The Lord's Supper

 

1

When we meet in sweet communion

Where the feast divine is spread,

Hearts are brought in closer union

While partaking of the bread.

2

"God so loved" -- what wondrous measure!

Loved and gave the best of heav'n;

Bought us with that matchless treasure,

Yea, for us his life was giv'n.

3

Feast divine, all else surpassing,

Precious blood for you and me.

While we sup, Christ gently whispers,

"Do this in my memory."

Refrain:

Precious feast, all else surpassing,

Wondrous love for you and me;

While we feast Christ gently whispers,

"Do this in my memory."

Tillit S. Teddlie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illGPgICkJ8&list=RDillGPgICkJ8&start_radio=1

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mark 14

22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. 23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. 25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. 26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

I Corinthians 11

23 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: 24 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. 25 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.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

"Communion" or "the Lord's Supper" is a ritual celebrated in almost all Christian churches. In the Catholic Mass it is called "Eucharist." (Please note that whenever I refer to Christian churches I am including Catholic and all the mainstream protestant denominations -- Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, etc., as well as the multitude of Baptist offshoots. I use the term "Christian" in a broad sense, only to differentiate from Eastern religions -- Jewish and Muslim faiths, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.)

  The celebration of the Lord's Supper is a practice instituted at the Passover feast Jesus celebrated with his disciples immediately preceding his arrest and crucifixion. The remainder of the New Testament writings indicate that the followers of Jesus adopted this practice from the very beginning of what would become the church. The ritual consists of prayers and 'breaking bread' in which all partake of a morsel of unleavened or leavened bread, followed by all sharing in drinking a small amount of 'fruit of the vine' -- either wine or grape juice. This follows precisely the pattern that is described in the gospel accounts of the Last Supper.

Luke 22

7 Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.