Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper the night before His crucifixion and death as recorded in Mat. 26:26-29; Mark 14: 22-25; Lk. 22:15-20. And it has become one unique element of worship in the New Testament worship right from after the Pentecost in obedience to Jesus that it should be done in remembrance of his death on the cross of calvary for the believers’ redemption from sin and condemnation (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor:11) and to fellowship with Christ and the participation in the benefits of his sacrificial death as well as fellowship with other members of His body just to mention a few (1 Cor. 10:16-17).
Of great concern is the gloominess associated with the faces of the communicants, the sober and solemn hymns and choruses, and the general gloomy atmosphere during the Lord’s supper communion services. Agreed that sadness and sorrow characterized the first breaking and taking of the bread (the last supper) by Jesus and His disciples because of his imminent betrayal, desertion, and death. Then, does that mean sadness and gloominess are part of how He asked us to administer the Lord’s supper in remembrance of Him? It isn’t! Or is it because Apostle Paul cautioned that none should partake in the Lord’s supper in an unworthy manner? (1 Cor.11:27-29). It isn’t either!
Thanksgiving was a key element of the last supper as done by Jesus Himself. Jesus, despite knowing what was to befall Him prayed a prayer of thanksgiving before He broke the bread; likewise the Apostles and the early church followed the pattern of giving thanks before the breaking of the bread. The Lord’s supper is supposed to be a thanksgiving celebration for the blessings and salvation of God made available by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Mat. 26:27-28; Mark 14:23; Lk 22:19). Oh, that man will have an in-depth understanding of all that Jesus Christ accomplished for mankind! Jesus’ death is the height of God’s great love and mercy for mankind. Therefore every Holy communion service should be that of thanksgiving unto Jesus for all that is ours through Him.
In this era characterized with powerful manifestations and testimonies of the power and victory of Jesus in the lives of believers, a prove that His death is not in vain and that He is alive, the Lord’s Supper service is supposed to be a service of great rejoicing, thanksgiving and praises to God in remembrance and meditation on all the benefits that have become ours as a result of Jesus’ suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. Doing it this way brings more conviction of the terribleness of sin and drives us to our knees because thanksgiving reaches to the cross and our resurrected Christ, takes hold of one or more of the wonderful things His death has afforded for us.
I believe this is the best way to remember His death and not hanging heads and drooping shoulders that are nothing but emotional bouts whose effect last for as long as the communion service lasted but no impact on one’s spiritual life. God is worthy of our lifelong thanksgiving for all we benefit from Christ’s sufferings and sacrificial death and the promise of His coming back for his followers.
GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO L
GRATITUDE, THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PARTAKING IN THE LORD’S SUPPER.
