Daily Walk Through the New Testament
November 29
Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-12:11

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples the night before His death. The bread represents His body, which was broken for us. It bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, and was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:4-5). The juice represents Jesus’ blood which was shed for us. His sacrifice was necessary for the forgiveness of our sins because “without the shedding of blood there is no remission” (Heb. 9:22).
There are 3 aspects of the Lord’s Supper. First, there is a backward look. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (11:24). Reading the Gospel accounts of His crucifixion before we take Communion helps us remember all Jesus went through to pay the price for our sins and demonstrate His great love for us. Second, there is a forward look. Jesus said, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (11:26). Praise God, Jesus is coming again! At the Lord’s table, we pause to remember His promised return.
Third, there is an inward look. Paul said we should examine & judge ourselves. Why? So we do not partake of the Lord’s body & blood in an unworthy manner. The Lord chastened those who did; some became sick and weak, and some even died (11:30). We must not come to the Lord’s table flippantly! We must not eat of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper with known, unconfessed sin in our lives.
Don’t forget to take a backward, forward, and inward look the next time you take part in the Lord’s Supper. Doing so will help you be mindful of all Jesus has done for us in the past and all He has promised to His followers in the future.