The Lord's Supper

• Jesus celebrated the Lord's Supper with his disciples (Matthew 26: 26-29)-Matthew 26:26 (KJV) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  Matthew 26:27 (KJV) And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; Matthew 26:28 (KJV) For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  Matthew 26:29 (KJV) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

The Lord's Supper was a symbolic one.  One that would impact the lives of many many Christians for time to come.  As they ate this last meal together; the Lord wanted them to remember to come together in His name.  The blessing that was poured out over that last meal is the same blessing that is poured out on Christians all over the world who gather in Jesus' name today.  When He told the disciples to drink it, that it was his blood, what he was referring to was His blood that was going to be shed for the remission of sins.  God the Father had prepared the Son Jesus for what was to come.  As they drank, they acknowledged that both in accepting Him as Lord and Savior, and giving thanks for his shed blood, we are cleansed and freed from the bondage of sin.  This is the same in Churches across the world today.  When we eat the holy communion supper we are doing it in remembrance of Him, and all that He has done.  In verse 29 when He says He will not drink henceforth, He is saying He knows He will not drink with them again until His Second Coming.  He will drink with us then.  

• Christians should be thankful for the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 10: 16)-1 Corinthians 10:16 (KJV) The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

We should very well be thankful for the Lord's Supper.  The Lord did this to set the example to the disciples, and to instruct them to keep that tradition for future believers.  We should be both grateful and joyful in doing this.  It is God's blessing to believers.

• Christians who celebrate the Lord's Supper together should be unified (1 Corinthians 11: 20-34)-1 Corinthians 11:20 (KJV) When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.  1 Corinthians 11:21 (KJV) For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  1 Corinthians 11:22 (KJV) What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.  1 Corinthians 11:23 (KJV) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 1 Corinthians 11:24 (KJV) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  1 Corinthians 11:25 (KJV) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.  1 Corinthians 11:27 (KJV) Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  1 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  1 Corinthians 11:29 (KJV) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  1 Corinthians 11:30 (KJV) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  1 Corinthians 11:31 (KJV) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  1 Corinthians 11:32 (KJV) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.  1 Corinthians 11:33 (KJV) Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  1 Corinthians 11:34 (KJV) And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

The holy communion requires unity of the heart, the spirit, and the mind.  Our hearts and minds should be united with that of Christ.  When we do this, we should be living in communion with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.