1 Corinthians 11.23-26 says...
Today's verses are 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, which read,
v.23, 24 - For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Paul has been rebuking and correcting the Christians in the Corinthian church about their times of meeting together. They have been very selfish in their actions so much so that people are going hungry. The divisions and factions that have been allowed to exist have created an atmosphere of "us and them." As they have gathered for a meal that would end in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the atmosphere of the time together is about them and not about the Lord.
Paul is rebooting or resetting their time together and especially what has happened when they come to the Lord's Supper. Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Passover Meal to remember God delivering the Israelites from the slavery under the Egyptians. Moses was sent by God from the message given as he should in front of the burning bush. Jesus stops in the midst of that meal to create a new meal that would remind His disciples and us and the Christians in Corinth of God sending another Moses (Jesus) who would deliver us and them from the slavery of sin. God sent His Son Jesus to offer His body for this to happen.
v.25, 26 - In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
A sacrifice was given once and for all through the blood of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled and satisfied all the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Sacrifices were given for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus' body was given by God for that purpose. In a world that offers many seemingly ways of escape, God offered a way to true peace through the body and blood of His One and only Son, Jesus Christ. This is what we remember when we come to the Lord's Supper.
When we come to the table that has the bread and the cup, we are to be reminded of the gospel. We are to be challenged to live lives that are in glory and honor of that event. We are to be exhorted to be ambassadors of Jesus to the world that we live in, so others can see Christ as we be the light and salt to the world. Those things cannot happen if we are selfish and gathering to glorify ourselves rather than glorify the One who gave His all for us.
Maybe we need a sign outside the entrances of our churches that reads, "Check Your Attitude Before Entering! Is it for self or for Jesus? If for Jesus, enter freely. If for yourself, stand in the provided dumpster to get a better perspective and then enter freely." In light of who Jesus is, we are nothing but He came to love the nothings in which I am one.
"Lord, You have even provided parts of the service that help us to keep perspective of why we are here and what we are to be doing and how we are to be. In light of Your sacrifice, may we sacrifice ourselves for the care of others who have gathered in Your name. Your example shows someone serving rather than being served and we need to follow suit. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.23, 24 - For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Paul has been rebuking and correcting the Christians in the Corinthian church about their times of meeting together. They have been very selfish in their actions so much so that people are going hungry. The divisions and factions that have been allowed to exist have created an atmosphere of "us and them." As they have gathered for a meal that would end in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, the atmosphere of the time together is about them and not about the Lord.
Paul is rebooting or resetting their time together and especially what has happened when they come to the Lord's Supper. Jesus gathered with His disciples for the Passover Meal to remember God delivering the Israelites from the slavery under the Egyptians. Moses was sent by God from the message given as he should in front of the burning bush. Jesus stops in the midst of that meal to create a new meal that would remind His disciples and us and the Christians in Corinth of God sending another Moses (Jesus) who would deliver us and them from the slavery of sin. God sent His Son Jesus to offer His body for this to happen.
v.25, 26 - In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
A sacrifice was given once and for all through the blood of Jesus Christ. He fulfilled and satisfied all the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Sacrifices were given for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus' body was given by God for that purpose. In a world that offers many seemingly ways of escape, God offered a way to true peace through the body and blood of His One and only Son, Jesus Christ. This is what we remember when we come to the Lord's Supper.
When we come to the table that has the bread and the cup, we are to be reminded of the gospel. We are to be challenged to live lives that are in glory and honor of that event. We are to be exhorted to be ambassadors of Jesus to the world that we live in, so others can see Christ as we be the light and salt to the world. Those things cannot happen if we are selfish and gathering to glorify ourselves rather than glorify the One who gave His all for us.
Maybe we need a sign outside the entrances of our churches that reads, "Check Your Attitude Before Entering! Is it for self or for Jesus? If for Jesus, enter freely. If for yourself, stand in the provided dumpster to get a better perspective and then enter freely." In light of who Jesus is, we are nothing but He came to love the nothings in which I am one.
"Lord, You have even provided parts of the service that help us to keep perspective of why we are here and what we are to be doing and how we are to be. In light of Your sacrifice, may we sacrifice ourselves for the care of others who have gathered in Your name. Your example shows someone serving rather than being served and we need to follow suit. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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