Establishment of the Passover
Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are two special commandments given by Jesus Christ. Both of these commandments are essential to our salvation. Both of these commandments are performed with the use of material elements. Both of these commandments have a deep symbolic meaning, and point to the spiritual reality behind the symbols. Moreover, they not only point to spiritual reality, but also connect us with it, allow us to experience a special union with Jesus Christ. Water baptism and the Lord's Supper allow us in a special way to become partakers of Jesus Christ, and unite us with Him in a special way. A brief description of the Lord's Supper is given by the Apostle Paul in the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians:
1Cor.11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
What was the night on which Jesus was betrayed, having instituted the Lord's Supper before that? It was the first night of the Passover Feast of the Lord. To understand what this feast was about, what happened on its first evening, and why it was that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper on it, we need to turn to the book of Exodus. We need to remember the story of the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egyptian slavery, recorded in the twelfth chapter of this book.
Ex.12:1-14 “The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it. They shall eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. Don’t eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.”
So, the Lord commanded Israel from year to year to remember their deliverance, celebrating the Passover and sacrificing the Passover lamb, which was eaten on the first night of Passover along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Also, according to ancient custom, 4 cups of wine (diluted with water) were usually present at the Passover night celebration, which symbolized 4 promises given by God to Israel before deliverance from Egypt. They are written in the Book of Exodus, chapter 6.
Ex. 6:6-7 “Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
Establishment of the Lord's Supper
It was at the Passover Supper that the Lord's Supper was established by Jesus Christ, which, according to the words of Jesus Christ, can also be called Passover. Let's read in the Gospel of Luke in more detail about how this happened. Pay attention as you read, that at the Passover supper of Jesus with his disciples, there were at least two cups of wine. One of them took on a new meaning, becoming a cup symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ shed for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins.
Luke 22:1-20 “The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for ways to destroy Him, because they were afraid of the people. Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve, and he went and spoke with the chief priests and rulers, how to betray him to them. They rejoiced and agreed to give him money; and he promised, and looked for a convenient time to betray him to them, not in the presence of the people. And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover [lamb] was to be slaughtered, and [Jesus] sent Peter and John, saying, Go, prepare for us to eat the Passover. And they said to him, Where do you order us to cook? He said to them: behold, at your entrance into the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters, and say to the owner of the house: The teacher says to you: where is the room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large upper room lined; prepare there. They went and found, as he told them, and prepared the Passover. And when the hour had come, He lay down, and the twelve Apostles with Him, and said to them: I very much desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you that I will no longer eat it until it is completed in the Kingdom of God. And taking the cup and giving thanks, he said, Take it and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread and gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
The Evangelist Matthew, describing the same event, adds that the cup of wine symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. That is, Jesus Christ not only shed His blood so that we would receive the forgiveness of sins, but also so that we would leave them and no longer sin, no longer live in sin, having received forgiveness. Jesus Christ came to save us not only from the punishment for our sins, but He came to save us from our sins.
Matt.26:26-28 “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.”
Matt.1:21 “She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Meaning of the Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is of great importance to us. Participation in it is obligatory and necessary for every Christian.
First, it is the commandment and commandment of Jesus Christ. He told us to do it in His remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). If we love Jesus Christ, we will keep His commandments, including the commandment to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Secondly, it is important for our salvation and eternal life. In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John are recorded the words of Jesus Christ about the importance of receiving His body and blood for our salvation. In this chapter, Jesus spoke primarily about the importance of believing in His death and His blood shed for us in order to receive eternal life.
John 6:47-54 “Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
"Eating the flesh of Jesus" and "drinking the blood of Jesus" means to accept by faith His death for us, and His Blood shed for us. Jesus used this figurative expression because when we eat and drink something, we literally take it into ourselves, and it becomes part of us, breaking down into elements, getting into our blood, and spreading throughout our body. We literally connect with what we eat and drink. In a symbolic, figurative sense, to eat and drink something means to take it into oneself by faith, uniting with it. Jesus first said that he who believes in Him has eternal life (John 6:47), and then He said that he who eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life (John 6:54). From this follows that "to eat His flesh" and "to drink His blood" means to believe in Him, in His flesh, which He gave for the life of the world (John 6:51). It means accepting by faith His death for our sins and His blood shed for us for the remission of sins.
