Mark 14:17-25

Mark 14:17-25

1. Let us learn that self-examination should precede the reception of the Lord's Supper.
2. Let us learn that the principal object of our Lord's Supper, is to remind us of Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross.
3. Finally the nature of the spiritual benefits which the Lord's supper was intended to convey, and the persons who have a right to expect them.

"The bread which we there eat, and the wine which we there drink, have no power to do good to our souls, as medicine does good to our bodies, without the co-operation of our hearts and wills."

"It is a dreadful thing to be unfit for the sacrament, for this is to be unfit to die."

"It will produce in us true humility of spirit. The bread and wine, will remind us how sinful sin must be, when nothing but Christ's death could atone for it. It will produce in us hopefulness about our souls. The bread and wine will remind us that though our sins are great, a great price has been paid for our redemption. Not least, it will produce in us gratitude. The bread and wine will remind us how great is our debt to Christ, and how deeply bound we are to glorify Him in our lives."

"Faith is the one grand means of communication between the soul and Christ. The Lord's supper can aid, quicken, and confirm faith, but can never supersede it, or supply its absence. Let this never be forgotten. Error on this point is a most fatal delusion, and leads to many superstitions."

Questions:

1. Have we ever not taken the Lord’s Supper due to feelings of being unworthy, not realizing that its not unworthy persons but unworthy participation that is the problem?

2. When we do take, what do we think about? Is it just a rote thing we do, or do our minds consider the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? Does our meditation result in humility as we take?

3. When we take of the Table, does it simplify our faith – reminding us of the main thing – and does it give grace to trust Jesus more?