That the early Christians observed “the ordinances” (1 Cor. 11:2) of the baptism of believers and the Lord’s Supper is clear to any unbiased reader of the New Testament. The observance of the Breaking of Bread, otherwise spoken of as the Communion, or “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20), was instituted by the Saviour almost 2000 years ago, has been continued upon each first day of the week since, and is observed today in thousands of places in most of the lands of earth, by millions of persons of almost every kindred, tongue, and nation. The great fact of the observance is certainly worth careful consideration by everyone bearing the Name of Christ.
“What mean ye by this service?” (Ex. 12:26) was a question to be answered as Israel of old observed the Passover, and every member of the redeemed people was to have an intelligent reply. Should not every Bible-loving Christian have a reason to give to every man why he observes, or does not observe, this important memorial? We seek from the Scripture of Truth to give plain answers to pointed questions concerning the Breaking of Bread.
Who instituted it? “Jesus took bread . . . and He took the cup” (Matt. 26:26-30). Three of the writers of the Gospels, and the chief writer of the Epistles make plain that the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper was divinely instituted by our Lord Himself; therefore it cannot be a meaningless ordinance, or one to be lightly set aside.
When was it instituted? “The same night in which He was betrayed.” What thoughts these words conjure in memory. He who, even amid the dying agonies of Calvary, thought of a loved mother, looked down the ages and thought of His lonely and loved followers in all lands and instituted this simple means for the remembrance of Him and the communion of His own.
Most of us have had last requests from loved ones. With what reverence we received them, and with what diligence we carried them out. And shall the parting request, or what may almost be termed the dying “command” of Christ–“This do”–be esteemed lightly by anyone daring to call Him “Lord and Master” (John 13:13)?
What Authority do we have for Breaking Bread? “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. 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. 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till He come” (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
“A threefold cord is not easily broken,” says the Wise Man, and a threefold cord constitutes the strongest scriptural basis for any doctrine or practice. This we have for “the Breaking of Bread.”
1. The Saviour’s own institution (Luke 22:7-20, and other portions already cited).
2. The disciples’ example. They “came together to Break Bread” (Acts 20:7).
3. The special revelation to the apostle in 1 Corinthians 11, as cited above–not something he got from Luke or Matthew, but a special and direct revelation from heaven, which he “received to hold” (the force of the word) and to pass on for others to hold “till He come.” This is the charter for the feast.
Anyone reading carefully and candidly the Scriptures concerning the Breaking of Bread will notice five outstanding marks.
1. Personality. Observe the personal note in the Charter: “The Lord Jesus . . . He was betrayed . . . He took bread . . . He gave thanks . . . He said . . . My body . . . for you . . . in remembrance of Me, He took the cup . . . He had supped . . . My blood . . . do ye . . . ye drink . . . in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:23-25). The best meeting begins with each heart saying, “We would see Jesus,” and ends with, “We have seen the Lord.”
The individual partaker is to “examine himself.” Doing this in sincerity, like the Israelite of old, he will say like David, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?” (2 Sam. 7:18). Entering in thought into the deepest recesses of his soul, realizing what he is by nature in the presence of a Holy God, like Isaiah, he will exclaim, “Woe is me! for I am undone” (Isa. 6:5). Like Peter, he will fall down at Jesus’ feet and be ready to say, “I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8).
Then in deepest humility, he will rejoice in his Lord and Master. Like Paul of old, he will say, “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). And like Thomas, he will sum up his adoration with the exclamation, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
2. Simplicity. The Lord Jesus, a handful of unlearned and untutored disciples, an upper room, two plain elements found in almost every part of earth–“bread” and “the fruit of the vine.” No elaborate details, no ritualistic ceremony, no officialism, sweetly simple yet gloriously solemn in the presence of the Lord Jesus.
3. Solemnity. Instituted on the night of His betrayal–commemorating His body broken and His blood shed, suggesting that each Lord’s Day may be the last on earth. Under the eye of God, with Jesus in the midst, guided by the Holy Spirit, no lighthearted flippancy should in any degree ever be manifest at the Supper.
4. Liberty. “Every one hath a psalm, a doctrine” (1 Cor. 14:23, 26). In no Scripture is there ever a hint of a bishop, priest, presiding elder, or other person to usurp the function of the Spirit.
5. Continuity. “Ye do proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.” Then will the remembrance of Calvary be forgotten? No, the myriad Host, with a loud voice in sweetest unison proclaim, “Thou art worthy . . . for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood” (Rev. 5:9). As the Lamb is the center of gathering here below, so in the center of the ransomed, throughout eternal ages, is “the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
And will the Feast then be done with? Did the Master not speak of not partaking of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom come? (Lk. 22:18). Whatever may be the materials, if materials there be in Kingdom days, the prospect is certainly that after ceasing to partake of the Supper of the Lord on earth, the redeemed shall sit down at “the marriage supper of the Lamb” in glory (Rev. 19:9).
How often have we left this meeting with the words of Psalm 102:11-12 upon our lips: “My days are like a shadow that declineth . . . but Thou, O Lord, shalt endure forever; and Thy remembrance unto all generations.”
Today, the emblems–seeing His spiritual presence through a glass darkly; tomorrow, the reality, seeing Him face-to-face, and the realized, enjoyed, and bodily presence of our beloved Lord. Shall we not be there at the Supper until we shall be there and sup with Him?