OceanSide church of Christ

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PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER INTERNALLY

Victor M. Eskew

 

            The Lord’s church gathers each Lord’s Day to worship (Acts 20:7).  Our worship involves five simple acts:  singing, prayer, a message from God’s Word, giving, and the Lord’s Supper.  These are the actions of true worshippers.  These are the actions that cause God’s people to be well-pleasing in His sight when they pay homage to their Creator, their Redeemer, and their heavenly Father.

            It was Jesus who instituted the Lord’s Supper.  He did so when He gathered with His apostles in the upper room to engage in the Passover meal.  Mark records the event with these words:  “And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and break it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them:  and they all drank of it.  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mark 14:22-25). 

            The Lord’s Supper is a meaningful part of worship.  It is vital that we partake of the proper elements, that is, the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine.  It is also crucial that we partake of the Lord’s Supper correctly internally.  Remember, Jesus taught that worship is to be conducted in both truth (externally) and spirit (internally) (John 4:23-24).  In this article, let’s consider some attitudes we can manifest as we partake of the Lord’s Supper.  Hopefully, these attitudes will help us to be internally involved in this element of worship.

            First, we need to be reflective as we partake of the bread and fruit of the vine.  In other words, our minds need to be engaged in deep meditation.  This meditation should not involve thoughts that worship will soon be ending.  This meditation should not be centered upon the actions of others who are present in the worship assembly.  This meditation should not be focused on the men who are distributing elements of the Lord’s Supper to the congregation.  This meditation should not be centered upon our cell phones.  Our meditation should take us back some two thousand years to a hill called Golgotha. 

 

                        “And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say,                                                      a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall:  and                                                      when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.  And they crucified him,                                                    and parted his garments, casting lots:  that is might be fulfilled which                                                                  was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and                                                             upon my vesture did they cast lots.   And sitting down they watched him                                                        there; and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS                                                             THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Then were there two thieves crucified                                                                       with him; one on the right hand, and another on the left” (Matt. 27:34-38).

 

Dear readers, the Lord’ Supper is about the death of Jesus.  Paul tells us:  “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (I Cor. 11:26).  Jesus’ death was agonizing.  Jesus’ death was costly.  Jesus’ death was full of love.  As we eat the bread which represents His body and as we drink the fruit of the vine which represents His blood, we need to focus on the death of the precious Son of God.

            Second, we need to be appreciative as we eat from the Lord’s Table.  Jesus did not die on Calvary for Himself.  Peter tells us that He “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (I Pet. 2:22).  The sins for which He died were the sins of all humanity.  “And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).  To be more specific, Jesus died for “my” sins.  His death was a vicarious death.  He suffered in MY place.  Each of us should have suffered the pain of the nails.  We are the sinners (Rom. 3:23).  Think about that as you read these words from the pen of Paul.  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21). 

If we were sentenced to die today, each of us would be deeply concerned.  We might even break down in extreme sorrow to think that today we would cease to live.  How thankful we would be if another person died for us!  Can you imagine hearing the news that someone took your place and died for you today, and ecause of his death, you will be able to live.  That is exactly what Jesus did for us.  He died that we might live.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (I John 4:9).  That thought ought to cross our minds every time we engage in the Lord’s Supper.  That thought ought to fill our minds with gratitude for our precious Lord.  He died that “I” might live.

            Third, when we worship around the Lord’s table, we need to be joyful.  Our Lord’s death has saved us from the consequences of our sins.  We are the recipients of unfathomable blessings because we have learned and obeyed the gospel of Christ.  When we die, we have nothing to fear.  When we stand before God in judgment, we do not have to worry.  Following the judgment, we will live eternally with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in heaven for ever and ever.  That place will be a place of tranquility and absolute perfection.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, will tarnish its splendor.  “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain:  for the form things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4).  Our eternity will be spent in the “the joy” of our Lord (Matt. 25:21,23).  These thoughts should bring extreme joy to our hearts, especially as we partake of the Lord’s Supper.  It was Jesus’ sorrow and anguish that made our joy possible. 

            Dear brothers and sister in Christ, when you engage in the Lord’s Supper, don’t just go through the motions with little or no thought of what you are doing.  Instead, cause your mind to reflect on Jesus’ death.  Allow your mind to be filled with gratitude for what Jesus did for you.  Allow your mind to bring the joy of your salvation to the forefront as you remember the blessings Jesus’ death has brought into your life.  Yes, the Lord’s Supper is an outward memorial.  But, as we worship internally we need to be fully aware of what this memorial really means to us as children of God.  “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:27-29).