Its significance is not merely ritualistic, but deeply theological, historical, and personal, forming a bridge from the Old Testament to the New, and from ancient Israel to the Church today.
Biblical Foundations:
The Lord’s Supper is recorded in all four Gospels, with Luke 22:14-20 providing a vivid account. On the night of Passover, Jesus broke bread and shared wine with His disciples, declaring, “This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me… This cup is the new covenant in My blood, poured out for you.” In this moment, Jesus connected His impending sacrifice to the ancient Passover, when the Israelites were spared from judgment by the blood of a lamb (Exodus 12). John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), and Paul affirmed, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor 5:7).
Theological Significance:
The Lord’s Supper is not an isolated event, but the fulfillment of a redemptive thread running through Scripture. The Passover lamb’s blood saved Israel from death; Christ’s blood saves believers from sin and God’s wrath (Romans 3:25, 5:9). The bread and wine, first seen with Melchizedek (Genesis 14), foreshadowed Christ’s priesthood and sacrifice. Hebrews explains that Jesus is the eternal High Priest, inaugurating a new covenant that supersedes the old sacrificial system (Hebrews 7–8).
Communion as Remembrance and Proclamation:
Jesus commanded His followers to partake of the bread and cup “in remembrance of Me.” Paul explains that every time Christians do this, they “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor 11:26). Communion is thus both a memorial and a proclamation: it looks back to Christ’s sacrifice and forward to His return and the promised heavenly feast (Revelation 19:9).
Unity and Self-Examination:
The Lord’s Supper is also a profound act of unity. “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body” (1 Cor 10:17). It is a fellowship with Christ and with one another, symbolizing our shared redemption. Yet, Paul warns that it must not be taken lightly; self-examination is required, lest we partake “in an unworthy manner” (1 Cor 11:27-29). This means confessing sin, seeking reconciliation, and approaching the table with faith and reverence.
Practical Application:
Communion is not for the perfect, but for the penitent—those who trust in Christ’s atoning work. It is a call to remember our deliverance from sin, to renew our commitment to Christ, and to live in unity with fellow believers. As Israel remembered their deliverance from Egypt, so Christians remember their deliverance from sin, proclaiming Christ’s death until He comes again.