Last Supper – Is, Was and Will Be – The Unknown Character of Christ and His Word

Gospels in Harmony – Who Eats the Lord’s Supper?

Aaron Lohman — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:42:11 +0000

Matt 26:21-30, Mark 14:18-26, Luke 22:21-23, John 13:18-32

[Study Aired November 2, 2021]

Joh 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
Joh 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
Joh 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
Joh 13:21a When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit,
Mar 14:18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said,
Joh 13:21b and testified, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
Luk 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
Luk 22:23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
Mar 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Joh 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
Joh 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Joh 13:25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Mar 14:20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish,
Mat 26:23b the same shall betray me.
Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Joh 13:26 He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Mat 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Joh 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Joh 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
Joh 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Joh 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Joh 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Joh 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
Luk 22:19 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.
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Mat 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom,
Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Mar 14:26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Luk 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Today’s study picks up after Christ washed the feet of the twelve disciples. Washing feet represents being a servant. Christ gave us this example and commanded his disciples to do the same for each other. We are to be the servants of the body of Christ. We do not serve each other by the ritual of foot washing as many practice. We wash each other’s feet by giving our time, energy, thoughts and support by laying down our lives as a living sacrifice.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

This study will focus on those who are and are not able to eat at the Lord’s supper. Our first verses tell us that among the chosen there is a betrayal taking place.

Being with Christ at the table represents being called and chosen. Being called and chosen, you may partake in the passover and have your feet washed, but that does not entitle you to eat the Lord’s supper. The disciples at this stage cannot determine who is the betrayer.

Luk 22:23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
Mar 14:19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
Joh 13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

Notice the disciples are looking at one another doubting that any of them is a betrayer. It takes Christ in us to determine the betrayer within the group of the called and chosen.

Joh 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
Joh 13:24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
Joh 13:25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
Mar 14:20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish,
Mat 26:23b the same shall betray me.
Mat 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
Joh 13:26 He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
Mat 26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

Judas is the betrayer who has been chosen by Christ since the beginning of the world. The scriptures are now fulfilled.

Psa 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Judas represents the called and chosen that cannot continue in Christ’s word who fall away without repentance and cannot go on into perfection in this age.

Joh 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Heb 6:1-6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Judas also represents the fornicator within us that must be destroyed.

Joh 13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Joh 13:28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
Joh 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
Joh 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

Christ has now delivered Judas to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.

1Co 5:1-13 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Judas will not be saved until the lake of fire, and he is used as a warning to the elect to examine their hearts continually for any fornication taking place within themselves.

Psa 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Now is the Son of man glorified. It takes being cast away to Satan for this to take place.

Joh 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Joh 13:32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.

The Lord’s Supper can now take place.

Luk 22:19 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.
Mat 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
Luk 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Mat 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luk 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
Mat 26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom,

The new testament is now beginning. The old is passing away.

2Co 5:11-21 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The churches of the world have turned this into a ritual. The Lord is not creating a ritual for mankind to perform. The Lord is telling us what it takes to reign with him in the kingdom of God.

Mat 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn,
Luk 22:39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.

Eph 5:1-21 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

The Lords Supper and The Passover

Mike Vinson — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:01 +0000

The Lord’s Supper and The Passover

March 18, 2002

According to Christ, His last supper (what Paul calls “the Lord’s supper” – 1Co 11:20) was “the Passover” (Mat 26:18) and “as oft as (he) kept it” was once a year.

The sum of your word is truth (Psa 119:160 ESV); How precious are your thoughts to me God! How great is the sum of them (Psa 139:17 New KJV).

It is the SUM of God’s word that is the truth. It is not the “signs” or the rituals, but the “sum of thy word is truth.”

Let me demonstrate this point:

Gen 17:13 He that is born in thy house and he that is bought with money must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

There it is. The Lord Himself is calling circumcision “in your flesh” an “everlasting covenant.”

This is not the sum of the word of God on this subject, however.

Gal 5:1 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in spirit; And have no confidence in the flesh.

Rom 2:29 He is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.

