The Lord Jesus instituted His Supper that we might celebrate His sacrifice to save us, so that we might proclaim His dying for us, and His delivering up His body and blood to redeem us.
In partaking of His feast, we declare that all our life and hope and joy and glory are found only in His literal, physical body that was mutilated at Calvary, and in His literal, physical blood that He shed to make propitiation for His people's crimes unto God.
We partake symbolically and spiritually of His body and blood by the eating of the bread and wine at the Lord's Table.
Jesus declared that He would drink no more of the celebratory cup, until He can drink it new with His people in His Father's kingdom.
The next time Christ partakes of that delightful cup of rejoicing will be when He can do so physically in the presence of His people, finally all gathered in glory unto Himself!
In Luke's gospel, Christ expands upon this theme. His disciples are squabbling about who will be greatest in the kingdom.
Think of it: at such a solemn occasion, where Jesus is speaking of His soon suffering and death, His disciples cannot grasp the significance of the Lord's Table!
Instead, they are selfishly thinking of themselves, rather than upon Christ's death to save them.
Jesus warns them again against seeking the preeminence, and He points out that He is, right then, among them, serving them.
At the same time, He promises them that they will all eat and drink at His table, in His kingdom one day!
This reminds us that Jesus had already taught them, that He came to minister unto His people, and give His life a ransom for many.
The Lord Jesus sacrifices Himself for us! |