But this faith must not only be in our heart, it must be expressed in our participation in the Lord's Supper. At this supper we eat unleavened bread, which symbolizes the body of Jesus Christ, which was put to death for us. We also take pure red grape wine, symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us. By eating this bread and drinking this wine, we thereby testify that we have accepted by faith Jesus' sacrifice for us, that we believe in His death for us, and in His blood shed for the remission of our sins.
Worthy Participation in the Lord's Supper
Speaking about the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul warns about the consequences of unworthy participation in this ordinance. He warns that for unworthy participation a person can get sick or even die. Let's read how Paul writes about it.
1Cor.11:27-34 “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.”
1) So, in order to receive the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner, we must first test ourselves. That is, we need to check ourselves whether we are in the right condition in relation to God and also to other members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of sins. If we have not left sins, then our communion of the blood of Christ through the wine, which symbolizes this blood, will be unworthy. Also, if we mistreat other members of the Body of Christ, then our participation in the bread, which symbolizes the Body of Jesus Christ, will also be unworthy.
1Cor.10:15-18 “I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?”
2) Next, we must judge ourselves if, having tested ourselves, we find ourselves in a wrong condition. Judging yourself means pleading guilty before the Lord, worthy of punishment, confessing your sin to the Lord and repenting of it.
1Cor.11:31-32 “For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”
3) Then, when taking the Lord's Supper, we need to take it with special reverence, awe and respect, considering it a participation of the body of the Lord, and not just ordinary food. The Apostle Paul says the following about this:
1Cor.11:29 “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.”
The word translated here “discern” can also be translated by such words as: “reason”, “distinguish”, “understand”. That is, if a person participates in the Lord's Supper, not discerning or distinguishing it from ordinary food, not reasoning that he becomes a partaker of the body and blood of Jesus Christ through this bread and wine, then he eats and drinks condemnation to himself. He can get sick and die because of it.
Also, the body of the Lord in this text may refer to the church, “which is His body” (Eph. 1:23, Col. 1:24). If a person does not also distinguish in the broken bread the symbol of the Church of Christ, as the one Body of Jesus, consisting of many members (as one bread consists of many grains), does not realize his unity with this Body, and disdainfully treats other members of this Body, then he eats and drinks condemnation to himself.
1Cor.10:16-17 “The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.”
1Cor.11:33-34 “Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.”
So, the bread at the Lord's Supper symbolizes both the literal body of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world, and the Church of Jesus Christ, as His Body, consisting of many members (that is, believers). Some members of the church in Corinth did not think about the Body of Christ in both senses of the expression. They took the Lord's Supper as an ordinary meal, not understanding the peculiarities of this Supper. Also, they disparaged other believers, members of the Body of Christ, and humiliated poor believers. Therefore they ate and drank condemnation to themselves.
1Cor.11:20-22 “When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.”
Past, Present and Future
The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the sufferings of Jesus Christ and the announcement of His death, which happened in the past. It is an expression of our faith in the death and blood of Jesus in the present, and it is done in obedience to the commandment of Jesus Christ for our spiritual well-being and life now. It is also an expression of faith in the future, because the Apostle Paul said that the Lord's Supper must be served until Christ comes. When He comes, we will participate in the Lord's Supper, or Passover, with Him in the Kingdom of God. This is what Jesus himself said.
1Cor.11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Luke 22:14-18 “When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.” He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”
Matt.26:29 “But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
Rev.19:9 “He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”
The Lord's Supper is not a memorial service for the deceased. Jesus Christ is risen, He is alive, and He will come to this earth again as King and Judge. When we take the Lord's Supper, we proclaim His death for our sins, and also His victory over death, because He is risen and is coming to this earth again. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of the victory of the resurrected Jesus Christ over sin, death, and hell. It is also a celebration of our salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We are already partakers of this salvation, and it will be fully accomplished at the time of the resurrection of the righteous and the change of living believers at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-9, Rom. 8:18-25, 1 Thess. 4:13-17).
1Cor.15:51-57 “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Washing the Feet Before the Lord's Supper
Another important ordinance performed before taking the Lord's Supper is the washing of the feet. Jesus Himself said that we should wash one another's feet, and that we are blessed when we know and do this.
John 13:3-17 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Luke indirectly mentions this incident in his Gospel, describing the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. It was the Passover Supper at which Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.