Both of these are the word of God (Moses and Paul), but the sum of God’s word says the spirit (spiritual circumcision) has replaced the outward sign. “Outward circumcision” (Rom 2:28) is not real circumcision now. Real circumcision “is that of the heart in the spirit.”

Now what is the “sum” of the word on the subject of what Christ called the Passover and what Paul called the Lord’s supper? Is outward ritual now being reinstituted in this case?

It almost appears to be that way. Christ does say:

1Co 11:24 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.
1Co 11:25 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.
1Co 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 is obvious that the Corinthians, as were the Galatians, as were the other apostles, were all “observing days, months, times and years” (Gal 4:10). This brings us back to the “sum of your word.”

The “days, months, times and years” are “weak and beggarly elements” that bring us into “bondage” (Gal 4:9). We remain “a child” (Greek – nepios – a toddler, an infant, or even a fetus) as long as we remain attached to these outward “letter” signs and do not, in fact cannot, become huios or huiothesia, mature spiritual sons, as long as we cling to outward rituals and signs.

The point of 1 Corinthians 11 is not Paul encouraging the Corinthians to participate in a ritual or to esteem the Passover over other days, but to “shew the Lord’s death till he come.” This is accomplished by “eating his body and drinking his blood worthily.”

In Joh 6:51, Christ says:

Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?
Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

Obviously Christ was not talking about the physical flesh of His physical body. Here is what he meant by His flesh and His blood:

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.

This is in the same 6th chapter of John. Christ is explaining to his disciples what it really means to eat His flesh and drink His blood.

If we have His word in us, we have Christ in us, and we are eating His flesh and drinking His blood. If we “mortify” the flesh (Rom 8:13) we “shew his death till he come.”

Eating Christ’s flesh and drinking His blood is not a once-a-year event anymore to a huios (mature son). It is now 24/7. That’s why Paul says let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Christ Himself made it clear that “eating this bread and drinking this cup” is not to be taken literally: Except you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you – It is the spirit that gives life; the words that I have spoken unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (Joh 6:53 and 63).

It is the words of Christ that are spirit and life, “meat indeed and drink indeed” (vs 55).

The reasoning of the immature Christian is “Christ said to do it, so I’m going to do it.” With this reasoning, we should “tithe the tithe of anise, mint and cumin” and “offer the offering commanded by Moses.” But these are not the “sum” of the words of Christ.

The sum of Christ’s words did not come to us while He was here in the flesh. Christ’s disciples were in no condition to receive the sum of His word, not even they who later became His apostles. Here is what Christ said to them while He had only 24 hours or less left in the flesh: I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now (Joh 16:12). So there were many things that were revealed after Christ’s death and resurrection which his disciples both then and some even now “cannot bear.”

We have a hard time thinking of the twelve apostles as being immature babes, but that is exactly what they were at the start. Being with Christ 3 1/2 years, casting out demons and healing the sick does not make one a mature son. It was close to two decades after the death and resurrection of Christ that “Peter…Barnabas and the other Jews” (Gal 2:11-13) separated themselves from the Gentile believers. They were still, at that late date, unable “to bear” some of the things Christ was “saying unto them.”

How would it have been received by the twelve if, while Christ was still in the flesh, He had told them Israel according to the flesh will be broken off and replaced by the son of the freewoman, the Israel of God (Romans 9 and 11 and Galatians 4, 5 and 6).

According to Joh 16:12, they wouldn’t have been able to bear it. Were the Corinthians mature?

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

This was not the time for Gal 4:10 and 11: ye observe days, months, times and year, I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.

Instead Paul says:

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

This statement was made in regards to putting the incestuous man out of the congregation away from fellowship with those who were living “sincere and truthful” lives. This was Paul’s concept of “keeping the feast.” This is how Paul perceived purging out “the old leaven.” This is what Paul called “Christ our Passover.” I seriously doubt Paul meant for the Corinthians to wait until the Passover to put this man out of their midst. We should “keep the feasts” in their true meaning 24/7.

This is a demonstration of what is truly the sum of God’s word on this or any other subject. Paul doesn’t kick their first-grade desk out from under them and rail at them for their lack of maturity. The law of love does not permit that. The law of love becomes “all things to all men that (it) might by all means save some” (1Co 9:22).

