June 10, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Institution of the Lord's Supper

Luke 22:14  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. 21  But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22  And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! 23  And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.

There is often a misunderstanding over the passover meal and the Lord’s supper, which some call communion.

If you will read this passage carefully you will find that this was the last supper before our Lord Jesus Christ was to be crucified. His desire was to eat this last passover meal with His disciples.

During the last supper Jesus said He would not eat of it again until the kingdom be fulfilled. When Jesus returns He will once again, personally, have this wonderful meal, not looking forward to His suffering as the sacrificial lamb rather, celebrating His finished work on the cross of Calvary.

You will notice, that Jesus took the bread and said “this is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” He was sitting there before them, so we know that the bread was not the literal body of Jesus but a representation of His body. The key word is “remembrance;” we are not cannibals. We take the Lord’s supper remembering what Jesus did.

Matthew 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Likewise, we also see that the blood of Jesus was not his literal blood but in representation, remembrance, of what He did on Calvary and the establishment of the New Testament.

Hebrews 9:16  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

Jesus shed His blood to give you new life and a New Testament. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.

The Old Testament was established with the shedding of blood and the New Testament was also established with the shedding of blood.

Hebrews 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20  Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Please understand that the broken bread and the fruit of the vine, grape juice, (not alcoholic wine, Jesus never drank alcohol) was given in representation and to be taken in remembrance. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a priest or father or any other person can by words or gesture such as rubbing the top of a chalice ever make or create the actual body and blood of Christ. If you believe that and you take it, you are proclaiming yourself to be a cannibal.

Also, understand that the taking of the Lord’s supper, or communion, never has any element of saving grace attached to it. In other words, taking communion will never save your soul, even if someone calls is a sacrament.

Here is why the true believer takes the Lord’s supper. 1Corinthians 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

It has nothing to do with getting saved. It has everything to do with remembering Jesus and what He did for us on the cross.

Salvation is only through believing on Jesus Christ not the communion and certainly not the baptism.

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,…

The choice is till yours,

Pastor Cook