LORD SUPPER?

John Fenn, Lord's Supper?

Hi all,
It was suggested a while back that I write on the subject of The Lord's Supper, and it seems good to share some thoughts along that line today.

Context, context, don't you love it!?
The original Lord's Supper was an intimate meal among Jesus' closest friends the night of his betrayal and arrest.

So the first element is that it was a small part of a meal, evidently towards the end. Sharing food with friends is the most intimate of times, especially in the Oriental culture of the mid-east. It wasn't a ceremony, it wasn't a ritual, it was a meal among friends.

Secondly, John 13 includes Jesus' last teaching on leadership, that of washing the disciples feet.
I don't care for foot washing ceremonies because it has little to do with our western culture today. But in Jesus' time their feet were their mode of transportation, walking everywhere in sandals, and having a pot of water near the door for washing, and with the wealthy, servants to wash a guests' feet, was customary.

I suppose today in the US it would be akin to the apostles driving up to the house in their Chevy's and Fords, and the Lord getting out the garden hose, rags and detergent to wash and detail their cars one by one. Then Peter's response would have been "Not only the mini-van Lord, but also my truck!" :)

But the point of serving one another is not lost. In the home setting of Jesus' day and the house churches today, I think a renewed pledge to serve one another should be made (at least) in the heart at this time, whether spoken or not.

After all, it was during this meal Jesus said "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." (13:34-35) This love is demonstrated by serving each other.

Thirdly, Paul brings out in I Corinthians 11:24-25 that Jesus said of the bread and wine, "Do this in remembrance of me". This meal and/or part of a meal is done in remembrance of Jesus. It causes us to focus in on that which unites us all, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

During this mealtime Jesus quoted a section right out of a Jewish wedding ceremony in John 14:2-3, which by its very use implies a joyous return one day. The groom would say to the young lady as she accepts his proposal by drinking his cup of wine offered her, usually in the presence of her father and any brothers: "In my Father's house are many places* to live, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, you may be also."

*KJV, 'mansions' instead of 'many places'. The word "mansions" is not in the Greek. Jesus used the Greek word 'abode' or 'dwelling place' used also in verse 23. The translators inserted 'mansion' so King James would not think he would get to heaven and have to live in merely a room in the Father's house, and it's been part of our tradition ever since.

The Last Supper is then also a betrothal ceremony, the establishing of the bride of Christ awaiting the groom's return, and holding a communal meal both in remembrance looking back to the betrothal, as well as looking forward to the wedding day. As such it is a renewal of purity of heart and mind in preparation for that day.

Fourth:
In verse 20-21 Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for not holding the gathering together with each other in someone's home in high enough esteem. He notices that some eat before, some even get drunk - and he says they have their own homes to do that in if they want, but when they come together they should not 'despise' (v22) the church by acting that way.

That's an amazing statement, that a bunch of Spirit filled believers' actions reveal they 'despise' the coming together with other believers and the intimate meal of the Lord's Supper. The Greek word 'despise', 'kataphroneo' (kata-down; pren-the mind) means to 'look down on' or 'think down upon or against'.

It tells us some of the Corinthian believers did not hold their meetings with other believers in each others homes as important, rather they looked down on them and did not esteem them properly. Did they not understand it's a matter of a healthy spiritual life, to re-connect with others on the same spiritual page in true and close friendship?

If I have time
A couple weeks ago while waiting in a car repair shop's lobby, some friends of the owners (who I know are solid Christians) came in and they visited with each other for several moments. As they concluded their visit and said goodbye, the friends said "Maybe we'll make it to church Sunday. We've been working in the garden, and some friends came by for a visit, we've been busy."

I asked Barb as we left, "I wonder why gardening was more important than meeting together with their brothers and sisters in the Lord?"

I think that's a whole other "Weekly Thoughts" subject: Is the problem with the people or what they are, or are not experiencing in their church?

But that will have to wait. Suffice to say that for Paul, in the homes where Christians gathered in and around Corinth, he expected them to hold their gatherings and the sharing of the Lord's Supper in high esteem and priority in their lives.

X-ray time
He also says in verses 27-30 that we therefore are accountable to the Lord concerning the condition of our hearts at this time: "Let a man examine himself".

Amazingly, he also teaches that it can be a moment of healing, for he says because some have not "discerned the Lord's body, for this reason many are weak and sickly among you, and many have died." (v29-30)

I have taught that from the pulpit of a traditional church and have seen people healed on the spot when they are taught this, and I've seen the same in home based churches. But I wonder how much we really grasp the healing power of God, though we acknowledge Jesus' body was broken for us, and by his stripes we were healed. (I Peter 2:24, Mt 8:17, Is 53:4-5)

I've also seen this clear teaching adapted to emotional issues too - Isaiah's words that 'the chastisement of our peace was upon him', can apply to the emotional as well as physical.

If we examine our hearts, and mentally prepare for receiving the Lord's Supper, we can receive emotional and physical healings, as well as healing in terms of reconciliation with others.

Modern practice
There are as many ways of celebrating the Lord's Supper as there are religious schisms in the body of Christ today: Real wine or juice; as a meal or as a separate event; no juice or wine at all but just a pot luck meal; local foods or embracing first century Passover customs; and on it goes.

To me, the Lord's Supper isn't something 'done', it's something experienced that first springs from a desire in one's heart to share intimacy in the Lord with others, something prepared for, yet something that can be prepared for in a matter of seconds by merely getting one's heart and priorities straight.

I don't believe Jesus expected every culture in the world through 2000 years of Christianity to adopt the Passover practices of the first century. He did I think expect us to include the elements he spoke of however, some of which I mentioned above: Part of a meal, a reminder of servant leadership and service to each other, remembrance, a time to be esteemed and respected, and a time of self-examination and healing.

Remember that in their time people were losing their lives regularly for their faith. Celebrating the Lord's Supper focused the seriousness of their faith in Christ and their dependence on each other, as well as reaffirmed the day not too far in the future for many when they would come face to face with the Lord.

Can we allow the Spirit of God to affirm that level of seriousness and commitment in our hearts? I believe so.
If all present will celebrate the Lord's Supper in the right spirit, the presence of the Spirit will celebrate with us.

Some thoughts,
Blessings,
John Fenn
www.iFaithhome.org