One of the most telling features of those who are still under the law is they allow knowledge to puff them up. Consequently, they place great stress on outward shows of righteousness; days, months, times and years; water baptism; the Lord’s supper; etc. A mature son can cope with any stage of development in other Christians because he is aware that sin is not defined by letter any more that righteousness is. The “sum” of the word of God on the subject of sin is not only “sin is lawlessness”, but also “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Understanding this fact enables the mature huios to truly become “all things to all men” (1Co 9:19-22). Proving himself right becomes secondary to “making [him] self servant unto all, that [he] might gain the more” (1Co 9:19).

Yes, Gal 4:10 is still there. Observing days is still for babes in Christ. 1Co 9:19-20 doesn’t change Galatians 4. It should, however, change our actions when in the midst of a group that still observes days, months, times and years.

Heb 8:13 is still true. The old covenant with all its laws, rituals and Holy Days is still waxing old and vanishing away.

Heb 10:1 is still true. The “shadows” of the law (sacrifices, Holy Days, etc.) still make nothing perfect.

Col 2:14-22 is still true for the mature Christian. “Ordinances” have been “taken out of the way,” and “nailed to his cross” (vs. 14). The shadows of “meats, drinks, Holy Days, new moons and Sabbath days” are replaced by the “body of Christ.” Shadows disappear at noon when the undiluted light of the truth shines straight down on the body of Christ. This is what was casting all those old covenant shadows. Now that we have the body, why would we ever return to living in the shadows as immature sons?

Those who have the knowledge of what Christ has accomplished would never do that. “Howbeit there is not in every man (this more mature) knowledge” (1Co 8:7).

There are two chapters in scripture dealing with those who are “weak in the faith”. The first is:

Rom 14: Him that is weak in the faith, receive ye, but NOT TO DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS.

Most of this chapter is addressed to the huios, the mature son, who is admonished to bear with his less mature brothers: “Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not…” The less mature Christians are also admonished:

Rom 14:3 And let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

How can an older brother condemn a younger brother for being exactly what and where he himself was earlier in life? We are all where we are in our spiritual development and growth only by the grace of God.

Paul clearly states in 1Co 8:4-8 that an idol is nothing and eating meat offered to an idol neither makes us “better” nor “worse.”

1Co 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Paul made it clear that sinning against a brother is sinning against Christ.

1Co 8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

I seriously doubt that Paul became a vegetarian. After all, he admonished the weak brother not to “judge him that eateth” (Rom 14:3). “I will eat no flesh” has to do with meats “offered to idols” in 1 Corinthians 8.

Romans 14 has more to do with vegetarians (vs 2) and those who still observe Holy Days (vs 5). However, the message of both chapters is the same: We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

This is Rom 15:1, but it is the conclusion of what has been said in Rom 14.

Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

These are not matters of morality under discussion in these two chapters. Paul doesn’t say “we that are strong ought to fornicate with the weak.” We separate ourselves from brothers who are turning grace into lasciviousness, but we “bear with” brothers who are simply “weak in the faith” or less mature in Christ.

If anyone in your congregation sincerely felt they should wash each other’s feet, I would be the first to wash them, were it my choice. I would never encourage a weak brother to remain weak and immature, however. Older brothers should “bear with” younger brothers, but they should always encourage them to grow in Christ.

Joh 13:14 If I then your Lord and master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

This is not a commandment to wash feet any more than “eat my flesh” is an encouragement for cannibalism. Christ was not replacing one ritual with another one. The whole point of this exercise by Christ is not verse 14, but verse 15: For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done unto you (vs 15). Spiritual maturity reveals this has nothing to do with washing feet that don’t even need washing. It has everything to do with simply serving one another.

As is always the case, a babe will prefer the type over the reality. Washing someone’s already clean feet is not a foot-washing at all. Helping a brother in need, serving in any way needed, is truly “washing one another’s feet.”

I hope this is of some use to you. I’ll close with the prayer that Paul had for the Romans after expressing his thoughts on this subject: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Christ Jesus (Rom 15:5).

Your brother in Christ,

Mike Vinson