1 Corinthians 11:23-34: a reflection

23For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread. 24When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” 25In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgment to himself if he doesn’t discern the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. 31For if we discerned ourselves, we wouldn’t be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 33Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest your coming together be for judgment. The rest I will set in order whenever I come.

Paul hands on what he received from the Lord about the Supper: that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread and the cup, gave them to his disciples as his body and blood, and told them to do this in remembrance of him. The Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup: this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in memory of me. Paul adds that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. The Supper is a remembrance and proclamation of Christ's death for us, to be approached with self-examination. This shows the Lord's Supper as a remembrance and proclamation of Christ's death. The Supper remembers and proclaims Christ's death for us. In the Supper we remember Christ's body and blood given for us. Do this in remembrance of Christ, proclaiming his death. Approach the Supper with reverent self-examination.

Notice what the Supper is and does. Jesus gave the bread and cup as his body and blood, given and shed for his people, and told them to do this in remembrance of him. So the Supper is, first, a remembrance: a calling to mind and taking to heart of Christ's death for us, his body broken and blood shed. And it is, as Paul says, a proclamation: as often as we eat and drink, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes, declaring afresh what Christ has done. The Supper keeps Christ's death for us ever before us, remembered and proclaimed, until he returns. And Paul urges that we approach it worthily, examining ourselves, discerning the Lord's body, not coming carelessly or unworthily. This is a gift to God's people: a regular remembrance and proclamation of the heart of the gospel, Christ's death for us, kept before us in the bread and cup. In it we are drawn back again and again to the cross, to Christ's body given and blood shed for us, to remember it, take it to heart, proclaim it, and give thanks. We do well to receive the Supper as it is meant, a remembrance and proclamation of Christ's death, approached with reverent self-examination and grateful faith. The Supper draws us back again and again to Christ's death for us. Remember and proclaim Christ's death in the bread and cup. Approach the Supper with reverent self-examination and thanks. In the Supper, keep Christ's death for you ever before your heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for the Lord's Supper is a remembrance and proclamation of Christ's death for us, drawing us back again and again to the cross, and we do well to receive it worthily. We can approach the Supper carelessly, or forget the heart of what it is; but Paul reminds us that it remembers and proclaims Christ's death for us, his body given and blood shed, until he comes. The Supper keeps the cross before us. Receive the Supper as it is meant, remembering and proclaiming Christ's death for you, approaching it with reverent self-examination and grateful faith. Receive the Lord's Supper as a remembrance and proclamation of Christ's death for you, approaching it with reverent self-examination and grateful faith, as Paul handed on what he received from the Lord, that Jesus on the night he was betrayed took bread and the cup, gave them as his body and blood given for his people, and said, do this in remembrance of me, adding that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes; for the Supper is first a remembrance, a calling to mind and taking to heart of Christ's death for us, his body broken and blood shed, and a proclamation, declaring afresh what Christ has done, so that it keeps Christ's death for us ever before us, remembered and proclaimed, until he returns, and Paul urges that we approach it worthily, examining ourselves and discerning the Lord's body rather than coming carelessly, which makes the Supper a gift to God's people, a regular remembrance and proclamation of the heart of the gospel kept before us in the bread and cup, drawing us back again and again to the cross, to Christ's body given and blood shed for us, to remember it, take it to heart, proclaim it, and give thanks, so that we do well to receive it as it is meant, with reverent self-examination and grateful faith.

Lord Jesus, Paul hands on what he received from you about the Supper: that you, on the night you were betrayed, took bread and the cup, gave them to your disciples as your body and blood, and told them to do this in remembrance of you. The Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup: this cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in memory of me. Paul adds that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. The Supper is a remembrance and proclamation of your death for us, to be approached with self-examination. Show me what the Supper is and does. You gave the bread and cup as your body and blood, given and shed for your people, and told them to do this in remembrance of you. So the Supper is, first, a remembrance: a calling to mind and taking to heart of your death for me, your body broken and blood shed. And it is a proclamation: as often as I eat and drink, I proclaim your death until you come. The Supper keeps your death for me ever before me, remembered and proclaimed. And Paul urges that I approach it worthily, examining myself, discerning your body, not coming carelessly. This is a gift: a regular remembrance and proclamation of the heart of the gospel, your death for me, kept before me in the bread and cup. In it I am drawn back again and again to the cross, to your body given and blood shed for me. Take that to my heart, for the Supper is a remembrance and proclamation of your death for me, drawing me back to the cross. Help me receive the Supper as it is meant, Lord, remembering and proclaiming your death for me, approaching it with reverent self-examination and grateful faith, and keeping your death for me ever before my heart.