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Day 281

Luke 22 : 19-23 "DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME" Luke 22:19"

Day 281 – Luke 22

Text: Luke 22 : 19-23

“DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME” Luke 22:19

How significant is the observance of The Lord’s Supper? It is fair to make the following comments:-

It arose from the Passover Feast. If the Passover Feast was significant, then The Lord’s Supper shares the same significance, and more! Let us consider what the Lord said concerning the Passover.

“So this day shall be to you a memorial;
And you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord
Throughout your generations.
You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance”
Exodus 12:14

The Passover was meant to be a memorial feast.
It was to be a feast kept “as to the Lord”.
It was meant to be kept “as an everlasting ordinance”.

It may argued that the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper has the same value and power as the abovementioned undergirding it, and even more so.

Whereas the Passover Feast was one of many Feasts commanded by the Lord and given to Israel, The Lord’s Supper is the ONLY Feast specifically ordered by Jesus to be kept by His followers!

If the Passover Feast was held to be of great significance by Israel, because it commemorated a great event, the Lord passing over Egypt, then the Church must recognize the greater event of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, slain for the redemption of our souls!

APOSTOLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRACTICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The most relevant and significant passage that deals directly with the practice of The Lord’s Supper is found in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. He had to write very sternly to address a peculiar problem. Some of the Church worshippers at Corinth were guilty of abusing the celebration of The Lord’s Supper. Let us consider what Paul had to say concerning the observance of The Lord’s Supper.

“For I received from the Lord
that which I also delivered to you…”
1 Corinthians 11:23

Paul claimed that the ordinance of celebrating The Lord’s Supper came from the Risen Saviour Himself. He was merely delivering to the Corinthian Church that which had been given by none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

He went on to address the problem of abusing The Lord’s Supper.

“Therefore whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord
in an unworthy manner will be guilty
of the body and blood of the Lord.

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner
Eats and drinks judgment to himself,
Not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this reason many are weak and sick
Among you, and many sleep (that is “dead”)
1 Corinthians 11:27, 29-30

The words of the Apostle are truly most solemn! Let us enumerate the points that Paul raised up for easier comprehension and reference:-

1. It is possible to be guilty of partaking of The Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner!

2. The charge is that he is guilty (of despising) the body and blood of the Lord!

3. The individual who eats and drinks unworthily brings judgment to himself!

4. Paul cited three ways in which God’s immediate judgment was meted out.

Some became weak.
Others became sick
Still others were struck dead!

We need to be reminded that Paul wrote these words in the context of the first century, where the Church was still very young. The Apostles were still around, and the authority of the Lord was meted out with devastating effect at times.

An instance of how the Lord personally stepped in to demonstrate His power and authority may be cited in the case of the judgment of Ananias and Sapphira. Both were struck dead by the Lord Himself when they lied to the Spirit of God (Cf. Acts 5).

Though the Lord may not strike people with weakness, illness and death today, because they despise the Lord’s Supper, nevertheless the point has been made. God upholds the value and the significance of partaking the Lord’s Supper. Those who partook of The Lord’s Supper unworthily are warned that God reserves the right to discipline them!

HOW THEN SHOULD WE PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER MEANINGFULLY?

Let us consider how we should partake of The Lord’s Supper. The Apostle Paul wrote,

“But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”
1 Corinthians 11:28

Let us always come as fully prepared to partake of The Lord’s Supper as possible. Let us make it a point to carefully “examine” our hearts. Let us always take time to remember the significance of the death of the Lord Jesus for us.