Bread and Cup Evangelism

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Christians partake together of what Scripture calls of breaking of bread (Acts 2:42), the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:20), the giving of thanks (Luke 22:17), and communion (1 Corinthians 10:16). The word communion describes a fellowship, partnership, or sharing, revealing a  people of the same heart, purpose, and work. In the ancient world, enemies never sat at the same table for a meal; it was reserved only for those in fellowship.

When we come to the Lord’s table, it is as one in fellowship with the One wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, by whose chastisement we receive peace, and by whose stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-5). Communion is a picture of sharing with Jesus in His death, resurrection, and soon coming by faith (1 Corinthians 11:23-26); it’s only through faith in Him that anyone is ever saved. It also symbolizes our fellowship with one another as children of our Father in Heaven.  

The bread symbolizes the flesh of Jesus, broken by the Roman whip for our healing from sin. The cup illustrates Jesus’ shed blood, the sacrifice of His life, given for the forgiveness of our sins.

There is nothing magical in the bread or the cup. There’s no special power or grace bestowed when you partake of these. That’s superstition that has led to wickedness and abuse throughout the centuries. The bread and the cup are memorial symbols to help us focus our attention in a busy world back upon the life and suffering of Jesus, the death and resurrection of Jesus, the first and the soon coming of Jesus for His Church.

In First Corinthians 11:26, Paul adds that taking communion together is a public declaration of the gospel of salvation. It reminds the Church of Christ’s sacrifice for our sin and God’s grace in saving us. It calls the unbelieving world to believe upon Jesus to be saved. At the same time, it declares that anyone not in fellowship with Jesus through His work of redemption, will be judged at His return. If a local church really wants pursue a corporate evangelism program, it must start with its celebration of the Lord’s supper. The Lord’s Table is the corporate evangelism program of the church.

When the Debt is Paid

(RLR 2014)

By Pastor Isaac Mathembe of Kenya

It feels good when I have a debt and then I know that someone has cleared my debt.

There was a woman who had a small baby. One day the baby cried and the mother soothed her for a while until the baby calmed down and slept. She decided to warm some water on the stove, and as the water heated she decided to rush to the store to puck up some milk for the baby when she awoke.

While returning home, the mother saw smoke and heard screaming. When she neared, she realized that the fire originated from her own house. She knew without doubt that her daughter was in danger. She rushed and tried to enter the house where people had already gathered. They denied her access, but somehow pushed her way inside. She found the fire near the baby, took a blanket, wrapped the baby and walked out. On her way out, the fire caught on them and burned the mother’s face, but the baby was safe in her hands.

Many years later, the girl was taken to a boarding school. When her mother would visit, the girl would hide herself in shame because her own mother wasn’t beautiful like the others. This continued many times until one day the mother asked her daughter about her strange behavior.

The mother, disappointed and with pain, gathered her courage and narrated the whole story about how she gave her life to save her daughter. On hearing the story, the daughter cried bitterly and embracing her mother for the first time in a long time, asked forgiveness.

This is what happened to our Lord Jesus. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:5, But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

** An oldie from June 2014

A Promise to Heal

I was raised in a religious movement that taught Jesus died to heal our physical bodies from all illness and disease. Physical healing, I was taught, was bought and paid for in the death of Jesus at the cross. For years I not only believed this, but I preached it.

Physical healing, however, is not guaranteed in the death of Jesus, despite what certain groups, movements, and people say. This false belief has become more popular with the rise of prosperity / name-it-and-claim-it theology.

It’s said that Jesus died to heal your body. Advocates quote Isaiah 53:5 to prove their point. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Then you will be blamed if you don’t defy your sickness with positive affirmations and apply the word of faith that Jesus died to heal you.

You know, every single pastor, preacher, and pew-sitter who has proclaimed this false teaching has become sick, diseased, and died.

When Isaiah wrote of the Messiah in Isaiah 53, was he revealing the physical or the spiritual ministry of Jesus? Does the death of Jesus defeat every disease and death so it must disappear today?

