322. LUK 22:19. THE LORD’S SUPPER
Luk_22:19. The Lord’s Supper
"And he took tread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me."’97Luk_22:19.
Our subject is connected with the most affecting part of the history of the Son of God. He had accomplished all his ministerial work on earth; he had exclaimed, "Father, 1 have finished the work," &c. He was now waiting as the atoning sacrifice, ready to be offered up for the sin of the world; his hour of sorrow had arrived; the period for this baptism of blood had come; the redeeming act for man’s salvation was now to be performed. This season of intense suffering he introduces by holding intimate communion with his disciples. The night of his apprehension had set upon the land; Jesus and his beloved band are sitting around the paschal table, and then he looks upon his chosen servants, and addresses them thus, "With desire," &c.; "Then, taking bread," &c.; "He gave thanks," &c. Let us notice,
I. The Ordinance itself.
It is the receiving of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ. The bread reminds us of weakness and dependence, and the goodness of God in giving us the staff of life. What bread is to the body, Christ is to the soul. He is the true bread of life, &c. The breaking of the bread reminds us of the wounds and bruises of the body of Jesus, and of the racking tortures of his holy soul, for the redemption of our souls. See Isaiah 53. The one bread for all who sit at Christ’s table, reminds us of the one and the only one Christ for all believers. "No other name," &c. The wine is the emblem of the blood of Jesus, which was shed for the redemption of the soul. "Not redeemed with corruptible," &c. See ver. 20. Now, in this we are taught our sinfulness, and condemned estate; guilty, polluted, and under the curse. Also, the only remedy for that state, "The blood of Christ cleanseth," &c., and that alone, &c. Also, the necessity of its appropriation: We must be personally partakers of its efficacious influence. We must come to it, feel it, &c. Vow, this is a concise and simple view of the ordinance itself. Notice,
II. Its Characteristics.
1. It is a Divine ordinance.
Here is its institution. That it did not merely refer to the apostles, is evident from the practices of the first Christians as given in the "Acts" Jesus solemnly established it in person, and enjoined it in the affectionate words of the text: "This do in remembrance of me." It has the signet of authority upon it, the impress and superscription of the Son of God.
2. It is a perpetual ordinance.
As it recognises the death of Jesus, as a past act for our sins, so it looks forward to his second coming; and it is to be continued until he shall finish his great mediatorial work, 1Co_11:26.
3. It is a binding and obligatory ordinance.
Christ established nothing in vain. All he commanded, we are to be taught, that we may obey in all things, Mat_28:20 If not binding, what command is so? If not binding on all then on none!
4. It should be a frequent ordinance.
Ought we to have a Lord’s-day, without a Lord’s Supper, without the sacrifice being laid on the altar of the sanctuary? Early Christians, at least received it weekly. So it was in use for several of the first centuries of the Christian era. See Act_2:41, &c., Act_20:6. Paul arrived on Monday, and remained till the next Lord’s day, &c. Christ’s death and cross must be elevated above all things. Christ’s death is the very soul of redemption. The life-blood of salvation. We cannot meditate, or be too intimate with it. We need it every day, every moment, &c. Frequency in reading, worship, and prayer, always profitable. So also in this ordinance, testimonies of the most eminent Christians in its favor.
III. The Spirit in which it should be observed.
1. In the spirit of deep humility of mind.
As sinners’97as utterly unworthy of so great a sacrifice. As living monuments of God’s forbearance and mercy.
2. In the spirit of grateful love to Jesus.
"We love him because he first," &c. Here is the evidence; here, the astounding proofs; here, we hear him address us, "This is my body," &c. "This is my blood," &c.
3. In the spirit of faith.
"Draw near in faith," &c. "Without faith," &c.
4. In the spirit of love to all mankind.
Here, Christ says by his example, "Love your enemies." "Bless." &c. He says especially, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another."
5. In he spirit of joyous hope of joining Christ and his church in heaven.
Christ is gone to his Father’s house, and there he receives from the church on earth, his people, that they may be with him forever and ever.
IV. The Advantages arising from Obedience to this Command of Christ’s.
1. The soul will be strengthened.
"They that wait upon the Lord," &c.
2. Christ will be increasingly precious.
The more we know, and hear, and meditate, &c., the more we shall admire, and love him.
3. Holiness will be increased.
Sins pardoned. Satan vanquished. World overcome, &c. Meetness for heaven increased.
4. Heaven will be desired.
"Good to be here." "This the house of God," &c. "And if our fellowship," &c. Frequent communion on earth will lead us to desire perpetual communion in heaven.
Application
1. Address regular communicants. Come in a right spirit. Be watchful, humble, prayerful, &c.
2. Address irregular communicants. Why so? It is disobedience, inconsistency, injurious to yourselves, church, world.
3. Those who never commune at all. (1) The conscientiously doubtful. Do you hate sin? Believe in Christ, &c. Are you willing to obey him? Then draw near, &c. (2) Those who are really unfit for the Lord’s table, are also unfit for death, judgment, eternity. Do not reject the gospel. Do not slight Christ. Do not destroy your souls. Do not throw away heaven. Do not perish in your sins. Repent, believe. Unite with his people. Live to Christ that you may die to Christ, and be his forever.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS