041 - The Holy Supper

The Holy Supper

INTRODUCTION

Much doubt there about the issues involving holy supper. Although almost all of followers of Jesus defend the ritual of holy supper, comes the question: how far this ritual is really important? And if it is, which the purpose of the same? I Hope in this article awakening you to the true holy supper.

THE ORDER OF EVENTS IN THE HOLY SUPPER

First of all, it is important to reconcile the reports about the holy supper in the four gospels.

This is the order of the reports:

 

·         "Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said." (Matthew 26.17-25).

·         "And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing." (Luke 22.14-20).

·         "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.  Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.  When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.  Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.” (João 13.1-30).

·         “And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22.24-30).

·         "But I say unto you, 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. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Matthew 26.29-30).

 

On this basis, some points is very important we emphasize:

 

1.    At any time it is said that the cup had wine. On the contrary: as Jesus said that, from that moment onwards does not drink more of the “fruit of the vine”, so the more logical thinking is that it was grape juice:

·         "Verily I say unto you, 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).

2.    There are two types of supper being shared: one is the paschal meal. Jesus was fulfilling this ritual a day in advance, and then giving a new meaning to it (which is what became known as the holy supper).

Therefore, the expression after supper to mean after the paschal meal, which also included the bread (unleavened bread). Thus, the last supper is composed of the last food that was eaten in the pascal  meal (bread) and of drinking the cup (which, although taken during the pascal  meal (Luke 22.17), was not part of the same).

Hence Luke show first the grape juice being allocated (Luke 22.17). But one thing is the grape juice served with the pascal  meal (first established ritual in the Old Covenant); another is the grape juice in holy communion (a sample of the true essence of the New Covenant). This is taken after the bread in order to learn that the cleansing blood is only applied in our lives after we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters:

·         "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1.7)

3.    Everyone, including Judas Iscariot, ate and drank the last supper:

·         "And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” (Mark 14.22-24).

4.    The announcement of the betrayal occurred twice: during the last supper and after it. The first time that Jesus spoke, though the disciples saddened themselves with fear of being such one, nobody was curious to know who they were. The second time, although Jesus had already given the hint that it was Judas (Mt 26.25), nobody got it. Thus, Pedro, curious, beg the disciple whom Jesus loved that asked Jesus who it was.

5.    Note that the highlight of the Holy Supper was in relation to the sharing and service for the love of the neighbor. After all, Jesus knew what was in the heart of the disciples. And what is worse is that they did not understand the message (and until now they people isn’t understanding). Even after Jesus had done the sharing of the bread and grape juice and had washed their feet, they continued fighting to see who was the greatest (Luke 22.24).

 

UNDERSTANDING  1 CORINTHIANS 11.17-31

·         "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse." (1 Corinthians 11.17).

 

First of all, there is an urgent need to emphasize that in this passage Paul is calling their attention about an usual wrong that was being practiced by the Corinthians.

 

·        "For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (1 Corinthians 11.18-19).

 

And the problem is, first of all, the fact of having heresies (divisions) between the brothers, taking some brothers to be privileged and others despised.

 

·        "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." (1 Corinthians 11.20).

 

At that time, one of the customs of the brothers was meet to eat together:

 

·         "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," (Acts 2.46).

 

However, in Corinth, they were not knowing to discern between the holy supper that Jesus performed on the eve of His death and the meals that they were together in the evening. They thought that just because they were gathered for prayer, praise, etc., that the meal they ate together was the last supper.

In order to show that what characterises the holy supper is not the meal in itself, but the manner of the eat, Paul then writes this excerpt:

 

·         "For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken" (1 Corinthians 11.21).

 

Note the connection between the holy supper (which will be explained below) and the way they eat and drink. They did not understand that the essence of holy supper is the communion, in order to meet the needs of others.

 

·         "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." (1 Corinthians 11.22).

 

From the moment that they were conducting a meeting of leaders (composed of more privileged in the community), some ate abundantly of good and best and those less favored ate what remained (exactly as it gave in Israel):

 

·         "And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats. Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle. Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle." (Ezek 34.17-22).

 

Paul then asks:

 

·        Don’t you have houses to eat and drink? As if the house where they met was a restaurant or the meeting of brothers was a picnic.

·        Any chance are you despising the church of the Eternal One? As If the brothers were ordinary people.

·        Are you happy to shame those who have nothing? It is good to see the others being ashamed, as do the people of the world?

 

See the guidance of Jesus:

 

·        "Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just." (Luke 14:12-14).

 

·         "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11.23-25 - ACF).

 

First thing to note here is that Paul makes it clear that he has not learned this from the apostles, but directly from Jesus (probably at the time he caught up to the third heaven and heard unspeakable words - 2Co 12.1-4).

Note the expression "this do" in " this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me". The question is: do what all times that we drink or eat?

Share.

After all, this is, first of all, that reminds us of Jesus and that manifests to all that Jesus is who He says is:

 

·         "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me." (John 17.21-23).

 

The essence of everything is to share what we have all times that we meet with someone, not just when we eat and drink, but in all times and places:

 

·         "Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things." (Gal 6.6).

 

It is worth noting that some versions translate: " this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me". In older versions, this article is in italics, confirming that it is not in the original.

It is logical that we should not have Jesus in memory and share only in the few minutes of a specific ritual that occurs in the religious institution from time to time, but continually.

 

·         "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Corinthians 11.26).

 

But then, how do we explain here the expression "this bread" and "This cup?" If this is literal, it makes no sense, since the bread that Jesus broke and the cup He gave to drink are no longer present. In addition, it is good to remember that the bread that Jesus gave was only one (and not multiple).

Therefore, this can’t be referring to loaves of bread that the religious leaders buy to distribute in religious ceremonies.

So, what is the bread?

 

·         "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10.16.17) 

·        "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." (John 6.51-57).

 

Think about it: the physical body of Jesus was not broken (John 19.36). But then why the bread was broken? Thus, what was represented in the holy supper is another thing.

The symbolism of the body and blood is to keep in mind that Jesus wants to give to one another as a gift all those that have dedicated themselves to Him:

 

·         "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Eph 4.7-12).

 

By giving His body and blood for us, what He actually did was to give us Himself completely for us: Your body is the church; His blood is His life. And the use of the term eating and drinking is because, when we nourish ourselves of something, it becomes part of our being.

In other words, the idea is that the brothers in Christ ate and drank together, praying and keeping alive in mind everything that Jesus did, i.e.: 

 

·        Each time they were drinking something (regardless what is), each one share this drink with each other, remembering the only life that Jesus shed by the Church. We never forget that Jesus did not shed a different life for every one that believeth on Him, but a single life (one life style, one reason to live, a single focus). Note that the cup is unique: His drink was not poured into other bowls, but only in one body;

·        Each time they were eating something (regardless what was), each one would share this food with each other, remembering the one body (with their gifts and talents) which was offered to the Church. We never forget that Jesus has not granted to each individual skills and resources separately in order that we could live our selfish life. Instead, what Jesus did was to give each one the members that they need to be someone completely.

See: when the Eternal One created Adam, He created Him complete. However, so that he could fulfill its mission, the Eternal One took him a rib, so that now, he only would be complete along with the woman.

Likewise, in order that His church could be formed in us, Jesus took every one of our members and made him a new creature (see 2Co 5:17), so that each individual, now, it can find a place in our life and we, on the other hand, can see the importance of each one of them in us.

 

The Kingdom of heaven does not consist in a group sharing its gifts and talents to live their dreams; nor consists of each one with his gifts and talents individually living the life of Christ. Rather, it is a group sharing gifts and talents to, together, allow Christ to be present in this world.

In short:

 

·        To eat together, all the food should be seen as a single bread and shared with each other, so that all minds and feelings can retain the memories each other and spirit of each one can cling to the others;

·        To drink together, all drink should be seen as a single cup and shared with each other in order that our mind and feelings retain the memories of everything that the Holy Spirit does through us in their lives and our spirit can keep the memory of everything the Holy Spirit does in us through them.

 

·         "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret." (1 Corinthians 11.27). 

 

Anyone who makes of the Church their food and of the Christ’s sacrificial life their drink must do this with dignity, i.e., as someone who acts in an appropriate manner. Considering that only Jesus is worthy (Ap 4.11; 5.9.12), therefore the only way to do this is indulging oneself completely to Him.

Those who seek the Kingdom of Heaven thinking about their own interests will be found guilty in respect to everything Jesus did on the cross (becomes the enemy of the cross of Christ - Philippians 3.18).

Even with respect to the act of eating and drinking, all the times that we misrepresent this moment so sacred of human life, we are committing violence to the sacred things of the Eternal One. This, by the way, is one of the things that will characterize these last days (Luke 17.26-30). Like in the days of Noah the earth was filled with violence with regard to sacred things (Gen 6.5.11.13), today the individuals eat, drink and be marry thinking only in the satisfaction of the flesh.

 

·         "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." (1 Corinthians 11.28).

 

This is why each one should examine himself before having a relationship with someone (especially for eating). After all, if we are in the presence of such an individual just by thinking in our well, we'll definitely bring them some injury and end up waking in them the desire of condemn us.

Think, for example, when we are in a business relationship. This does not change the tension that exists in both parties: those who purchase wish the service well done; the seller wishes free himself faster of the prestation of the service to get more money with another client.

Who, in the same way, eat together with  other brothers without loving Christ and them is, in fact, arousing hatred and, with this, come to be the target of condemnation.

Therefore, whenever we eat, drink, or do anything else, we must examine ourselves so that we can do everything for the glory of the Eternal One instead of doing for our glory (1 Corinthians 10.31).

However, let it be clear: the self-exam is not to separate the individual from contact with each other, but in order that he seeks in Jesus the purification and sanctification necessary lest to lose the opportunity to make contact with someone else, and, thus, putting one more brick in the building of the Eternal One that is being built inside him (see 1 Peter 2.5).

Understand: we, as followers of Christ, must never feed us of something that does not come out of Him. Remember that it was precisely there that Adam fell:

 

·         "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" (Gen 3.9-11).

 

Therefore, the only bread and cup that can feed us, whether our body, mind, feeling and spirit, it is the food that Jesus has provided for us there on the cross of Calvary. And that we always consider to realize our real motivation when we seek this for our life.

 

·        "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." (1 Corinthians 11.29).

 

Just as Adam and Eve, when they eat of the forbidden fruit, brought condemnation to them and to all mankind, who eat and drink in order to confirm the dignity that can only be found in Christ, is feeding their own condemnation, since it is attracting the attention of others to oneself. It is a tragedy we get the attention of others, it is a burden greater than we can bear. After all, we are inducing people to put their hopes and desires in us.

 

·         "All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt." (Ecc 8.9).

 

Who is not capable of discerning the body of Christ, that is, to see the difference between the body of Christ (the only one capable of winning the world – John 16.33; 1 John 5.3) and the other bodies existing in this world (companies, societies, shops), will condemn themselves to carry the expectations of others in your back and, thus, to remain stuck in the world and their business (contradicting 1 Corinthians 7.32-35).

In addition, this is why many marriages go wrong: in courtship, one makes the other to believe that happiness is in his company.

 

·        "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." (1Cor 11:30).

 

When the Church loses the discernment of what is to be the body of Christ in this world, the inevitable result is the weakness (immaturity), illness and death of members, whether in the body, mind, feeling or spirit.

 

·         "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." (1 Corinthians 11.31).

 

·         “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2.14-16).

 

If we examine ourselves, nobody would be able to judge us, as was with Jesus:

 

·         "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses," (Matt 26.59,60).

 

Constantly individuals are judging each other (something condemned by Jesus - Matt 7.1). However, who gives himself in to the trial of Jesus (1Cor 4.3-5; as David did - Psalms 139.23.24) is beyond all judgment, since no one will be able to understand them.

Even more: if we examine and judge ourselves, never we would condemn innocent people (Matt 12.7). We would first pull out the mote out of our eye (Matt 7.1-6) so that we can clearly see (Matt 6.22,23) and so, instead of we cast the first stone (John 8.7), use of mercy in order to experience in us the knowledge of the Eternal One (Matt 9.12,13).

 

·         "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1 Corinthians 11.32).

 

When, however, we are judged, which is to happen is our judgment on the part of the Eternal One. He uses the vessels of wrath to punish us lest to be condemned with the world.

 

·         "Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another." (1 Corinthians 11.33).

 

Therefore, the moments in which we meet ourselves with someone (in particular to eat), aimed exercising the communion (union common) in search of what each one needs on the part of Jesus to fulfill His mission.

Nothing of queues and anxiety for being the first.

 

• "And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11.34).

 

If someone has an ardent desire for something, seek in Jesus the supply of their needs and necessities before going to meet someone. Just go when you have something to offer, whether in body, mind, feeling or spirit (Exodus 23.15; 34.20; Deut 16.16).

