Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this Wednesday,
Have you ever been part of an organization accused of this: ‘your meetings do more harm than good‘? Oh my! What if someone accused your church of that problem? Would it surprise you if I told you the apostle Paul actually said THAT about the Christians who gathered in the big city of Corinth in the mid first century? Have you ever known a church that was actually told it would be better for their city if that church closed? If so, can you imagine how Jesus felt about that situation?
Join me again with Paul, as he’s writing his first letter to those troubled Christians in Corinth. In 1 Cor. 11:17 we find that terrible accusation from Paul as he begins a chapter of rebuke: “In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.” And in the next several verses Paul makes his case in identifying the shameful things he has heard about this church in Corinth. It was reported that they were argumentative with each other causing a reputation of division and discord. (vs. 18) Paul had confronted that issue in the first chapter of this letter. (1 Cor. 1:10-18)
Secondly, Paul confronts them on the issue of frequent misuse of the Lord’s Supper/Communion by their gluttony and frivolity, making a mockery of this sacred remembrance. (1 Cor. 11:20-22) Do you notice Paul wrote: “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…” (1 Cor. 11:23,24) But wait a minute. Paul was not in that upper room that night with Jesus and His disciples? In fact, Paul was likely part of that group of Jewish leaders who later, that same night, mocked and condemned Jesus to death. (Matt. 26:57-68)
But did you notice Paul’s very significant statement: “I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you…”? While yes, Paul had spent time with Peter, James, John and the other disciples who had been in that upper room with Jesus, did you notice Paul makes it clear it was resurrected and ascended Jesus Himself who explained that upper room evening to Paul. We don’t know exactly when that ‘download’ of spiritual insight came from Jesus to Paul, but we know there were many times when the Holy Spirit gave Paul theological and doctrinal insight that the Spirit did not necessarily give to the other apostles, as is evidenced in Paul’s letters we have in the New Testament.
Paul continued in this letter: “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.” (1 Cor. 11:25) Paul the former Pharisee would have a particular passion for these Corinthian Christians to embrace and profoundly respect this new covenant with God through the blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. For Paul, any mockery of this covenant cup would be an abomination.
And so, Paul added this declaration: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Cor. 11:26) Do you hear the contradiction in the last phrase of Paul’s statement? The factual death of Jesus on that cross is imperative. Why? Because Jesus’ earthly mission reached its culmination in His atonement death, paying the full sin price for the possible redemption of every human being, and sin forgiveness by Holy God. But watch this friends: there can be NO resurrection without death; and NO ascension back to heaven without resurrection; and no victorious return to earth from heaven without ascension back to heaven first! When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper/Communion we are declaring our firm belief IN and the commitment of our lives TO several vital things. Do you know them?
First… we declare Jesus Christ is God the Son incarnate, come to earth for the purpose of proclaiming God’s truth and providing the only way to a restored relationship with Holy God! (John 1:1-14; 14:1-6)
Second… we declare that the factual, sacrificial, atonement death of Jesus Christ, on a cross outside Jerusalem, is sufficient payment for our sin forgiveness by God. (Matt. 26:45-56; Rom. 8:1)
Third… we declare the factual burial of the deceased body of Jesus Christ in a sealed garden tomb. (Matt. 26:57-61)
Fourth… we declare the factual, bodily resurrection to life, of deceased Jesus Christ, from the tomb, on the third day. (Matt. 28:1-10)
Fifth… we declare resurrected Jesus appeared many times, in many places, to many people, during a period of 40 days, after His resurrection. (Acts 1:3; John 20)
Sixth… we declare resurrected Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, on the 40th day after His resurrection, in full view of many witnesses, returning to heaven from which He had come. (Acts 1:9-11)
Seventh… we declare resurrected, ascended Jesus Christ is coming back again to earth, not once but twice. First, to gather up (rapture), to be with Him, His church, both living and deceased; (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and then secondly to defeat the enemies of God and set up His earthly, millennial kingdom! (Rev. 19:11-20:6)
Do you see all of those significant events are included in Paul’s statement: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes“? But, of course, the primary significance of the Lord’s Supper/Communion is celebration that the full atonement price was paid by Jesus so God’s Redemption Plan can be accomplished and applied to any person repenting of their sin and trusting Jesus’ death to be sufficient for their salvation!
This is why Paul wrote this warning: “So then, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ…For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ, eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (1 Cor. 11:27-29) This is why it’s so important that we approach the Lord’s Supper/Communion with great respect and reverence, but also hearts overflowing with thanksgiving to God for all Jesus accomplished for us in His death! Do you and I approach the Lord’s Supper/Communion in holy awe for ALL it commemorates and signifies?
Oh, we have so much to think about today and the “lessons learned” notes at the link below will be very helpful to you. And of course, a wonderful worship song honoring this celebration of Jesus, and I’ll be here, waiting for you tomorrow.
Today’s Scripture: 1 Cor. 11:23-29
Choose below to read or listen.
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Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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