The Lord's Supper

Jesus taught His apostles to keep taking the Lord's Supper in remembrance of Him. This is taught in Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22 and 1Corinthians 11. We see the early Christians taking the supper on a weekly basis as we study the book of Acts. This was, and is, important to Christians for several reasons: one is that Jesus taught it; and we see the early Christians following that instruction; and also we want to remember and honor our Lord by doing this.

But not only is it important to remember how our Lord died for us, it is also useful to know that God always planned it that way. From the very beginning of man, from man's first sin, it was planned by God to send His Son to save us from our sins. We see the first reference in Gen. 3:15 where it indicates that the Son would be bruised by Satan. This is a reference to the suffering that Jesus would have to go through. In Genesis 22 we see that God tells Abraham to take his only son Isaac up on the mountain and sacrifice him. We see that God spares Isaac in that story. But later, when it is time for God to sacrifice His only Son, the Son does not get spared. All through the Bible we see the plan being developed for Jesus to be sacrificed.

The prophets taught the people to stop their sinning and come back to the Lord. In dozens, maybe hundreds, of places they told of the Messiah to come. For example, Isaiah 53 tells us that the Messiah must go like a lamb to the slaughter.

So the Savior is born, to a poor family, starts His ministry at the age of 30, and begins His journey toward the suffering and impending death to come. Just before He starts this death process, He meets with His apostles and teaches them that He must die, be raised and leave them. But he teaches them that they are to remember Him by taking of the supper. This fits the plan that Jesus not only carries out, but was always planned by the Father. Thus, it is supremely important. Let's make sure that it is to each of us.

Thanks for reading. Have a great week!