Author : Tom Rainwater
QUESTION: When we share the gospel with other people, are we not sharing the Lord’s Supper? After all, he said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life, he who believes in me will never go hungry.” Therefore whenever we share the gospel or study the Bible, are we not also eating the Lord’s Supper, which in turn happens any day of the week and not only on Sundays?
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“Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” (John 6:26-27).
He said in verses 32 and 33:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
In this chapter, Jesus continues to appeal to them to believe on Him since it is the Father’s will that “everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” (verse 40). In verse 47, He says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” Yet, these materially minded people refused to listen to Jesus and believe that He was the bread of life sent from heaven.
Jesus is like physical bread, in that He provides sustenance for life. Yet He is superior to physical bread because the life He provides isspiritual and eternal. If we partake of His flesh and blood, recognizing Him as “the bread of life,” we will never hunger or thirst (verse 35), we will live forever (verses 51,57,58), have eternal life (verses 54), be raised at the last day (verse 54), and will abide in Him as He abides in us (verse 56).
I don’t believe that this context has any connection with the Lord’s Supper that was later commanded by Jesus. The partaking of His blood and flesh here refers spiritually to our consuming the truths about Jesus, believing in Him with all our heart, and taking on His character as true disciples. Jesus must become the very core of our lives here on earth as we take in the evidence of his Sonship. The Apostle Paul spoke of this when he said:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which 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).
Certainly we need to share the gospel with people every day of the week and teach them about Jesus, the bread of life sent from heaven. However, this does not equate to taking the Lord’s Supper.
is Commanded of All Christians
“Take, eat; this is my body.” (Matthew 26:26). “This is My body which is given for you; do this is remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19).
“Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”(Matthew 26:27-29). “This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:25).
Jesus implied that His disciples would partake of it again: (1) “As often as you drink it.” (There would be several occasions for observance.) (2) “In remembrance of Me.” (His body and blood had not yet been given. The supper would be a memorial after His crucifixion.) (3) “Until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (It would be observed when His kingdom was established, and be an occasion of communion with Him).
On the first Pentecost after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to Heaven, His apostles announced to the Jewish assembly that “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36). God had raised Christ up “to sit on his throne” (Acts 2:30) and was “exalted to the right hand of God.” (Acts 2:33). Jesus was ruling over his spiritual kingdom, the church (Ephesians 1:20-23; Colossians 1:13-14). Those who believed the words of Peter and the other apostles were commanded to “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38). “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousands souls were added to them.” (Acts 2:41). “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47).
These new Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). Their “breaking of bread” in verse 42 implies they were partaking of the Lord’s Supper by the apostles’ inspired instruction.
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Obviously, the Apostle Paul understood that the Lord’s Supper was required of all Christians everywhere. He reminds the brethren at Corinth exactly how they were supposed to observe it.
“Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and also let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eat and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29)
Not only are we expected to observe the Lord’s Supper, we are expected to do so properly else we will be judged for our neglect. The Lord expects each Christian to: (1) “Examine himself.” One must not observe the Lord’s Supper carelessly or irreverently. He must treat it as a solemn occasion and prepare himself for it, reflecting on his place before the Lord. It is a time to look inward. (2) “Eat of that bread and drink of that cup.” This is an actual partaking of those elements that Christ commanded. (3) Discern the Lord’s body. Jesus wants us to remember His great sacrifice — how He gave his flesh and blood for our sins. Our minds must think upon the suffering He endured on Calvary’s cross.
