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IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER  

EXODUS 12:1-13 

EPHESIANS 5:15-20 

JOHN 6:41-51 

The Lord’s Supper is one of the two sacraments of Prebyterians and other Protestant denominations  Reformed tradition.  The Lord’s Supper is also known as the Eucharist and the Communion. It  is observed to commemorate the love and sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for the salvation of humanity  and to give thanks to God for our salvation. The other sacrament is Baptism. Our focus today is to reflect on the importance of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  We shall consider the following importance. 

The first importance of the Lord’s supper according to the first and third Scripture readings is that Jesus is now the sign of the new Passover lamb for which we have been saved from death. In the first Scripture reading from Exodus 12 God told Moses that “It is the LORD’S Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:11-13). The first sign of the Passover was to save Israelites from the continued oppression of the Egyptians. It was to save the Israelites from death as doorposts that were not marked with the blood of the goat or sheep will lose their firstborns.  However, the sign of the Lord’s Supper as the sign of the new covenant is the sign that shows that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for the salvation of humanity shall be saved. In other words, Jesus gives a new meaning to the Passover commemoration in that anyone marked with the blood of Christ through faith shall be saved.  The sign of the Old Testament Passover was the blood of a sheep or a goat. “You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight” (Exodus 12:5-6). The sign of the new Passover that has brought salvation to all who believe in Jesus Christ is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. It is for this reason Jesus said that “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” (John 6:53-56).  The Lord’s Supper reminds us of our salvation in Christ that God has passed over our transgression because of the body and blood of Jesus sacrificed on our behalf. Again Jesus says to the Disciples  “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:27-28). 

Partaking in the Lord’s supper is the commemoration and a dramatization of our salvation even as we show God our gratitude. “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)

Secondly, as beneficiaries of the Lord’s Supper, Paul reminds us in the Second Scripture reading to live as people who have been saved and be watchful. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,  addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,  giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15-21). The second Scripture reading reminds us to be watchful and live by the will of God  “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Therefore Paul again concludes as a testimony of our salvation in Christ and beneficiaries of the Lord’s Supper that “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) If we indeed appreciate the importance of the Lord’s Supper then Paul admonishes that “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) This caveat is for hard-hearted and unrepentant sinners who abuse the gift and sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is for repentant sinners like the Prodigal son in Luke 15: 11-32. Jesus through the Lord’s Supper is assuring us that “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

In conclusion, beloved in the Lord, the importance of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is that it is the symbol of our salvation in that by virtue of the sacrifice of Jesus’ body and blood on behalf of believers, God passed over over us and we have been saved from eternal death and suffering. Our sins have been graciously forgiven. For this reason, we must live according to the will of God, be watchful approach the Lord’s Supper as a commemoration of the Lord’s priceless gift of salvation and our endless gratitude or appreciation to Him. May the Lord continue to strengthen us to be faithful even as we continue to partake in the Lord’s Supper. Shalom.  

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)