Communion
Last supper painting Da Vinci 1498
Mathew 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. 29But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives. Mathew 26 audio scripture
1 Corinthians 11
23For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread; 24and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. 30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.
Commentary: Please note above, Jesus said while they were taking the last supper, he will not drink it again, until he drinks it with us in his fathers kingdom. He was speaking of the future when the church is raptured or (taken to heaven ). We will at that time, in heaven have the marriage supper with Jesus. The church is the bride of Christ and we will be married to him.
Early in Jesus Ministry, he feeds 5000 people and they began to follow him, some for the miracles he performed. He could read their minds and the intents of their hearts. He explains that he is the bread that comes down from heaven. He also shocked some, because he said that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood we will live for ever. What he was referring to was the symbols of the fruit of the vine (grape juice ), and the unleavened bread that Christians would partake of in our communion service.
1After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick. 3And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat? 6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings’ worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? 10Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would. 12
12And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost. 13So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten. 14When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.
15Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.
16And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea; 17and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. 19When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid. 20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. 21They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going.
22On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone 23(howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks): 24when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? 26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.
27Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed. 28They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. 32Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.
33For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not. 37
All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
41The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven? 43Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.
46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father. 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
52The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. 54He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. 58This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever. 59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
Commentary here:
The apostle Paul said In 1st Corinthians above, that as often as we partake of the communion, we are showing our remembrance of the sacrafice that Jesus made for us. We should not take communion unless we are born again Christians and we are living for him. If we have been sinning, we should repent and ask for forgiveness before we partake of it.
Many churches have communion service every Sunday service, as well as special occasions, such as Easter, Passover, Christmas etc. Other churches have communion service once or twice per month. The book of Acts states that the desciples met on the 1st day of the week to break bread. Communion is a Holy event and must be looked at as that. It should not be taken lightly. When you take communion put aside worldly thoughts. Concentrate on Jesus and his love for us and his crucifixion. Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking him for his wonderful love. Thank God his Father, for loving us so much that he gave his only begotten son to redeem us from death, hell and bondage to sin.
Jesus purchased our salvation, and eternal life in his Father's kingdom. He paid a heavy price. Death by Crucifixion is a horrible death. He suffered mocking, shame and beatings. He arose on the third day ( Sunday morning ) to eternal life. He ascended back to heaven where he sits at the right hand of the father. He said, all power in heaven and earth has been given to me. The scriptures said that he will rule until he puts all enemies under his feet, and then he will turn and present everything to his Father, that all things might be one. He is the first born from the dead to eternal life. He is Alfa and Omega. He is the beginning and the end, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the lion of the tribe of Judah, the bright and morning star.
John the Baptist called Jesus the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.
Lets look now, into the history of the communion and the sacrafice.
Blood has the preeminence. Not just any blood, but only the blood of Jesus. All others were acceptable only, if they were a symbol of Jesus. In Genesis 4th chp, we see the first sacrafice that was acceptable to God.
Genesis4 1And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah. 2And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it. 8And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Able offered a lamb, which was a symbol of Jesus.
Genesis 22Abraham offers Isaac to be sacrificed. audio
1And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I. 2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you. 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. And they went both of them together. 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? 8And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together.
9And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am. 12And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.
13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided. 15And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,
Exodus 12 , God instructs Moses to take a lambs blood and smear it on each side of the door post and the header which is the top of the door frame. This was done so when the death angel passed through the land during that night; he would see the blood of the lamb and would Passover that family of Israelites , but slay the 1st. born in ever Egyptian home. Click here for the audio text re: this event.
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In 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: 4and if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man’s eating ye shall make your count for the lamb.
5Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old: ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats: 6and ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at even. 7And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.
Commentary here: These examples from the old testament were all foreshadows of the communion supper that Jesus established at the last supper. The church still keeps this communion while we await his return for his bride, the Church of Christ.
Jesus loves you he really does !!! Bill Hicks