The storm clouds of rejection were swirling, and hatred towards Christ had climaxed. Tonight would be the night the enemies would hunt the Saviour down in the Garden, tie His hands and lead Him away to brutal beatings, vicious assaults, vile spittings, and humiliating taunts. Tonight, He would be arrested, and tomorrow, our precious Saviour would be nailed to the Cross. Jesus and His little band of disciples had climbed the stairs of a Jerusalem home, and now they had just finished eating the Passover Supper in the upstairs room. But something else was on the Saviour’s mind.

Just then, He reached for the bread, took it and gave thanks for it. Did the disciples quickly glance at each other, wondering what this was all about? They were thoroughly familiar with the Passover procedures, but what was He doing now? This is new.

As they watched, He broke the bread and then passed it to them, telling them to eat their portion of it. He explained: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19 The bread represented His body in which He would suffer and die for our sins upon the Cross. Then He reached for the cup. And this He also blessed and then passed it around for them each to drink from. It’s significance, Lord? This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22:20

And so it was, the very night of His betrayal, Jesus Himself commenced and authorized the new practice for Christians. It is called the Lord’s Supper. The Apostle Paul wrote about it in 1 Corinthians chapter 11. He told the Christians: 

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.” 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.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.  1Corinthians 11:23-26

Dear Child of God, do you do it? Do you do this on the first day of each week as the early Christians did? He really wants you to do it in remembrance of Himself. He wants you to eat the bread and drink from the cup and do your part in remembering each week the price He paid once-for-all to redeem you from your sins.

Not only will it keep your heart filled with appreciation and love for the Man of Calvary, but each time you do it, you announce once again to a perishing world that Jesus died for sins upon the Cross. He wants you to keep on doing it right up until the day He returns.

Here’s the clincher. Are you ready for it? Participating in the Lord’s Supper is not just a nice thing to do. It’s not just one of those things a Christian ‘should’ do if it is convenient or ‘if’ it fits our schedule. It’s a commandment. He commanded that we do it! To not do it is to be in a state of disobedience. “This do” is in the imperative. So it’s a command.

Are you associated with a company of believers who honour this command each Sunday? Would you take a job in a remote place if it meant you could not gather with Christians to carry out this weekly remembrance of the Lord? Think about it.

Why did Jesus introduce the Lord’s Supper? The answer: “This do in remembrance of Me.” He wants us to keep His sacrificial sin-atoning death always in the forefront of our minds and hearts and never forget the incalculable price He paid.

Our lives are so busy – filled with our legitimate pursuits and distractions. This once-a-week remembrance keeps Christ and the triumph of the Cross fresh in our minds and sends out a weekly message of the Gospel to a perishing world. “You proclaim [preach, announce] the Lord’s death until He comes.”  1Corinthians 11:23-26

The Lord’s Supper is about Christ – not ourselves and our needs or our burdens. If you don’t already subscribe to the weekly newsletter entitled Monday Meditations by Dr. Sandy Higgins, you should take a moment to subscribe right now. His Christ-centered meditations are intended to help us focus on Christ throughout the week so our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving each day and ultimately at the Lord’s Supper.

If you want to read another Bible Bite on the significance of the Lord’s Supper and the practise of the early church, click here. Don’t hesitate to share a thought from your personal experience or a verse that has been a blessing to you –  in the comment section below. Or, if you would like to reach out privately, click below.

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