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THE LORD’S SUPPER

“Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Clearly, Jesus left a memorial by which He wishes to be remembered. Reading the context of the institution of the Lord’s Supper on that solemn night before the cross, the Scriptures reveal the unleavened bread memorializes His body that suffered for our sins, and the fruit of the vine memorializes His blood shed to forgive and redeem us from sin (1 Cor 11:23-26, Matt 26:28, 1 Pet 2:24).

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper on the Passover night, which would be Friday. The early church never observed the Lord’s Supper on Friday. Rather, it was observed on Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 2:42, 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2, Matt 26:29). What is the spiritual significance of the first day of the week? It is the day of Jesus’ triumphant resurrection (Mk 16:9)!

Therefore, the early church did not commemorate His resurrection annually, as many do today, but rather weekly. Each Sunday, the Lord’s Day, is of equal spiritual significance and should be equally remembered by apostolic authority. Also, the common practice of observing the Lord’s Supper on Saturday night is done only for convenience, so people can sleep in on the Lord’s day if they like. Jesus should mean enough to us that our faith and obedience to Him is not a matter of convenience but of conviction!

On each Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, faithful Christians have an appointment with their Lord to proclaim His supreme importance in their lives (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 11:19-25). We have loving communion with our Lord and one another (1 Cor 10:16-17). If remembering the climax of salvation history every Sunday becomes “too common” for some, it is become they have a “too common” view of the Savior and His redeeming work.

By Frank Walton