MEANING OF HOLY COMMUNION

The overwhelming majority of individuals believe that what is important is the ritual.

One of the major problems with the rituals is the use of these devices for stimulating the faith of individuals. Our faith should not be in dead images (either people, things, events or even of own Eternal One), but in what Jesus minister to us now. 

The ritual itself does not mean anything. The order of Jesus is not to keep alive His memory (as if He were a dead any). Rather, the goal is that every time we meet with someone, we remember Him and, thus, we think in sharing instead of sugaring. To do this, we will give condiction for Jesus to express everything that He was, is and always will be, keeping it alive in the memory of those with whom we had contact.

The ritual, in the Testament of the Law, was used because only the prophet maintained contact with the Eternal One. As no one else had communion with Him, nothing more suitable than establish some ritual for which the priests could keep alive everything that the Eternal One is (although this has never worked, since the priests always apostatize of the Eternal One).

In particular, as regards the holy supper, the presence of the ritual leads individuals to consider the same as something sacred, when the correct is to consider every meal as sacred, as well as every moment of our life.

The wine reminds us of the death of Jesus; the bread, the risen Jesus (because Jesus is alive without blood). 

The Last Supper is to announce the death of the Lord Jesus until He comes, in so far as it crown the life of Jesus, who lived a life of constant victory over sin. While the Old Testament sacrifices were a celebration of sins (Heb 10.1-3), the sacrifice of Christ is the testimony of victory over sin.

The chalice of Jesus represents the Testament of the Eternal One’s Favor. In other words, it is as if the cup was the paper containing the testament of Jesus with its clauses and beneficiaries, a manifestation of his last wish. These are the blessings designed for us here, as well as how we should live to continue His mission here.

The Holy Supper also proves that Jesus was 100% human. She is a memorial of the atonement completed of our sins, a figure of His constant presence along with us (Matt 28.20) and a prophecy about His second coming.

The secret of the holy supper is sharing the same food and drink. Each one was bringing their own food and eating their own supper, instead of together, prepare one meal and share the supper with each other.

Just think: our joy is grounded in what? In wanting to help others to overcome their flaws or do not want their failures to manifest to us? In this case, what about the other people?

The Last Supper is the way of Jesus fill the desperate souls, namely, with purity and holiness, free them of this world.

WHAT SERVING THE LORD'S SUPPER FOR?

Jesus Himself gave the answer: "Do this in memory of me" (Luke 22:19). 

If everybody remember everything that He did for us there on the cross, of His continuous presence together with us (after all, we are part of His body), of the promise of His coming and of eternal life in full communion with the Father and those who shall be heirs of salvation (Matthew  26.29), we would not limit the power of forgiveness of Jesus in our lives (such as Peter - see Matt 18:23-35).

If the faithful think on what is necessary to ensure that His Kingdom may find place in them (loving the neighbor as Jesus loved us in order to  join treasures in heaven and be rich toward Him - John 13.34.35; Matt 6.19.20; Luke 12.21), there would be no space for worldly amusement, fights, gossip, sordid greed, lust for power, etc.

When the Church forget all this, She begins to drink and get drunk with drunken, beat her fellow servants  (Jesus’ sheep), does not worry more in praying and watching, keep herself pure as virgin uncontaminated with their lamps lit (Matt 25:1-13).

Like Peter, we often forget the immense debt that the Eternal One has forgiven us, out of the mire of sin of which He brought us out. We were without strength to react or escape this situation, our destination was hell and destruction. Nothing in us was worthy, we were as blind.

Jesus came and called us these dense darkness into His wonderful light, canceled our debt, has canceled our reproach, gave us new life in Him. 

Summarizing: in which the brothers live the holy supper in their lives, they show that:

 

·        As a being 100% human, Jesus died to show that, although He didn't deserve death (by not having sin), still wanted to go through all that any human being becomes so that He could serve as an example for any human being in all circumstances of life;

·        As a being 100% divine, Jesus rose again to prove that at all He won the world, without ever sinning. 

 

From the moment that each one accepts to receive the life of Christ within themselves and share it all the time with each brother, is manifest that, even if someone could be as good as Christ, yet they could not find their place in this world. On the contrary: the more good, pure and true someone wants to be in this world, the more they will be scorned, tortured and finally killed. After all, in a system that lie the evil one (1John 5.19), someone only can find their live being more wicked than the others. Hence the righteous have to live by faith (Habakkuk 2.4; Rom 1: 17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10.38).

In order you to have idea of the importance of this, the Church of Corinth was the most corrupted. You know what was the root of the problem? The incredulity about the resurrection from the dead (1Cor 15).

Understood that, it is easy to respond to other questions:

WHO SHOULD TEACH AND PARTICIPATE IN HOLY SUPPER?

Everyone who believes in truth in Jesus and all He has done for us ought to live the holy supper in every moment of their life.

FROM WHAT AGE A PERSON MUST PARTICIPATE?

From the moment that someone believes fully in all that Jesus has done for them, they should begin to live the Holy Supper. Since baby the parents must teach the child to accept that Jesus alive in them (Gal 2.20) and teach them to share Christ and His truth every moment through His gifts and talents. 

The sooner the child learn all of this, the more they will learn to fear Jesus and grow in this fear, without never deviate of Him (Prov 22:6). After all, if it isn’t to teach this to children, is to teach what? To dance, sing worldly music, watching TV (full of pornography, children's programs with teaching of the doctrine of demons, erotic movies, game), coloring, playing hide and seek?

If so, take shame in the face! It was Jesus who said: 

 

 

o   (Mark 9:42): "And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.".

o   (Matt 5:19): "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.".

o   (Deut 18:10): " There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire... ". This fire can be the contempt and mistreatment of kids, the lack of dialog, understanding and love that exposes the child to prostitution, binge and drugs. The same law that applies to the adultery goes for parents and children ("But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery." (Mt 5:32)). That is to say, one who does not care about their children exposes them to become rebels to society and to the Eternal One. Never let the glory of the Eternal One is taken of your children (Micah 2.9).

HOW SHOULD BE MINISTERED THE LAST SUPPER?

There is no need to perform the ritual. 

However, for those who insist on saying that the ritual is important, I ask: Then why don't you fulfill the ritual with total fidelity? After all, if it is to recall the episode (and not the teachings), such as a theater, as persist in affirming, that they follow everything to the letter.

Firstly, the last supper took place at night.

Second: the disciples prepare the entire meal together.

Third: first the disciples dined together , and only when they were satisfied is that Jesus celebrated the last supper.

Fourth: Jesus took “the bread" (and not "the breads), and blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said: "Take, eat; this is my body. (Matt 26:26). This do in remembrance of me" (1Cor 11:24). The breaking of the bread also remembered the body of Christ being wounded for our transgressions and He was bruised for our iniquities (Isaiah 53.4-6).

Fifth: After the bread was distributed among the disciples, and then eaten, Jesus took the cup (and not the cups), and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matt 26:28). But I say unto you, 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. (Matt 26:29). This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1Cor 11:25).

Note that all drank from the same cup.

You see, one thing was the cup of pascal meal. This was divided (Luke 22.17). However, the cup of holy supper was not broken. He was drunk in the same chalice. After all, the cup is the testament and the blood, which validates the testament. It is for each one to drink the blood of Christ in their cup (using everything to build his selfish kingdom), but in His cup (by recognizing that only His will is good, perfect and pleasing - Rom 12.2).

Sixth: after they had drunk the cup, Jesus washed the disciples' feet and made it very clear: "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet." (John 13.14).

HOW MUCH HOW LONG SHOULD BE GIVEN THE SANTA SUPPER?

As ritual, as already said, it does not need to be taught, because the best way to teach someone about everything that took place on this occasion is living the message that is taught in the holy supper, namely: who is Jesus, what He has done for us, His coming unexpectedly as a thief in the night, our reward in heaven, in addition to His order to remain in communion with Him in the Holy Spirit into one body, the one of Christ.

SOPHISMS WHICH EXIST BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH WITH REGARD TO HOLY SUPPER

            In general, there is a lot of invention about this subject.

 

         E Some ascribe a mystical meaning to the Holy Supper, saying that the bread and wine literally turn into the body and blood of Christ (theory of transubstantiation). At every Mass, for Catholics, Jesus is being crucified again and killed. This is an absurdity, because Jesus died once for all for our sins (Heb 7:27; 9:12,26). His sacrifice was perfect, eternal.

         E Others consider the holy supper as necessary for salvation. In other words, who is not involved, it does not go to heaven.

         E Others  still maintain that those who are in sin "serious" (as if the Eternal has a sin meter) cannot participate, because you will be eating for your judgment.

