Lets just cut to the chase and get right into our study matter. We are looking at the LORD's Supper with fresh eyes.
1Corinthians 11:27-32, 33-34 "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. " (KJV)
1Corinthians 11:27-32, 33-34 "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come." (ESV)
1Corinthians 11:27-32, 33-34 "So whoever does not value the meaning of the bread and the wine, keep themselves in condemnation. To see oneself associated in Christ's death and declared Innocent in his blood is the only worthy manner in which to examine one's own life in the context of the New Covenant meal. (Self examination according to the Old Covenant, .ie. Deuteronomy 28 is no longer relevant. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are holding to the faith, test yourselves, do you not realize that Jesus Christ is within you! [2Corinthians 13:5] ) Anyone who partakes of this meal in an indifferent manner, either because of religious sentiment or merely being blase about the meaning of this meal, eats and drinks judgment upon themselves (again)! The human body of Jesus represents the judgment of every single human life; to fail to acknowledge this is to deliberately exclude yourself from the blessing of the New Covenant. (Isaiah 53:3-8, "He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by GOD, and afflicted. But he was wounded by our transgressions, he was bruised by our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken by the transgression of my people? [RSV] No one can afford to underestimate what happened to us on the Cross! To discern the LORD's Body is to grasp what GOD's faith saw when Jesus died! ) This is the reason why so many of you are suffering unnecessarily with weaknesses and illnesses, and many have already died. By judging that we are indeed co=died in his death we are free from any kind of judgment! (John 5:22, "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son." [RSV] John 12:31-33, "Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all judgment to myself." He said this to show by what death he was to die." ) By discerning the broken body of Christ we can only conclude that he suffered our brokenness and distortion. This is the instruction of the LORD; what foolishness it would be to continue to place yourself and the rest of the world under judgment when Jesus already took all judgment upon himself!
So when you come together to eat the covenant meal, embrace one another with utmost courtesy; there is no point in getting together to see who can eat or drink the most! Eat at home if you are hungry; why turn a celebration into condemnation? (Our feast celebrates the success of the cross and has noting in common with a pagan banquet!
The prophetic picture of the table was most significant! The priests had to daily place fresh bread on the table in the sanctuary. It was called Showbread [H3899 and H6440 from H6437], lechemhaPanim, literally: "Face-bread; Bread of the Presence." The Hebrew word for presence means face to face! While Jesus spoke to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus in Luke 24, they did not recognize him, even though their hearts ignited within while he was pointing to himself in Scripture, explaining the prophetic promise of humanity's redemption, from Moses through the Psalms and the Prophets. In Luke's interview, he pressed them for the details; he wanted to know exactly at what point in their meeting with [the risen] Jesus they recognized him in person! He writes in verse 28-31, "So they drew near to the village to which they were going and Jesus appeared to be going further..." [Wow! Should Jesus not at this point have given them an opportunity to make a commitment or at least say a "sinners prayer?" Not even the best Rabbi could take them any further!] "But they constrained him, saying, "Sir, stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them."
"And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight." Instead of disappointment, a great excitement arrested their hearts and they took off in the night desiring to tell the others back in Jerusalem! Nothing mobilizes one more than realizing the relevance of the revelation of the incarnation! They knew that Jesus could no longer be any more present in his person than what he is present in the Word incarnate in us!" The moment we discover Jesus in Scripture as in a mirror, our hearts ignite and our very next meal becomes a celebration of the incarnation [taken place within us]! "Every time you eat and drink, remember me!" Every meal celebrates the temple! Your body is GOD's address on planet earth! He does not dwell in buildings made by human hands. You will never again need to employ your willpower to diet and get into shape! Willpower is the language of the Law! Love and value-consciousness ignites belief! The revelation of this truth sets us free to be free indeed! The days of fast food and junk-food are over! The Table is sacred and celebrates your body as the sanctuary of our redeemed life, the life of our authentic design! Sitting around the table is a feast of friendship and delightful conversation. Eat food that blesses the temple! Most diseases are diet-related! Study nutrition! We have this treasure in earthen vessels! The vessel takes its value from the treasure within it!) (The Mirror)
Until next time may our LORD show you and yours his wonders.
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