Death is the assured and shared experience of every saint since the resurrection of Jesus. You will die too, unless Jesus returns first. As it is appointed for men to die once … (Hebrews 9:27). Yes, the Bible promises that one day God the Father will wipe every tear from the eyes of His children, and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4). These are promises, however, for eternity. Among the former things that will pass away are the present earth, time, and the effects of sin which include sickness and death.

Does God heal people of illness and disease today? Yes. But He does it by His mercy and grace, according to the good pleasure of His will, not command, decree, prayer of faith, of the hand of a man. Divine healing is an oddity in this life, not an assurance … until Heaven.

Never Question God’s Love

Daniel and me shortly before our car accident (2006)

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself … (John 10:17-18).

Fifteen years ago, I sat in the children’s hospital with my son Daniel, not knowing if he would live or die. A serious car accident crushed his skull and left glass embedded in his brain.

Nine years earlier, my sister’s two-year old son died in the very same hospital. Nathaniel’s death was on my mind as I prayed for Daniel. No parent in a similar situation ever thinks, At least it’s not me. Our suffering is different, but we nonetheless suffer with the children we love.

When we think, speak, act, or are motivated by intentions contrary to who God is, it’s sin. Simply, sin is rebellion against God. Yet the Bible says God loves sinners. The Father loves them so greatly that He gave His only Son as the Substitute to receive the judgment we justly deserve for our sin. The Righteous died for the unrighteous, mediating between a holy Creator and His unholy creatures.

It’s hard to comprehend the kind of love God has for us. So hard that Jewish scholars have spent millennia contemplating the words of the prophet Isaiah: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. … Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief (Isaiah 53:4-5, 10).

It’s an incredible love that would purposely sacrifice one’s own son so children who hated you could be reconciled to you eternally!

This sacrificial love isn’t just the prerogative of the Father; it’s also the love of the Son. John 3:16 reveals that the Father gave His Son for love. John 10 reveals the Son gave His life for love. Christ’s love was for both the Father and those whom His life would redeem.

In a very small way most of us understand the suffering Jesus experienced for our sin. Most of us will never understand the suffering of the Father watching His Son die for others, and being the One who caused that suffering for others.

My believing friend, never question the love of God for you.

Never Question the Love of God for You

Daniel and me weeks before the accident (2006)

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself … (John 10:17-18).

Fifteen years ago, I sat in the children’s hospital with my son Daniel, not knowing if he would live or die. A serious car accident crushed his skull and left glass embedded in his brain.

Nine years earlier, my sister’s two-year old son died in the very same hospital. Nathaniel’s death was on my mind as I prayed for Daniel. No parent in a similar situation ever thinks, At least it’s not me. Our suffering is different, but we nonetheless suffer with the children we love.

When we think, speak, act, or are motivated by intentions contrary to who God is, it’s sin. Simply, sin is rebellion against God. Yet the Bible says God loves sinners. The Father loves them so greatly that He gave His only Son as the Substitute to receive the judgment we justly deserve for our sin. The Righteous died for the unrighteous, mediating between a holy Creator and His unholy creatures.

It’s hard to comprehend the kind of love God has for us. So hard that Jewish scholars have spent millennia contemplating the words of the prophet Isaiah: Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows … But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. … Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief (Isaiah 53:4-5, 10).

It’s an incredible love that would purposely sacrifice one’s own son so children who hated you could be reconciled to you eternally!

This sacrificial love isn’t just the prerogative of the Father; it’s also the love of the Son. John 3:16 reveals that the Father gave His Son for love. John 10 reveals the Son gave His life for love. Christ’s love was for both the Father and those whom His life would redeem.

In a very small way most of us understand the suffering Jesus experienced for our sin. Most of us will never understand the suffering of the Father watching His Son die for others, and being the One who caused that suffering for others.

My believing friend, never question the love of God for you.