1 Corinthians 11

V. 23-26, The Lords Supper

Verses 23-26 are classic verses for ministers to read or quote during a communion service. After correcting their hypocrisy Paul lays out before them the meaning of communion as it was set forth from Jesus at the last supper. The night before Jesus went to the cross to pay the debt for our sins he partook of the Passover meal with his disciples. (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, John 13) During the course of this Jewish Festival meal Jesus took time reveal what was going to happen to himself and to give us a way to remember His sacrifice for eternity. As he took the unleavened bread from the table, he broke it and shared it with His disciples, letting them know that his body was going to be abused for our sakes. The beating and persecution that Jesus took before the cross had significance in that he was not only paying the debt for our sins, but he was paying for our healing as well. Isaiah 53 says that by the stripes of Christ we have healing and that we have peace by the chastisement He took that day.

After the bread had been eaten, He took the cup of wine and presented it to them as His blood that must be shed for our sins. Jesus was letting them know that He must die and shed His blood in order to pay a debt that we could not pay. The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23) and the soul that sins shall sure die (Ezekiel 18:20). The blood would cover our sins and placed on the mercy seat in Heaven so that we can escape the punishment we all deserved. Communion is so much more than just a ritual or religious practice that is done out of obedience, it is an intense reflection on who we are and what Jesus did to save us from our sin.