Luke 22:24-27 “There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
The washing of the feet, like water baptism, is not merely the washing of fleshly uncleanness (1 Peter 3:21). Water baptism symbolizes death to sin, and cleansing from sins committed before believing, as well as resurrection to a new righteous life with Christ. It is done once (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Rom. 6:2-7). A person who has accomplished a worthy fruit of repentance, who has believed in Jesus Christ, and who has received water baptism, becomes pure from sin. But living in this life, he comes into contact with this world, and can sin in something. He does not need to be baptized again after this. But he needs to be cleansed by confessing his sin (1 John 1:7-9). The symbol of this cleansing is the washing of the feet. Let's read again how it is said in the Gospel of John, which describes how Jesus washed the disciples' feet.
John 13:8-10 “Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
After reading this text, it becomes clear that washing the feet is more than simply removing dirt from the feet. It has a spiritual symbolic meaning. When Jesus told his disciples, "You are clean, but not all of you," He did not mean bodily purity. He meant purity from sin. When Jesus said that the washed one only needs to wash his feet, He did not mean washing his feet from ordinary dirt. He spoke figuratively that a person, cleansed from sin through repentance and faith in Him, needs further constant purification, since he becomes polluted by contact with this sinful world. This is similar to how a fully washed person in the ancient east had to wash his feet again when he came home from the bathhouse, as they became dirty on the way home. For rich people, servants did it. So, washing the feet is more than just the practical removal of dirt from the feet. It is important both for the one who washes the feet of his neighbor and for the one whose feet are washed. For the one who washes the feet of another, this is a service that expresses humility, belittlement, service to others, selfless love (John 13:1-5, 12-17, Luke 22:24-27). For the one whose feet are washed, this is a special ministry, which symbolizes the constant cleansing from sin, which is necessary in order to have a part with Jesus Christ (John 13:6-11).
Bible verses for memorization:
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:26-27)
Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are two special commandments given by Jesus Christ. Both of these commandments are essential to our salvation. Both of these commandments are performed with the use of material elements. Both of these commandments have a deep symbolic meaning, and point to the spiritual reality behind the symbols. Moreover, they not only point to spiritual reality, but also connect us with it, allow us to experience a special union with Jesus Christ. Water baptism and the Lord's Supper allow us in a special way to become partakers of Jesus Christ, and unite us with Him in a special way. A brief description of the Lord's Supper is given by the Apostle Paul in the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians:
1Cor.11:23-26 “For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
What was the night on which Jesus was betrayed, having instituted the Lord's Supper before that? It was the first night of the Passover Feast of the Lord. To understand what this feast was about, what happened on its first evening, and why it was that Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper on it, we need to turn to the book of Exodus. We need to remember the story of the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egyptian slavery, recorded in the twelfth chapter of this book.
Ex.12:1-14 “The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening. They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it. They shall eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. Don’t eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to the LORD: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.”
So, the Lord commanded Israel from year to year to remember their deliverance, celebrating the Passover and sacrificing the Passover lamb, which was eaten on the first night of Passover along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Also, according to ancient custom, 4 cups of wine (diluted with water) were usually present at the Passover night celebration, which symbolized 4 promises given by God to Israel before deliverance from Egypt. They are written in the Book of Exodus, chapter 6.
Ex. 6:6-7 “Therefore tell the children of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”
Establishment of the Lord's Supper
It was at the Passover Supper that the Lord's Supper was established by Jesus Christ, which, according to the words of Jesus Christ, can also be called Passover. Let's read in the Gospel of Luke in more detail about how this happened. Pay attention as you read, that at the Passover supper of Jesus with his disciples, there were at least two cups of wine. One of them took on a new meaning, becoming a cup symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ shed for our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins.
Luke 22:1-20 “The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for ways to destroy Him, because they were afraid of the people. Satan entered into Judas, called Iscariot, one of the twelve, and he went and spoke with the chief priests and rulers, how to betray him to them. They rejoiced and agreed to give him money; and he promised, and looked for a convenient time to betray him to them, not in the presence of the people. And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover [lamb] was to be slaughtered, and [Jesus] sent Peter and John, saying, Go, prepare for us to eat the Passover. And they said to him, Where do you order us to cook? He said to them: behold, at your entrance into the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he enters, and say to the owner of the house: The teacher says to you: where is the room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples? And he will show you a large upper room lined; prepare there. They went and found, as he told them, and prepared the Passover. And when the hour had come, He lay down, and the twelve Apostles with Him, and said to them: I very much desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you that I will no longer eat it until it is completed in the Kingdom of God. And taking the cup and giving thanks, he said, Take it and divide it among yourselves, for I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. And he took bread and gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me. Likewise the cup after supper, saying, This cup [is] the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”
The Evangelist Matthew, describing the same event, adds that the cup of wine symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. That is, Jesus Christ not only shed His blood so that we would receive the forgiveness of sins, but also so that we would leave them and no longer sin, no longer live in sin, having received forgiveness. Jesus Christ came to save us not only from the punishment for our sins, but He came to save us from our sins.
