By Bill Brandstatter
Many in the religious world are celebrating “Easter.” This is a time religiously when many people celebrate and remember the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is good to remember the death of Christ any time of the year. There is information in the New Testament about how Jesus wanted His death remembered and a record of how the early disciples remembered His death. The disciples in the early church observed the Lord’s Supper or communion every first day of the week. We read in Acts 20:7- “Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” Historians tell us the early church did this every first day of every week. We should, by this example, also honor the Lord’s death every Sunday. When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we are looking in four directions.
First, we are looking backward. Jesus said, “Take, eat, this is my body” (Matt. 26:26). When Jesus spoke those words, He was still alive. He was obviously speaking in a spiritual sense. The bread does not become the actual body of Christ. He then took the cup and gave thanks and said, “This is my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Our prayers and our minds should go back to the death of Christ.
Second, we look forward. The stopping point of observing the Lord’s supper will be at His second coming. Paul stated, “You proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Cor. 11:26).
Third, we must take an inward look. Paul stated, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11:28). The “unworthy manner” he speaks of in 1 Cor. 11:29 refers to those who come together for the wrong purpose (1 Cor. 11:33-34).
Finally, we must take an outward look. The Lord’s Supper is for Christians to remember what Christ has done for them. It is for the brethren (1 Cor. 11:33). The blood of Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28). The place to observe the Lord’s Supper is when the church assembles on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
Let us remember the death of Christ the way He taught us. Christ told us to partake of the Lord’s Supper. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24). Let us remember the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection when we partake of the Lord’s Supper every week.
Many in the religious world are celebrating “Easter.” This is a time religiously when many people celebrate and remember the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. It is good to remember the death of Christ any time of the year. There is information in the New Testament about how Jesus wanted His death remembered and a record of how the early disciples remembered His death. The disciples in the early church observed the Lord’s Supper or communion every first day of the week. We read in Acts 20:7- “Upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread.” Historians tell us the early church did this every first day of every week. We should, by this example, also honor the Lord’s death every Sunday. When we observe the Lord’s Supper, we are looking in four directions.
First, we are looking backward. Jesus said, “Take, eat, this is my body” (Matt. 26:26). When Jesus spoke those words, He was still alive. He was obviously speaking in a spiritual sense. The bread does not become the actual body of Christ. He then took the cup and gave thanks and said, “This is my blood which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Our prayers and our minds should go back to the death of Christ.
Second, we look forward. The stopping point of observing the Lord’s supper will be at His second coming. Paul stated, “You proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Cor. 11:26).
Third, we must take an inward look. Paul stated, “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Cor. 11:28). The “unworthy manner” he speaks of in 1 Cor. 11:29 refers to those who come together for the wrong purpose (1 Cor. 11:33-34).
Finally, we must take an outward look. The Lord’s Supper is for Christians to remember what Christ has done for them. It is for the brethren (1 Cor. 11:33). The blood of Jesus purchased the church (Acts 20:28). The place to observe the Lord’s Supper is when the church assembles on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
Let us remember the death of Christ the way He taught us. Christ told us to partake of the Lord’s Supper. He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24). Let us remember the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection when we partake of the Lord’s Supper every week.
- Bill
Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in
Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's
website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/
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