Remembering the Cross: Communion, Repentance, and Return

Paul calls the church at Corinth to remember what it received from the Lord: on the night Jesus was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave the cup as the new covenant in His blood. The table is not a casual religious routine. The bread points to the body of Jesus, beaten, flogged, mocked, pierced, and nailed to a cross though He had done absolutely nothing wrong.

Isaiah 53 shows that Jesus bore sicknesses, carried pains, was pierced for rebellion, crushed for iniquity, and punished so sinners could have peace. Matthew 27 shows those prophetic words playing out in terrible detail. The King who put the moon where it belongs was spat upon, crowned with thorns, struck on the head, stripped, and led away to die. His body was given because no sinful person could die for another sinner's sins. Only the spotless Lamb could take away sin.

The cup points to the blood of Jesus, and without that blood there is no hope and no church. Ephesians calls redemption being purchased back through His blood, with forgiveness flowing from the riches of His grace. Hebrews shows that the blood of goats and calves could never do what Christ's own blood has done once for all: cleanse the conscience from dead works so redeemed people can serve the living God. Baptism displays identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, but Jesus alone saves and cleanses.

Paul also says that eating the bread and drinking the cup proclaims the Lord's death until He comes. Communion therefore declares that Jesus died, rose again, ascended, and is returning. The reality of Christ's return makes the gospel urgent. Death can come suddenly, wealth cannot purchase eternal life, and followers of Jesus cannot be ashamed of the One who gave Himself for them.

The table belongs to those who have been bought by the precious blood of the Lamb. Those uncertain of salvation are called to confess sin, repent, and believe that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Those who belong to Christ yet are living in unrepentant sin are called to make their hearts right before receiving the elements. First John promises forgiveness to those who confess, while Psalm 51 calls for a broken spirit and a clean heart. Christ lives in His people, and their lives are no longer to be about themselves but about Jesus, in the workplace, school, neighborhood, and home.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Remember the body given for sinners Jesus did not suffer in a vague or symbolic way. His body was beaten, pierced, mocked, and exposed before the world, though He never sinned in thought, word, or deed. The bread calls believers to slow down and reckon honestly with the cost of their forgiveness. [35:41]
• 2. The blood purchased eternal redemption Christ's blood does more than stir emotion or remind believers of a sad event. His blood purchases sinners back from an empty way of life and cleanses consciences from dead works. Grace is free to the recipient, but it was never cheap. [38:22]
• 3. Communion proclaims Christ will return The table looks back to Calvary, but it also looks ahead to the return of the King. Every time believers receive the elements, they confess that death did not defeat Jesus and that history is moving toward His appearing. That hope gives gospel witness real urgency. [43:28]
• 4. Examine the heart before receiving The elements are for those who belong to Jesus and are willing to walk seriously with Him. Unrepentant sin cannot be treated lightly before a holy God, yet confession opens the way to real cleansing. A broken and humbled heart is not rejected by God. [47:34]
• 5. Christians cannot be ashamed of Jesus Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Him. Faith that remains hidden at work, school, home, or in the neighborhood has forgotten the price Christ paid. The precious blood that saves also sends believers into the paths of people who need to hear.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:47] - Paul’s Words About the Lord’s Supper
• [30:02] - Remember the Sacrifice of Jesus
• [31:23] - Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant
• [32:54] - Jesus Flogged, Mocked, and Crucified
• [36:35] - The Bread Represents Christ’s Body
• [37:23] - Redemption Through Christ’s Blood
• [38:22] - Christ’s Blood Cleanses the Conscience
• [41:20] - Proclaiming His Death Until He Comes
• [43:28] - The Urgency of Sharing the Gospel
• [46:26] - Who Should Receive the Elements
• [47:34] - Confession, Repentance, and a Clean Heart
• [49:37] - A Call to Commitment and Faithfulness
• [51:15] - Prayer for Salvation and Witness

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 11:23-26
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
[26:47]

Isaiah 53:4-7
Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.
[31:41]

Matthew 27:24-31
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around him. They stripped him and dressed him in a scarlet robe. They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. And they knelt down before him and mocked him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” Then they spat on him, took the staff, and kept hitting him on the head. After they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.
[32:54]

Ephesians 1:7-8
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.
[37:53]

Hebrews 9:11-14
But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?
[38:14]

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[47:38]

Psalm 51:9-10
Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
[48:08]

Observation questions

1. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, what actions does Jesus take with the bread and the cup, and what does He tell His followers to remember?
2. Isaiah 53 says that “we all went astray,” while Jesus was pierced, crushed, and punished. What contrast does the passage make between the sinfulness of people and the innocence of the suffering Servant? [32:09]
3. What details in Matthew 27 show the physical suffering and public humiliation Jesus endured before He was crucified? [35:41]
4. According to Ephesians 1 and Hebrews 9, what does Christ’s blood accomplish that the former sacrifices could not accomplish? [38:42]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus says that the bread is His body “for you.” What does this reveal about why Jesus’ sinless life mattered for sinners who need forgiveness? [36:35]
2. Paul says that receiving the bread and cup proclaims the Lord’s death “until he comes.” How does Christ’s promised return give deeper meaning and urgency to communion? [43:03]
3. Hebrews says that Christ’s blood cleanses consciences from dead works so that people may serve the living God. What might “dead works” look like in a believer’s everyday life?
4. First John promises forgiveness and cleansing to those who confess their sins. How is genuine confession different from simply feeling bad after being caught or facing consequences? [47:38]

Application questions

1. When communion is received, is it easy to treat the bread and cup as a familiar routine? What could help each person slow down, pray, and remember the real cost of Christ’s body and blood? [36:46]
2. Is there a particular sin, habit, relationship, or area of life that needs honest confession before God? What would it look like to ask Him for a clean heart and a steadfast spirit this week? [48:08]
3. Christ’s blood offers forgiveness that no person can earn or deserve. Where does a person most need to stop trying to prove worthiness to God and instead receive His grace with humility and gratitude? [41:05]
4. Jesus is returning, and the people around believers need the hope of the gospel. Who is one person each group member could pray for by name and seek an opportunity to encourage or share Christ with this week? [52:06]
5. In what setting is it hardest to be open about following Jesus: at work, school, home, or in the neighborhood? What is one simple and loving way a believer could be less ashamed of Jesus in that setting? [49:37]
6. Christ lives in His people, so life is no longer centered on self. What is one decision in the coming week where that truth could shape a person’s words, priorities, or actions? [48:46]