Matt.26:26-28 “As they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks for it, and broke it. He gave to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, “All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.”
Matt.1:21 “She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
Meaning of the Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is of great importance to us. Participation in it is obligatory and necessary for every Christian.
First, it is the commandment and commandment of Jesus Christ. He told us to do it in His remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). If we love Jesus Christ, we will keep His commandments, including the commandment to celebrate the Lord's Supper.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Secondly, it is important for our salvation and eternal life. In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John are recorded the words of Jesus Christ about the importance of receiving His body and blood for our salvation. In this chapter, Jesus spoke primarily about the importance of believing in His death and His blood shed for us in order to receive eternal life.
John 6:47-54 “Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews therefore contended with one another, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
"Eating the flesh of Jesus" and "drinking the blood of Jesus" means to accept by faith His death for us, and His Blood shed for us. Jesus used this figurative expression because when we eat and drink something, we literally take it into ourselves, and it becomes part of us, breaking down into elements, getting into our blood, and spreading throughout our body. We literally connect with what we eat and drink. In a symbolic, figurative sense, to eat and drink something means to take it into oneself by faith, uniting with it. Jesus first said that he who believes in Him has eternal life (John 6:47), and then He said that he who eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life (John 6:54). From this follows that "to eat His flesh" and "to drink His blood" means to believe in Him, in His flesh, which He gave for the life of the world (John 6:51). It means accepting by faith His death for our sins and His blood shed for us for the remission of sins.
But this faith must not only be in our heart, it must be expressed in our participation in the Lord's Supper. At this supper we eat unleavened bread, which symbolizes the body of Jesus Christ, which was put to death for us. We also take pure red grape wine, symbolizing the blood of Jesus Christ shed for us. By eating this bread and drinking this wine, we thereby testify that we have accepted by faith Jesus' sacrifice for us, that we believe in His death for us, and in His blood shed for the remission of our sins.
Worthy Participation in the Lord's Supper
Speaking about the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul warns about the consequences of unworthy participation in this ordinance. He warns that for unworthy participation a person can get sick or even die. Let's read how Paul writes about it.
1Cor.11:27-34 “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.”
1) So, in order to receive the Lord's Supper in a worthy manner, we must first test ourselves. That is, we need to check ourselves whether we are in the right condition in relation to God and also to other members of the Body of Christ, the Church. The blood of Jesus was shed for the remission of sins. If we have not left sins, then our communion of the blood of Christ through the wine, which symbolizes this blood, will be unworthy. Also, if we mistreat other members of the Body of Christ, then our participation in the bread, which symbolizes the Body of Jesus Christ, will also be unworthy.
1Cor.10:15-18 “I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?”
2) Next, we must judge ourselves if, having tested ourselves, we find ourselves in a wrong condition. Judging yourself means pleading guilty before the Lord, worthy of punishment, confessing your sin to the Lord and repenting of it.
1Cor.11:31-32 “For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. But when we are judged, we are punished by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”
3) Then, when taking the Lord's Supper, we need to take it with special reverence, awe and respect, considering it a participation of the body of the Lord, and not just ordinary food. The Apostle Paul says the following about this:
1Cor.11:29 “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body.”
The word translated here “discern” can also be translated by such words as: “reason”, “distinguish”, “understand”. That is, if a person participates in the Lord's Supper, not discerning or distinguishing it from ordinary food, not reasoning that he becomes a partaker of the body and blood of Jesus Christ through this bread and wine, then he eats and drinks condemnation to himself. He can get sick and die because of it.
Also, the body of the Lord in this text may refer to the church, “which is His body” (Eph. 1:23, Col. 1:24). If a person does not also distinguish in the broken bread the symbol of the Church of Christ, as the one Body of Jesus, consisting of many members (as one bread consists of many grains), does not realize his unity with this Body, and disdainfully treats other members of this Body, then he eats and drinks condemnation to himself.
