The Spirit of Christian Worship

GOLDEN TEXT: “Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” —I Corinthians 11:28

I CORINTHIANS 11:20-34

THERE seems to have been much lacking in spiritual maturity in the young church at Corinth. In this lesson it appears that some of the Corinthian brethren had not yet grasped the real significance of what is now sometimes referred to as “the Lord’s Supper.” Partaking of the emblems used in this memorial of Jesus’ death apparently meant little more to them than eating an ordinary meal. Indeed, the record indicates that the poor of the congregation looked upon it as an opportunity to obtain a free meal. Paul severely condemned this viewpoint and practice.

Then Paul explains the real meaning of the Memorial Supper as it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. He quotes the language used by Jesus when he instituted the Memorial—“Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” And again, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”—vss. 24,25

In verse 29 Paul explains that those who partake of these symbols unworthily are those who do not discern “the Lord’s body.” The “bread” represented Jesus’ literal body, or humanity, and also his body, the church, one or both of which some in the Corinthian church failed to discern.

When, therefore, Jesus gave bread to his disciples and said, “Take eat, this is my body,” the primary thought was that the bread was a symbol of his humanity, his “flesh,” which he previously declared he would give for the life of the world. (John 6:51) He did not mean the bread had actually been turned into flesh, but that it represented his flesh, his humanity. Partaking of the “bread,” then, would be an acknowledgment of Christ’s sacrificial work as the Redeemer of the world.

But Paul explains that the Memorial bread also has a further significance. “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (I Cor. 10:16) Here the reference is to the body members of Christ, made up of his footstep followers, the “body” which many professed Christians fail to discern. Partaking of the bread, Paul explains, is a symbol of our “communion,” a common union, or partnership, in the mystical body of Christ. The only way we can be members of this “body” is by the sacrifice of our own humanity, hence we have a partnership with Jesus in sacrifice.

When Jesus said that the “cup” represented his blood, he meant that it was a symbol of the life which he poured out as a satisfaction for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. His poured out blood represents his sacrificed life, and his broken body emphasizes the fact that the life which he sacrificed was human life, a life which corresponded to Adam’s perfect life and which Adam lost through sin.

But as with the “bread,” so with the “cup,” there is a further significance in our partaking of it. Paul wrote, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [common union, or partnership] of the blood of Christ?” (I Cor. 10:16) Paul adds, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”—vs. 17

From this it is clear that when we partake of the Memorial emblems, both the bread and the cup, we are confessing to one another, not only that we have accepted Jesus as our Redeemer and Savior, but also that we have accepted his invitation to take up our cross and die with him. Paul speaks of this as being “planted together in the likeness of his death.”—Rom. 6:3-5

We believe that the Memorial service should be a very restricted one, commemorated but once a year, on the anniversary of Jesus’ death. Paul said, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” (I Cor. 11:26) The expression, “as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup,” does not imply freedom to observe the anniversary of Jesus’ death as frequently as we may deem advisable. It simply means as often as it is done on the proper anniversary date.

The Memorial service should be restricted also in the sense that only the fully consecrated should partake of it. None can properly partake of the Memorial unless they have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, are denying self and following in his footsteps of sacrifice. These are sharing the “cup” with him.

QUESTIONS

In what way does this lesson reveal the spiritual immaturity of the brethren in the Corinthian church?

What does Paul mean by discerning the Lord’s “body”?

Explain the primary and secondary significance of the Memorial emblems.

How should the Memorial Supper be restricted?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |