Since Paul's letter to Corinth was written years before any of the
gospels, this may be a much less embellished reflection of the
Lord's supper. Cup of the new covenant has always sounded better to
me than drink my blood.
If we believe jesus was celebrating the passover at the Last Supper
isn't incongruent that Paul ( a most observant Jew) to write "took a
loaf of bread"? Or is this nit picking through translations? I don't
suppose Koine had a good word for matzah. if any one happens to even
read this poor neglected lection and happens to know the specifics
of the koine, please respond. Thanks. MA IN MN
Tying this passsage to the gospel text (John 13:1-17, 31b-35), I
think, helps give us a two-fold view of Jesus' Passion. His death
was service to us - it made us clean before God. His death was the
most personal of sacrifices; it united us inseparably to Christ, and
marked the atonement for our sin. KEN in WV
I's say a bit nit-picking... Other translations simply say bread
(omitting loaf).
From the lexicaon from Strong's for the word bread:
740 artos {ar'-tos}
from 142; TDNT - 1:477,80; n m
AV - bread 72, loaf 23, shewbread + 4286 + 3588 4; 99
1) food composed of flour mixed with water and baked 1a) the
Israelites made it in the form of an oblong or round cake, as thick
as one's thumb, and as large as a plate or platter hence it was not
to be cut but broken 1b) loaves were consecrated to the Lord 1c) of
the bread used at the love-feasts and at the Lord's Table 2) food of
any kind
Hope this helps...
Rick in Va
The eucharist is an illustration of the grace of Jesus.
During the second world war, a pastoral survivor of the camps was
called upon by a German officer to share communion with him, help
him to confess his sins, and to receive absolution because he was
condemned to die. The pastor cleared off a little footstool and set
up some bread and water. There he extended the grace of Jesus to the
German, helping him to be birthed into the kingdom.
The grace of Jesus has the power to unite even in time of war.
The communion service has been held in a wide variety of place and
in many ways. It's been held in the catacombs by the early
Christians. It's been held in prison cells, in people's homes, in
great cathedrals, even in outer space.
Communion is the climax of all Christian worship. It was one of two
sacrements instituted by Jesus. One was baptism. One was the Lord's
supper. The breaking of the bread and the pouring out of the wine
engages both the eyes and the body. It gives nourishment to the
inner life.
As Jesus broke the bread, He said "This is my body". As He poured
the wine, He said "This is my blood". "Do this in remembrance of
me." It is an ancient tradition still repeated today.
What does communion mean to us today? 1. It is an act of
commemoration. The most dynamic word in the English language is
"remember". We move intelligently forward by remembering the past.
The human mind has infinite capacity to retrieve and store
information. The Hebrew word for remember is zachar. The Jewish
people held to their faith by zachar.
Could the disciples have forgotten Jesus? Jesus knew we would have
the capacity to forget even what was most important to us. Communion
helps us to remember, not only Jesus, but what he did for us through
his death, burial and resurrection. It helps us to remember him as
Savior given for the sins of the world. Given for us. All our worth
is based on the blood of Jesus. All I could never be, this I was
worth to God.
2. Communion is our opportunity to say "Thank you". We don't know
exactly what Jesus experienced on the cross but we see the effects
of his death in the lives of thousands upon thousands worldwide and
over generations.
The word eucharist means thank you. In some traditions, people come
forward to kneel and share the cup. In some tradtions the bread is
passed among the people as they share and fellowship with one
another. His Spirit unites us.
We are also in fellowship in a special way with those believers who
have gone on before us - a great company of the Church immortal, all
present with us. Uncounted numbers.
3. In communion, we renew our commitment to Jesus. When we lose our
spouse to whom we have pledged commitment until death parts us, we
still remain one in Him even after death. Death does not part us.
Jesus renews his covenant of love to us as we renew ours for Him - a
personal exchange.
4. Communion is an act of confidence. We wait and anticipate Jesus'
return. His death was not the end. He will return to take us to
Himself. Until He comes, the world will carry on. The end will be
Jesus triumphant.
A gentle response/addendum to the last post: Is not communion also
as some communions call it, a 'means of grace,' i.e., a holy and
sacramental event in which GOD acts, and not just us. (us
remembering, us saying thank you, us expressing commitment, us
expressing confidence)? Is not Christ truly present with us in a
special way as we gather at his table? Are we not drawn into the
courts of heaven as we lift up our hearts to the Lord? While I would
not go so far as to say that in communion we offer up Christ again
for the sins of the world, we do offer up ourselves .. . that much
is true. But I'm inclined to agree with Flannery O'Conner (I believe
it was her) who said "If it's just a symbol, to he_ _ with it."
Don't mean to get into eucharistic arguments here. Just thought this
aspect needed to be added. Pascack Pastor
Remember.... remembrance.... I like to think in terms of what was
about to happen as Jesus spoke these words. He would taken from
them,, dis-membered from this body of disciples. The new Covenant
would bring a way to Re-member, re-join, re-connect the oneness of
that relationship for all as Jesus re-creates a passover,"This is my
body that is for you",,Do this in re-membrance of me" In, with and
under the bread an wine, Jesus gives us a taste of that grace, to
asurrance that nothing separates us from the Father.
Hank in Texas
To Whomever poasted the remark 12 April2000 00:59:00 - You mentioned
the Lord's Supper being celebrated in outer space ... do you (or
anyone else) have details?
Thanks.
MW in MA
Instead of us doing three things with Holy Communion. I see the
Lord's Supper/Holy Communion doing three things to us. The Lord
supper's connects us to Jesus, 1 Corinthians 12. The Lord's supper
connects us to each other. The reason Paul is talking about The
Lord's Supper is that the Corinthians had failed to discern the
body, 1 Corinthians 11:29. Finally the Lord's supper equips us to
proclaim Christ's Love, 1 Corinthians 11:23, 26.
PC
In all of Paul's letters, the only story from the life of Jesus that
he recounts in detail is this report of the last supper. His words
to the Christians at Corinth are reflected today in the liturgies of
churches throughout the world.
On the night when he was betrayed ... he gave us himself.
Through him, we can continue to serve when we're being betrayed.
Sally