         There are religious instituitions that only allow someone to participate in the Holy Supper if it is a faithful member of it. I know a religious institution that, just because the member made several visits to another church, not allowed him to participate in Holy Communion (if each evangelical religious institution is body of Christ and body of Christ is one, which the problem?).

         But after all, where it comes from these wrong concepts? 

         Basically, two passages of the Bible.

         First, (John 6:53-56): "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.".

         Fans of the transubstantiation assert that, in the Holy Supper, the bread becomes literally in the flesh of Christ and the grape juice, in the blood. For the majority of evangelicals, although this transformation is not literal, it is spiritual, i.e., those who do not participate in Holy Supper, has no part in the body of Christ.

         However, there is nothing that Jesus meant. 

         The blood is the instrument that God used to save us, to manifest His righteousness (Rom 3:23-26). Through the blood, the Eternal One demonstrated His righteous and holy character, fulfilling the law with all the rigor, but at the same time made known:

 

o   His love and mercy, coming Himself in flesh and blood to die in our place.

o   His wisdom, for being the only one able to think of a way so inteligent to rid their children (everyone who believes in Jesus) whom He both loves, without compromising His holiness.

 

         The meat represents the Church. 

         An observation is important to be done. The Passover had its beginning when the people were to exit from Egypt. God instituted it in order that the people of Israel remembered from generation to generation, the day that God delivered them from bondage in Egypt. The meat was food to give them substance, since the distance would be too long to the Red Sea and the blood would serve as a sign before the Eternal One, so that when He comes to hurt the firstborn of Egypt, He WOULD PASS OVER of the houses where there was blood on the lintel and on the threshold of the door.

         The meat is a symbol of nourishment and blood, of deliverance. Different from the animals' blood that was not drunk (because the same was not perfect for the forgiveness of sins, were imperfect lives), the blood of Christ has to be drunk because it is the perfect life that each one should live to glorify Jesus. 

         The fact that He was crucified outside of Jerusalem indicates that the Jew system of worship based on laws and ceremonies was discarded. Since then, our worship is grounded in gratitude for all that Jesus has done for us, in spirit and in truth (John 4.23,24).

         Understood all this, it is easy to understand what Jesus meant in (John 6:53-56). Our thirst for love and mercy must be quenched in the blood of Christ. We must always remember Christ and take as reference for our lives what he lived. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins," (Heb 10:26).

         In other words, before taking any action, we must remember that Jesus had to die because of our transgressions. Therefore, the idea is to awaken our gratitude and love for Jesus, to the point  of we decide, voluntarily, to serve him faithfully, aiming to abandon the practice of any evil to do what is good.

         But it is not enough to drink the blood. This prevents the death penalty reach us (as it gave in (Exodus 12)) in our daily lives. However, if we do not nourish ourselves of the Christ’s flesh, we do not have strength to go out of the world and bear the long journey that we have to go in this world until the day we can finally be with Jesus in glory.

Once that we are the body of Christ, what John 6:53-56 says is that we have to remain unanimous daily breaking bread from house to house (Acts 2.46), since the communion with the brothers is what keeps our soul and spirit filled and gives us the strength to keep buried with Christ the old man, so that Jesus can reign without reservations in our life.

The grape juice reveals the wisdom of the Eternal One who, in His love, manifested His righteousness in Himself so that we might be free from the tyranny of sin.

BUT AFTER ALL, THE LAST SUPPER BRINGS CONDEMNATION OR NOT FOR THOSE WHO EAT UNWORTHLY?

Anything we do in the realm of the Eternal One of relaxed way and without compromise with the word brings a curse upon our lives (Jer 48:10):

 

·        "For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." (2Peter 2:21).

·        "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:" (Matthew 7:26).

 

Consider the case of Nadab and Abihu. To invent a form of worship, the Eternal One consumed them by fire. 

So, participate in the mission of the Eternal One and acquire knowledge without being willing to take commitment with Him brings judgment and condemnation.

Many might think: "so it is best to stay in the world". However, it is good to remember that our home is not here on earth and that the only way to heaven is Jesus. Jesus is not the best choice of life (as many think). JESUS IS THE ONLY OPTION, THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER. There isn’t another. There are shortcuts, but all lead to hell.

Therefore, accept the life of Jesus in you and live it, aiming to share it with everyone in every situation.