by esther phinias | 17 July 2018 08:46 pm07
One of the most profound practices that our Lord Jesus Christ gave to His disciples and to the entire Church is the sacrament of partaking in the Lord’s Table, alongside the act of washing one another’s feet. These two ordinances—along with baptism and women covering their heads during worship—hold deep theological significance. Let’s explore these two practices in greater detail.
THE LORD’S TABLE:
The Lord’s Table (also called the Eucharist or Holy Communion) is central to the Christian faith. It is the sacred act in which believers partake of bread and wine, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ. This practice was instituted by Jesus during the Last Supper with His disciples and holds deep theological implications.
Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV)
26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.
28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'”
Here, Jesus establishes a new covenant in His blood. His body (represented by the bread) and His blood (represented by the wine) are given to His disciples as the means of salvation. This act points forward to His sacrifice on the cross, where He would offer His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
In John 6:53-56, Jesus elaborates on the spiritual significance of partaking in His body and blood:
John 6:53-56 (NIV)
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in them.”
Theologically, this points to the deep union between Christ and the believer. To partake in the Eucharist is to receive Christ’s life within oneself, to be spiritually nourished, and to participate in His redemptive work.
THE SPIRITUAL BENEFITS OF PARTAKING IN THE LORD’S TABLE:
Proclaiming the Death of Christ Until He Returns:
The Apostle Paul underscores the importance of the Lord’s Table in 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV):
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.“
By partaking in the Eucharist, believers proclaim Christ’s sacrificial death and its significance for humanity’s salvation. This proclamation not only remembers Christ’s death but also anticipates His second coming, a moment when He will return in glory.
Philippians 1:29 (NIV):
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him.”
Romans 6:5-6 (NIV):
“For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.”
Strengthening Our Union with Christ and One Another:
In 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Paul reveals the profound fellowship that occurs when believers partake in the Lord’s Table:
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (NIV)
16 “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”
Through partaking in the Eucharist, Christians experience spiritual union with Christ and with one another. The shared bread and cup symbolize our collective identity as the Body of Christ. This unity transcends earthly divisions, as all believers, regardless of background or status, are united in Christ.
In John 6:53-56, we see that partaking in the Lord’s Table gives believers spiritual life. It is not a mere symbolic act but one that imparts real spiritual nourishment and sustenance.
Gaining a Deeper Understanding of God’s Word:
Luke 24:30-32 (NIV) recounts the moment when two disciples, on the road to Emmaus, recognized Jesus after He broke bread with them:
Luke 24:30-32 (NIV)
30 “When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight.
32 They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?'”
In this passage, the breaking of bread is linked to a deeper spiritual understanding of God’s Word. The act of participating in the Lord’s Table illuminates the Scriptures, opening the hearts of believers to greater insight into the mysteries of God’s kingdom.
PREPARING FOR THE LORD’S TABLE:
To prepare the elements, use unleavened bread, as yeast symbolizes sin in biblical imagery (see 1 Corinthians 5:6-8). The bread should be made from whole wheat flour, and the wine should be fermented grape wine (not grape juice) as this best represents the blood of Christ.
When preparing, follow these steps:
Take a handful of flour, add oil (preferably olive oil), a pinch of salt, and water to form dough. Knead the dough into small pieces and bake them lightly on a stove or in an oven.
The wine should be wine made from grapes, symbolizing the blood of Christ. Avoid using fruit juice, as the wine used by Jesus and His disciples contained real fermented wine (see Matthew 26:29).
After preparation, gather together with fellow believers to partake in the body and blood of Christ as a communal act of worship and remembrance.
FOOT WASHING:
In addition to the Lord’s Table, Jesus also instituted the practice of washing one another’s feet. This act is a profound expression of humility, love, and servanthood.
John 13:3-17 (NIV)
3 “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God;
4 so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
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.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, ‘Lord, are You going to wash my feet?’
7 Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
8 ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘You shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.’
9 Then, ‘Lord, not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’
10 Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’
11 For He knew who was going to betray Him, and that is why He said not everyone was clean.
12 When He had finished washing their feet, He put on His clothes and returned to His place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ He asked them.
13 ‘You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.
14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
THE THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FOOT WASHING:
Foot washing, a humble and loving act, illustrates Christ’s teaching on servanthood. Jesus, the Lord and Teacher, humbled Himself to serve His disciples, and He commands us to do the same for one another.
In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul describes the ultimate example of humility set by Jesus:
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)
5 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
7 rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Foot washing, therefore, is not only a practical service but a spiritual discipline that encourages humility
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