The Gospel
of Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us how Jesus broke the bread and
gave it to His disciples:
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks
and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, 'Take
and eat; this is my body.'" Matthew 26:26
Afterwards,
Jesus took the cup: "Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them,
saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my
blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness
of sins.'" Matthew 26:27-28
Does this
mean that the cup and bread literally became His blood and body?Some
teach this, however this is not what Jesus meant. He was using a
metaphor.The bread and cup were symbols of His body and blood.
Brandon, I have a question, why didn’t Jesus say
the elements were only symbolic, but rather said this –
For my flesh
is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. John 6:55
I am the living
bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall
live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give
for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying,
How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily,
verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink
his blood, ye have no life in you. John 6:51-53
Did the Apostle
Paul tell us the Lord’s Supper is symbolic? His words in 1 Corinthians 10:16 tell
us it is literal or actual.
When we ask
the Lord’s blessing upon our drinking from the cup of wine at the Lord’s Table,
this means, doesn’t it, that all who drink it are sharing together the blessing of Christ’s blood?
And when we
break off pieces of the bread
from the loaf to eat there together, this shows that we are sharing
together in the benefits of his
body.
Jesus asked that we observe the Lord's Supper
for two reasons: He wanted us to remember the punishment that He endured
and the blood that He shed for our sins. The death of
Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Only through His death
could there be forgiveness for our sins. Jesus wants us never to forget
what He did for us. Jesus also wants us to observe the Lord's Supper
in anticipation of His return.He says in Matthew 26:29: "I tell you,
I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until
the day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Every time
we partake of the bread and cup we are declaring that Jesus will
soon return to partake with us again. Only people who are saved should
partake in this observance. That is what Paul is referring to in 1
Corinthians 11:27 when he says that some partake in an unworthy manner.
Question: Is this not the litmus test of partaking
unworthily – of simply not discerning the Lord’s body? Was Paul referring to a symbol?
For he that
eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself,
not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians
11:29, 30
Many Christians
with sensitive hearts that have sinned feel like this
may be referring to them. Remember that the Lord's Supper is to remind
us about the cleansing of the cross. If you have sinned, ask forgiveness
from the Lord and partake of the elements. The Lord wants you
to enjoy His communion.
I appreciate what you write in remembering
Jesus’ death, what He endured on the cross, His blood shed for forgiveness
and the cleansing He provides. Thanks
for writing it.
-- Gary Carroll
http://www.prophecytalk.com/index.php?topic=564.0
Brandon