The cup was not for Jesus but us. It is what makes communion and feet washing special. Jesus is the Passover who was sacrificed for us. All our safety and security is in the Lord.
I Corinthians 11: 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 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. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
This is tremendous instruction that is familiar to us. We’re reminded of something special. We can quote much of this. We know Jesus said as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. Some churches do it very often; others a few times a year. It’s not to be thought of as a ritual. That can become a habit and habits can become empty. We observe it by everyone coming up around the table and partaking together. We used to have the deacons pass it out row by row. We just need to do it. The eating and drinking in itself is nothing. We’re thinking about the body that Jesus gave and the blood he gave. We remember him and what he did for us. He allowed his body to suffer and die. He allowed his blood to be shed. He did it for us. Now he wants us to do this and remember him. We’re told to do it and given instructions on how. It’s not to meet a need of our body; it reminds us of the need of the soul and the need to remember the Lord. It symbolizes the Bread of Life for our soul. Our body doesn’t have to be broken because Jesus’ was. Our blood wouldn’t have worked but Jesus’ did. He passed the bread and the cup, yet he didn’t eat or drink himself. He had a bitter cup to drink. The bread Jesus gave was his body. He was the bread and the blood.
His body, not mine. His blood, not mine. His life, not mine. While many refuse to have communion and feet washing I’m thankful to identify with Jesus through this as we do baptism. Jesus took it all for us. He gave it all for us so we could have fellowship around this table. We enter into close fellowship with Jesus as we remember what he did for us. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. This is one of the best ways to continue the witness for Jesus Christ.
It may be that Jesus will come before we do this again and the age of grace will be gone. Until he comes, let’s eat the bread and drink the cup. Let’s continue in fellowship with each other and the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 