Scriptural
Studies
The Lord's Supper, Symbol or Ritual?
Are we asked to remember a Ritual or the Lord himself?
By Nab & Jinane B. March 26, 2017
(This paper was researched and written with the loving help of my late beloved wife on March 26, 2017)
The Lord's Table in the Old Testament
You might think this is an unnecessary detail. Stay with me and you shall see the connection! Loaves of bread were placed permanently on the table of the Lord in the temple.
The priests ate the bread to symbolize partaking of the Lord's meal. This foreshadowed God's spiritual table when Christ arrived. Here are a few scriptures that mention the Lord's table.
“And upon the table of shewbread...and the continual bread shall be thereon.” Num 4:7
“[On the Lord's table] you shall take fine flour and bake twelve cakes with it...that it may be on the bread for a MEMORIAL, an offering made by fire to the Lord.” Leviticus 24:5
The Lord’s Supper is a Spiritual Meal
In both Matthew and Luke's accounts, Jesus and his disciples were eating the Passover meal (a regular meal). Jesus was not performing any RITUAL!
The cup here is a spiritual cup indicating either one feeds at God’s spiritual table, or the cup of demons!
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons." (1 Cor 10:21)
Believers together they constitute a spiritual body, partaking of the one loaf, Jesus Christ.
"For we, being many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partakers of that one loaf" (1 Cor 10:17)
This next parable is about those who reject God’s invitation for the great spiritual Supper. No one thinks this parable is literal! It symbolizes God's SPIRITUAL BANQUET for anyone, especially the Gentiles (who are depicted as spiritually poor, maimed, lame, and blind).
God provided the sacrifice (Jesus Christ), the place (the Christian community) and the means (the Holy Spirit):
“A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yokes of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still, another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
"So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.'
"Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 'For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.'" (Luke 14:15-24)
"Eat my Body and Drink my Blood"
( John 6:25-68 )
Most of the verbs in this chapter present active participles indicating continual or habitual actions. It indicates a continual daily feeding of Jesus’ figurative flesh and blood.
Eating and drinking His body was a shocking speech for the people and to some of His disciples. Why was it shocking? Because they understood His speech fleshly instead of spiritually! He had to remind them by saying:
“The words I speak are spirit and life. The flesh [unspiritual understanding] benefits NOTHING.” (John 6:63)
Why the Analogy of Food and Drink
Food and drink are needed every day, by every human, several times a day. Likewise, all true believers must feed spiritually on Christ EVERY DAY and "AS OFTEN" for their spiritual nourishment and survival.
As literal food becomes part of the human body, our spiritual food which is Christ becomes part of our spiritual being. This is how we are changed day by day:
“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord [Christ], are being TRANSFORMED into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Cor 3:18 ESV)
The Meaning of "In Remembrance of Me"
Was Jesus saying to remember a RITUAL or to remember HIM? Was He saying to remember Him ONCE in a while or ALL the time? Read what He said about remembering him (not so much the ritual):
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come...this do in remembrance of ME ” (Luke 22:18-19)
Paul shows how often one needs to remember Jesus Christ:
“For as often as [Greek ‘hosakis’, as many times] ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he comes." (1 Cor 11:26)
Jesus was not establishing an annual, monthly, or weekly ceremony or memorial. He was establishing a New Covenant based on His offered flesh and blood. We are continually reminded to feed spiritually on Christ and as often (or as many times) as we can.
How do we feed on Jesus Christ's body? By daily following and obeying his teachings and commandments out of love.
And how do we drink his cup? By suffering with him, dying to ourselves and serving others humbly. It would be rather silly to remember Jesus only occasionally through a ritual!
We do this (in the spirit) until such time when the entire Body of believers will be with Jesus Christ, face to face and in perfect communion (fellowship).
"Drinking It in A New Way"
Please note these 3 parallel accounts speaking of drinking Christ's spiritual meal in a New Way.
“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.” (Matthew 26:29)
“I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
“For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.” (Luke 22:18)
Jesus was saying to all his followers, that the ceremonial Passover will be replaced with Him—the True Passover.
This is what he meant by saying "I will drink it NEW with you". Jesus is sharing Himself with all believers when the Holy Spirit is poured. A casual reading of the New Testament proves that that has been the case till today.
Here is the "New" way believers feed and drink spiritually:
The Spirit teaches and guides them in all the truth:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.” (John 16:13-15)
"I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev 3:20)
The Spirit dwells in them:
“Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1Cor 3:16)
The Spirit is a source of revelation, wisdom, and power:
“I keep asking that the God...may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Eph 1:17-20)
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1Cor 2:10,11)
The Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to believers:
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good...All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
The Spirit is the seal in the lives of believers:
“Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:13)
The Spirit Helps in weakness and intercession:
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities...the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us...” (Romans 8:26-27).
