TILL HE COMES by Dr. Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson, NC
Introduction: When I was young, the Communion was a very interesting and intriguing time for me. The ushers did not pass the trays with the cup and the bread as we do here. Instead, people would go forward in groups and kneel at the altar. First the men would go forward and then the ladies. Then, my dad (the pastor) gave each of them the bread first and then the cup in their hands. As a little boy, I would look around and watch the varied responses of the men and women. Most were stoic or somber, while some were contemplative. Now, as a pastor, I also get to look around and watch the different responses. Along with the stoic, the somber, and the contemplative looks, I also notice the confused and the amused looks. Several reasons for that: Some people come from different traditions, and they are not used to how we administer the Communion at Clearview; Others come from no traditions, and this is a new and even strange custom for them. How should we look at the Communion? Look around in fellowship, look behind in remembrance, look forward in anticipation, and look inward in examination.
1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
Context: I have been to Corinth several times. It was a Roman colony in Greece, and its population was made up of former slaves, army veterans, businesspeople, and laborers. There were people in Corinth who were of the Greek pedigree, but most were Roman citizens. There is documentary and archaeological evidence that the Corinthians of the time were proud, arrogant, and known for self-promotion. Unfortunately, this attitude was also creeping into the church. They were treating each other with condescension and selfishness. They were divided into groups of haves and have-nots, and spirituals and super-spirituals. Listen to 1 Corinthians 11 17 “Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.” Things were so bad that they were even mistreating each other during the Communion service! Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to rebuke, to correct, and to instruct them as to a proper understanding of how believers in Christ should treat each other, especially with regards to the Communion. This message also applies to us today, especially as we prepare ourselves to take part in the Communion. Would Paul say the same about us? Are we divided? How do we treat one another? Before we listen to this message on the Communion, have you accepted Christ as your Savior and King? If not, ask him right now to come into your life.
How should we look at the Communion? There are 4 looks that we see in this text:
1. Look around in Fellowship.
1 Corinthians 11 20 “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.”
Background: The early church used to have a love feast (fellowship dinner) every week along with the Lord’s Supper. They used to have a “better room” known as the triclinium (lit. three couches), which was a formal dining room in Roman buildings. Some of the Christians would get there early to beat the rush and get the better seat in the dining room while the latecomers had to crowd into the Atrium. “…and one is hungry and another is drunk.” While people were in the Atrium waiting to get in, many of them were taking their time eating and drinking and actually getting drunk! Just like when we go to a restaurant, and we have to wait until people are done. Sometimes, people are done, but they are not ready to leave. In essence, the Corinthians had lost the true meaning and purpose of the Communion. 1 Corinthians 11 33“Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.”
Question: How do you see others in the church, the Body of Christ? Keep in mind that the Communion is a family meal. How about today look around in prayer for someone?
2. Look behind in Remembrance.
1 Corinthians 11:23 “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.”
Background: People argue over whether or not this was a Passover Meal because John talks about Passover being the next day. I believe that Jesus chose to make the meal of Thursday evening into a New Passover meal. This is important because when the people of Israel or the Jewish people celebrated the Passover, they were told to include themselves in the events that took place on the night when God led the Hebrews out of Egypt. The Passover Haggadah (Jewish text from 2nd century AD, lays out the instructions and blessings for the Seder (meal); it means “telling”) says, “In every generation a man must so regard himself as if he came forth himself out of Egypt…‘What the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.’” The lesson for the Corinthians was – “Don’t just do the Lord’s Supper. Picture yourself in the upper room, watching and listening to Jesus.”
Application: What goes through your mind when you take part in the Lord’s Supper? Do you picture yourself in the upper room, sitting across from Jesus?
1 Corinthians 11 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 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.” What does this remembrance entail? It has 2 implications: remember in gratitude for what he did for you; remember how much you need his forgiveness and grace in your life. The Corinthians were so focused on status and pride that these memories were the farthest things from their minds.
Application: Do you take the time to remember that fateful night? Can you see the stress on his face, knowing that in just a few hours he would be brutally nailed to the cross for your sins and the sins of the whole world? Can you see how unworthy you are and yet how he gives his grace to you?
3. Look forward in Anticipation.
1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
Background: The Passover meal was more than just a memorial of the night when the Death Angel passed through Egypt and struck the firstborn. It was much more than just the blood of the lamb that protected them. I’m sure there was fear and anxiety, but it was also a promise that they were being freed as a people and headed to the Promised Land! They were to look in anticipation to the life of freedom and joy that was coming for them. Deuteronomy 33:28 “Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew.” Zechariah 8:12 “For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew—I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these.” This is exactly what Jesus did when he began his ministry. He turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He fed thousands with just a few. He referred to himself as the True Vine. Revelation 19 6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Example: I knew of a couple years ago who would actually try to cry during the Communion. It never made sense to me.
Question: Are you looking forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb to come?
4. Look inward in Examination.
1 Corinthians 11 27 “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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Big Question: “Does God take the lives of people if they take the communion with sin in their hearts?” Remember Ananias and Sapphira in the Bible. God struck them dead after they lied about how much they had given. If that were happening today, we would need funeral directors at every service in every church across the world! They were set as an example for us to know that God takes lying and stealing very seriously. So also, God takes seriously how we treat each other in the Body of Christ, but we are living in a time of grace. Remember the examples and confess your sins.
Question: Have you examined yourself to see if there is any sin in your life? Have you confessed it to God and asked for his forgiveness? Are you saved? Now, look around, behind, forward, and inward.