1Cor.10:16-17 “The cup of blessing which we bless, isn’t it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn’t it a sharing of the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread.”
1Cor.11:33-34 “Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.”
So, the bread at the Lord's Supper symbolizes both the literal body of Jesus Christ, which he gave for the life of the world, and the Church of Jesus Christ, as His Body, consisting of many members (that is, believers). Some members of the church in Corinth did not think about the Body of Christ in both senses of the expression. They took the Lord's Supper as an ordinary meal, not understanding the peculiarities of this Supper. Also, they disparaged other believers, members of the Body of Christ, and humiliated poor believers. Therefore they ate and drank condemnation to themselves.
1Cor.11:20-22 “When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have enough? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.”
Past, Present and Future
The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the sufferings of Jesus Christ and the announcement of His death, which happened in the past. It is an expression of our faith in the death and blood of Jesus in the present, and it is done in obedience to the commandment of Jesus Christ for our spiritual well-being and life now. It is also an expression of faith in the future, because the Apostle Paul said that the Lord's Supper must be served until Christ comes. When He comes, we will participate in the Lord's Supper, or Passover, with Him in the Kingdom of God. This is what Jesus himself said.
1Cor.11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Luke 22:14-18 “When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in God’s Kingdom.” He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves, for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until God’s Kingdom comes.”
Matt.26:29 “But I tell you that I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on, until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
Rev.19:9 “He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”
The Lord's Supper is not a memorial service for the deceased. Jesus Christ is risen, He is alive, and He will come to this earth again as King and Judge. When we take the Lord's Supper, we proclaim His death for our sins, and also His victory over death, because He is risen and is coming to this earth again. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of the victory of the resurrected Jesus Christ over sin, death, and hell. It is also a celebration of our salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We are already partakers of this salvation, and it will be fully accomplished at the time of the resurrection of the righteous and the change of living believers at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:4-9, Rom. 8:18-25, 1 Thess. 4:13-17).
1Cor.15:51-57 “Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Washing the Feet Before the Lord's Supper
Another important ordinance performed before taking the Lord's Supper is the washing of the feet. Jesus Himself said that we should wash one another's feet, and that we are blessed when we know and do this.
John 13:3-17 “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Luke indirectly mentions this incident in his Gospel, describing the last supper of Jesus with his disciples. It was the Passover Supper at which Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.
Luke 22:24-27 “There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves. For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”
The washing of the feet, like water baptism, is not merely the washing of fleshly uncleanness (1 Peter 3:21). Water baptism symbolizes death to sin, and cleansing from sins committed before believing, as well as resurrection to a new righteous life with Christ. It is done once (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Rom. 6:2-7). A person who has accomplished a worthy fruit of repentance, who has believed in Jesus Christ, and who has received water baptism, becomes pure from sin. But living in this life, he comes into contact with this world, and can sin in something. He does not need to be baptized again after this. But he needs to be cleansed by confessing his sin (1 John 1:7-9). The symbol of this cleansing is the washing of the feet. Let's read again how it is said in the Gospel of John, which describes how Jesus washed the disciples' feet.
John 13:8-10 “Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
After reading this text, it becomes clear that washing the feet is more than simply removing dirt from the feet. It has a spiritual symbolic meaning. When Jesus told his disciples, "You are clean, but not all of you," He did not mean bodily purity. He meant purity from sin. When Jesus said that the washed one only needs to wash his feet, He did not mean washing his feet from ordinary dirt. He spoke figuratively that a person, cleansed from sin through repentance and faith in Him, needs further constant purification, since he becomes polluted by contact with this sinful world. This is similar to how a fully washed person in the ancient east had to wash his feet again when he came home from the bathhouse, as they became dirty on the way home. For rich people, servants did it. So, washing the feet is more than just the practical removal of dirt from the feet. It is important both for the one who washes the feet of his neighbor and for the one whose feet are washed. For the one who washes the feet of another, this is a service that expresses humility, belittlement, service to others, selfless love (John 13:1-5, 12-17, Luke 22:24-27). For the one whose feet are washed, this is a special ministry, which symbolizes the constant cleansing from sin, which is necessary in order to have a part with Jesus Christ (John 13:6-11).
Bible verses for memorization:
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:26-27)