The Spirit produces spiritual fruits in them:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance...If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal 5:22-25)
What About 1 Corinthians 11:18-34
(Not what you think!)
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul was dealing with behavioural problems among the Corinthians.
We think that Paul was not explaining how to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. He was rebuking the brothers for their behaviour when fellowshipping. Communion (koinonia) means ‘fellowshipping or sharing’. Paul reminded them that they have homes to eat and drink in.
Paul advised them when they fellowship and worship, they should partake spiritually of the body of Christ as the Lord had instructed.
First-century Christians often broke bread or ate meals together. At times, this lasted for days with many people fellowshipping. It brought them together for encouragement and were likely to share common meals with poor brothers.
The Corinthians showed a selfish attitude by eating their sumptuous meals (that should have been eaten in their homes), without even sharing them with others who might have been hungry and of little means. Many of these brothers seemed to come together only to have a good time instead of sharing and bonding in a manner worthy of their Lord Jesus Christ.
Problems from a literal
interpretation of the Lord's Supper
Problem 1
What if a believer wishes to partake literally of the bread and the wine every day or even several times a day? How much bread and wine can one handle? Can one become glutenous or drunk as a result? A literal interpretation is very problematic!
Problem 2
Are those who partake daily, somehow better than those who partake monthly or annually? Again a problem arises from a literal application rather than a spiritual one!
Problem 3
A Problem of dogmatism can also arise when Christians give more weight to religious rituals. This happens because the shadow is given more importance than the substance! While some rituals are not wrong in themselves, they can hinder or blind us if adhered to without recognizing their reality. Rituals can be especially wrong if one insists that others must follow them.
“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” (Col 2:16-17 ESV)
“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.” (Heb 10:1 NASB)
Jesus Disliked Rituals
Israel fell into the same trap when they viewed their sacrificial system as nothing more than a RITUAL and followed their own! Contrary to Israel’s attitude, Jesus broke away from rituals and unnecessary traditions that dishonoured his Father. He rebuked the Pharisees saying,
“Thus making void the word of God by your TRADITIONS that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:13)
How did Jesus break away from unnecessary traditions and rituals? Here's a partial list:
He healed on the Sabbath.
He plucked and ate on the Sabbath.
He did not do ritual washings.
He did not condemn adulterous women!
He did not glorify his own family.
He forfeited marriage and family.
He was associated with sinners.
He spoke openly to women.
Believing women followed Him.
He accepted Jews and Gentiles alike.
Based on Jesus' way of thinking and living, it becomes difficult to imagine that He would want His followers to keep a religious ritual just to prove their appreciation for the awesome spiritual meaning of His body and blood.
Church Communion Does Nothing!
Communion as practiced in Churches today is nothing more than a RITUAL of eating a tiny piece of bread and sipping some wine. What does it do? In itself, it does NOTHING to seriously change one’s character or make one closer to Jesus Christ.
Rituals are much easier and more convenient to follow than complete obedience to God and Christ. They are easier than daily praying, reading, meditating, studying, and living in total obedience to Jesus Christ.
Many physical rituals, by their nature, are carnal. Those born of the spirit do not keep them. All physical traditions and rituals under the Old Covenant have become spiritual realities under the New Covenant. Here's a short list of some of them:
Our Passover is Jesus Himself (1 Cor 5:4-8)
Our Circumcision is of the heart (Rom 2:29)
The Temple of God is the body of Christ (1 Cor 3:16)
New Jerusalem is the City of God (Gal 4:26)
Our Sabbath is Christ (Matt 12:8)
Today, we submit to the "Law of the Spirit of Life.” (Rom 8:2) We no longer walk in the flesh by rituals and traditions. We walk by the Spirit,
“Henceforth know we no man after the flesh...though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2 Cor 5:16)
Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman that all true worshippers no longer worship in a specific location, in a particular way, or through rituals and traditions. This is no longer acceptable. Note what Jesus said:
"The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.." (John 4:21-24)
Realistically, no physical ritual (such as the Lord's Supper) can make one fully spiritual although they may appear to "Have a form of godliness" but lack the power of the spirit! (2 Tim 3:5)
What To Do Now!
I can't tell you what to do. It’s entirely up to you! What is crucial for a believer to understand is that what Christ did was only a symbol of his flesh and blood which we (as his body) feed on spiritually.
It might help if you consider the following:
A symbol can never be greater than what it symbolizes.
A wedding ring can never be greater than the marriage itself.
A child’s photo can never equal the child's!
Under the Old Covenant, all rituals and ordinances were only “A shadow [a symbol or type] of things to come; but the body [the reality] is of Christ.” (Col 2:17)
Partake DAILY of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, and you will always be spiritually nourished. No ritual, however delightful and well established can compare with the true Bread of life—Jesus Christ!