The Lord’s Supper
“Some people will get offended and say, ‘Why are you Christians always talking about the blood of Jesus?’ Because, if there is no blood, there is no salvation. If there is no blood, then there is no forgiveness. If there is no blood, then there is no hope. So, yes, we talk about the blood, but we don’t just talk about it, we are commanded to celebrate it.” – Tony Walliser
Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
The Lord’s Supper
Have you ever donated blood? Some people have been able to give blood many times, one pint at a time, adding up to multiple gallons over a lifetime. Other folks never consider it. And some have tried, but for one reason or another can’t bear the thought of being stuck by a needle to have blood drawn. Even some strong, he-man-type athletes.
One fact about blood is there’s no substitute. For someone desperately in need of a blood transfusion, the finest tomato juice in the world won’t do. Neither will cherry Kool-Aid. No one needing a transfusion of blood has ever said, “Wow, I could have had a V-8!” No, they need genuine human blood. Some blood banks have even called it giving “the gift of life.”
In a far more important, infinitely more profound way, the blood of Jesus Christ is the true gift of life. However, it’s more than a transfusion. It’s about transformation, the one and only source for forgiveness and cleansing from our sins; salvation and acceptance into the family of God; a new beginning spiritually; and the assurance of eternal life that begins the moment we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord.
Studying the Bible, we find the subject of blood mentioned often. In the Old Testament we read about blood sacrifices – animals being slain, their blood being sprinkled on an altar. These acts didn’t serve to wipe away sins but were symbolic, ultimately pointing to Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross that truly provided the atonement for our sins.
At His last meal with His disciples during the Passover celebration, Jesus gave the Twelve a preview of what would be taking place just hours later.
He took bread and said, “This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” Then, signifying the blood He soon would be shedding as the Lamb of God, after the supper Jesus took a cup of wine and declared, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
This is why the Church all around the world celebrates the Lord’s supper, also known as holy communion and sometimes, the eucharist. Some people regard it as simply a religious ritual, part of certain worship services. But it’s much more than that.
The Lord’s supper is a time for remembrance – remembering Christ’s sacrifice, remembering our salvation, and remembering His return. As 1 Corinthians 11:26 tells us, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”
Many of us have objects or observances to remind us of special moments in our lives: The ticket stub from a favorite sporting event or concert we attended. Birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. Someone might even have a certificate recognizing the number of gallons of blood they have donated during their lifetime.
But those all pale in comparison with the sacred act of participating in the Lord’s supper. Next time it’s observed at church, remember what Jesus did for us on the cross, shedding His blood for us – and proclaim His death and resurrection until He comes again!