Remember Me: Part III

THE LOVE FEAST

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; "for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

    Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

    And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Luke 22:14-19 

    Jesus and His apostles were about to take their last Passover together in the upper room before He went to the cross. This first Christian communion was more than just a religious ritual, it was the first "Love Feast." This was the beginning of a new era, the very birth of Christianity. Jesus told the apostles that this would be a new covenant, sealed by the blood of Jesus Himself. This "Love Feast" commemorated the death, burial and subsequent resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ giving access to all who would receive Him as Lord and Savior thereafter. 

    The old covenant with its laws and rituals was done away with as well as its priesthood in this new and living way about to be instituted by the death of Jesus Christ. The Passover meal signifying the blood of a lamb protecting them from the wrath of God was fulfilled by the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. There was no longer a need for a high priest to intercede for the sins of man because Jesus became our High Priest, forever seated at the right hand of God. 

    The love feast was a carryover from the Passover meal that the Jews already observed because Jesus Himself had the last Passover with His disciples. In the New Testament Paul gives instructions to the Corinthian church about having a meal together, and then taking what we now call Communion. The Love feast was a glorious time of fellowship together and then afterwards a time to give remembrance to the Lord Jesus Christ by celebrating His death and resurrection by taking communion together. 

    Usually, the fellowship supper was had by all and then a time of preaching or sharing on what the Lord Jesus had done for them was given before the actual Lord's Supper was administered. This wonderful occasion continued for some time in the first Christian churches until it was replaced with a short ritual. Sometime in the second or third century the meal and the Eucharist, or Host were separated until it became what it is today. The time has definitely come for this glorious occasion to be restored to the Church of Jesus Christ as a permanent practice of true fellowship. 

    For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed 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 remembrance of Me."

    In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 

    Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. I Corinthians 11:23-30

Your servant in Christ, Timothy Laughlin
   Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