“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'”

Corrective teaching is in order, so now we turn to the essential meaning of what Paul calls “the Lord’s Supper” (1 Cor. 11:20). This terminology was unique to Paul, found only here in his writings. And it is one of the earliest historical records of this Christian ritual (ca. 55 A.D.), with the Gospel of Matthew’s record being recorded near the same time (ca. 50–55 A.D.). Paul writes here, not as an eyewitness, but yet with authority as having received this teaching from the Lord. By this he could mean direct revelation, or he could be referring to that which he received from the other apostles as tantamount to receiving it from the Lord. The story of the Upper Room supper was most likely circulating among the Christians as part of the so-called “sayings of Christ” among the Christians before the full story of Christ had been put into writing. But Paul here is stamping the story with apostolic imprimatur, that is, this teaching is divine truth.

The Lord’s Supper (variously called by some Christians today “communion” or “the Lord’s table” or even badly rendered “the eucharist”) had at its core remembrance of the historical fact, the theological truth, the spiritual reality of Christ’s giving His physical body up for us. The symbolism given to memorialize this is bread that is broken. Simple, memorable, profound, central. Many things the Lord taught His disciples to do, and with much of His teachings, he began with, “Truly, truly” (or translated, “Verily, verily” or “Amen, amen”). But this symbolic remembrance of His death is simply but clearly stated, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Nothing could be clearer.

We may struggle with interpreting Jesus’ parables; we may wrestle with miraculous signs, what they mean, and whether they are for us to duplicate today. We may find ourselves bewildered when we contemplate deeply His “I am.” Great books have been written about His High Priestly prayer of John 17. But the command of the Lord to remember His death in the Lord’s Supper is unmitigated by any philosophical cogitations. It is simple, clear, poignant: “Do this in remembrance of Me.” We must remember to do this; we must do it to remind ourselves of what is central to our faith. We must never forget, as we can so easily do, that though others may betray Him, we will loyally obey His simple commandment and remember Him.

Lord, I worship You as I remember what You have done for me.