The Lord's Supper

Have you ever been so excited for something that you just can't wait for whatever it is to get here already? That deep anticipation that builds up in the pit of your stomach? That's the excitement that this topic brings for me. Hopefully, by the end of this you'll also have the same excitement for the next time your church congregation decides to host the Lord's Supper. A word of caution before we begin, this will bring up numerous questions and there is a lot of debate and disagreement surrounding these things. Pray first before continuing and ask the Lord to guide your heart and give you understanding through His Spirit. Whatever questions you may have at the end of this reading, ask through the comment section!

A Correlation of the Redemptive Marriage of the Lord

To understand the importance of the Lord's supper, we must first understand who the Church is. It is the bride of Christ. This depicts the ideal of marriage, something sacred that God himself created. We are going to take a look at some aspects of a Jewish wedding process Vs the actions that Jesus took during His time on this Earth.

Step 1: The Selection of the Bride

This first step was simply the Groom choosing a woman he would like to marry, which would have been very different from the cultural ideal of "dating" that we see today.

Read 1 Peter 1:2a "According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ". Peter is saying that we are chosen by God, not because He is unjust and picked through us like a jar of candies, but because of His infinite knowledge He knows who will accept His gift of salvation and who will reject Him.

Step 2: The Purchase

Understand that times were different with this, the Groom would have a responsibility to pay the Bride's family for her. This was not a set price as if the family were selling her, but rather this was an opportunity for the Groom to show the family how much he valued the Bride. What was he willing to give up for her?

Read 1 Peter 1:18-19. "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. If we are born-again believers then we have been chosen and purchased by Jesus Himself. This is how much He loves us and values us.

Step 3: The Betrothal

This step was a reflection of what we do today. This was a public ceremony where the groom would present promises (vows) to the Bride and poor out his heart to her.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-4 "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." Jesus has presented to us many amazing promises that make a way for true joy in our lives.

Step 4: The Bride' Consent

The Bride was given a choice to accept or reject the Groom

Read John 1:12 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," We all are given the choice to accept Christ or reject Him. This is the nature of free will.

Step 5: 2 Cups of Wine

There were 2 cups of wine involved in this process. At the betrothal ceremony, after consent had been given, the couple would both drink from the 1st cup. If you have reached this stage of engagement, you were passed the point of no return. In other words, the couple would not be living together because the process was not complete, but they would have to get a certificate of divorce to back out (this is likely the stage that Mary and Joseph had reached at the time of Mary's pregnancy with Jesus). The 2nd cup would not be shared until the very end of the process, showing the completion of the marriage.

Read Matthew 26:29 "I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” Jesus was gathered together with His Church sharing in the last supper when they all shared the 1st cup of wine. This action is a proclamation that we are waiting for the day when we can share the 2nd cup with Him in the Kingdom. (Revelation 19:7-9)

Step 6: Bride Presented with Gifts

The Bride would be presented with gifts from the groom, as a way for her to remember him or be reminded of him. This was because the groom would have to leave her behind for a time. Much in the same way we wear rings to remind each other of the promises we have made.

Read John 16:7 "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." Galations 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." The Holy Spirit is the gift that Christ sent to us when He ascended to His throne in Heaven.

Step 7: Preparing the Home

The reason the Groom would leave his Bride behind for a time was so He could go and build their home. She would not be collected by her groom until the home had been completed.

Read John14:2 "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" We can take joy and comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is preparing a place for us!

Step 8: The Return

The Groom would not be allowed to return to collect his Bride until his father approved of the home that was built. Only the groom's father would know when the return would happen.

Read Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." We have true joy that one day Jesus will return to collect His Bride! This is a precious promise that has been given to us.

Conclusion

This season remember that when we participate in the Lord's Supper with our local church body, we are reflecting on these precious promises that Jesus gave us and remembering that at the Marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9), we will be able to share that 2nd cup of wine with Christ, symbolizing the completion of the marriage. If that doesn't bring that excitement and anticipation in the pit of your stomach I don't know what will! I pray this has been encouraging for you this season and renews your spirit as we share Christ's love with others this season.