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Alberto Montalvo Barreto

Th204: Covenants

Lanny Hubbard

May 02, 2023

The Table of the Lord

The Lord’s Supper, Table of the Lord, or Communion is a representation of the sacrifice

that Jesus made on the cross for humanity. The celebration dates to when Jesus sat with his

disciples and broke bread and drank wine, with the bread representing his body that would be

beaten and flogged for our sins and the wine representing his blood that would be shed as a result

of our sins. (K. Patrick Conner and Conner, 289)

The elements used during Communion are the table, bread, and wine, and the church

understands that this represents the body and blood of Christ. Communion is an act of grace and

spiritual growth for the believers, and the early church practiced it to remember Jesus' sacrifice

on the cross. (New International Version - Mark 14:22-25- “While they were eating, Jesus took

bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it;

this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they

all drank from it. “This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to

them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I

drink it new in the kingdom of God.””) (Adamson, 151)

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The early church had different examples of sharing bread in their meetings that could be

used as a reference for Communion. These examples included the multiplication of loaves and

fish, the apostles eating bread together on the first day of the week, and Jesus eating and drinking

with his disciples after his resurrection. (K. Patrick Conner and Conner, 191)

Communion always involves a remembrance of the covenant of the death and

resurrection of Christ, and sharing the bread and wine is a symbol of the new covenant

established through his blood. The bread and wine are not just symbols but represent a potent

symbol of grace that is imparted to the life of each believer. Participating in Communion was

considered an act of power in becoming one with the body and blood of Christ through an act of

unity and brotherhood. The early church viewed Communion as an intimate act shared in

koinonia (fellowship) with their brothers and sisters in Christ. (Adamson, 20)

The celebration of Communion significantly affected the early church, mainly when they

worshipped together in the community. They separated a place, usually in their homes, to

celebrate Communion and did so during the Passover. Gradually, this changed, and Communion

was celebrated on the first day of the week, the day of the Lord, according to Acts 20:7-8.

Communion was celebrated weekly, and the explanation of why they were drinking wine and

eating bread was clear to everyone. All received instruction on the Word, as seen in Exodus 12

and 13 when the people of Israel were liberated from Egypt. The community celebrated as one

body, praising God and singing spiritual songs. (NIV, Matthew 26:30 – “When they had sung a

hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”)

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It is important to note that the Lord's Supper had a prior act, which was the washing of

feet. Jesus washed the feet of his disciples before sitting down at the table, and this was part of

the process of sanctification and preparation to participate in the Lord's Supper. (NIV, John 13:5

– “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them

with the towel that was wrapped around him.”)

We must clarify that the Lord's table had a previous act, the washing of feet. Jesus

washed his disciples' feet before sitting down at the table. Therefore, this was also part of

sanctifying the person and preparing them to participate in the Lord's table. Next, they served

each other and shared bread and wine. Communion initially took place during the Passover

festival, usually in the evenings. Many families and homes celebrated this dinner at the same

time as part of the power of remembering the liberation of the people of Egypt from slavery.

That is why Christ encouraged them also to remember how this lamb would take away their sin.

He was referring to himself, the perfect lamb. This act was done inside a house, and Communion

was not necessarily carried in the temple. Because it is an event to remember and honor the Lord

Jesus Christ, it would be something other than something that has to be done in the evenings, on

a particular day of the week, or during a specific season of celebration. It can be done at any

time. However, the contemporary church usually does this in its first-morning service on

Sundays. (NIV, Acts 20:7 – “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread”)

According to scripture, the wine represents the blood of Jesus Christ. This means that this

wine represents the new covenant made by God through Jesus Christ with us, humanity. This

blood was for the remission of sins, and it is holy blood. This shared wine is grape juice, the fruit
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of the vine. Therefore, if we think that wine as an alcoholic beverage would be the symbol that

represents the incorruptible blood of Jesus, it would be a mistake. Even the scripture mentions

that we should not get drunk with wine but instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. There is

another reference when Samson is called from his mother's womb for the Nazirite, and one of the

conditions was not to drink wine because God was consecrating Samson. The theme of

consecration is essential here because we cannot mix anything that could be profane in any way

with this pure act, which is the blood covenant through Jesus. (K. Patrick Conner and Conner,

289-290) (ESV, Ephesians 5:18- “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be

filled with the Spirit”) (ESV, Judges 13:7 – “…So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat

nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.”

In conclusion, the Lord's table is a ritual that is done in commemoration of the death of

Jesus, representing the new covenant through his blood, which is renewed in contrast to the old

covenant. Jesus is the Passover lamb who gave himself for us out of love. This revelation and

understanding come through faith and through the Holy Spirit. This act is only practiced by the

body of Christ, as the Lord's table expresses unity in the body of Christ and among its members.

(K. Patrick Conner and Conner, 295)

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Work Cited

Biblia Bilingüe : Versión Reina-Valera, 1960 = Bilingual Bible : New King James Version.

Adamson, Robert M. The Christian Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. 1905.

GotQuestions.org. “What Is the Importance of the Lord’s Supper / Christian Communion? |

GotQuestions.org.” GotQuestions.org, 10 Oct. 2004, www.gotquestions.org/communion-

Christian.html.

K. Patrick Conner, and Kevin J Conner. The Church in the New Testament. City Christian

Publishing, 1 Jan. 1982.