TEXT: Mark 14:12-16,22-25; John 13:2,4-17; 1 Corinthians 11:27-30
OBJECTIVE
The students will be able to explain that the Lord’s Supper is the means by which believers commemorate the death of Christ. They will learn the scriptural requirement for participation and be able to relate that Christ’s washing of His disciples’ feet was an example to us.
REFERENCE INFORMATION
The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the death of Christ for our sins: His death as being the means of our righteousness, the union between Christ and us, and our expectant hope in Christ until He comes.
The emblems used represent the Body and Blood of Christ. The bread suggests the staff of life, the basis of life itself. The breaking of bread shows the breaking of Christ’s Body in redemptive sacrifice. The fruit of the vine represents the Blood of Christ. Together they symbolize the sacrifice of the very life of Christ. As a memorial to Christ’s death, the Lord’s Supper is a renewal of obedience to Christ’s will—an acknowledgement that our salvation is solely through the broken Body and shed Blood of Christ.
The ordinance of Foot Washing is as important as any other ordinance. It is a specific command of Jesus which we must obey, and a child of God will look upon this observance as a privilege. Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).
QUESTIONS
“Something ordained or decreed by God,” is one definition of an ordinance. Many accept the Lord’s Supper as being ordained by God, while relegating Foot Washing to insignificance, even though both were set forth by Jesus as ordinances to be observed by His followers. God had instructed the Jews to keep the Passover feast once a year. Jesus was keeping the Passover feast with His disciples, and during the meal, He instructed His disciples to observe another supper—the Lord’s Supper. Though there is no saving grace in the ordinance itself, it depicts the total work of Christ in man’s behalf.
- The Children of Israel were to take a lamb from the flock on the tenth day of the month and keep it separate until the fourteenth day when they were to kill it in the evening and eat it roasted with fire. They were to place the blood over their doors. What did this point to?
Response: This pointed to the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who would take away our sins. Ask your students what benefit staying “under the blood” brought at the time of the establishing of the Passover. Liken that to the necessity for Christians today to keep the Blood of Christ over their lives.
- What does our observance of the Lord’s Supper point to?
Response: It points back to the death of Jesus on the Cross. It also points forward to the time when the believers will drink the fruit of the vine new with Christ in His Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Discuss with your students what a memorial is: something that serves to help people remember some person or event. Perhaps your students can cite some examples of memorials to famous people or events. Help them see that this service is a memorial to Christ and His death, a Personage and event worthy of far greater acclaim and honor than any earthly figure or event.
- What do we partake of at the Lord’s Supper? What is represented by the bread? by the grape juice?
Response: It points back to the death of Jesus on the Cross. It also points forward to the time when the believers will drink the fruit of the vine new with Christ in His Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Discuss with your students what a memorial is: something that serves to help people remember some person or event. Perhaps your students can cite some examples of memorials to famous people or events. Help them see that this service is a memorial to Christ and His death, a Personage and event worthy of far greater acclaim and honor than any earthly figure or event.
- The disciples and Jesus were present at the first Lord’s Supper. These men were His most trusted followers, those closest to Him. Explain who is to partake of the Lord’s Supper today by defining what is meant by the word unworthily in 1 Corinthians 11:27. Explain what it means in the next verse when it says, “let a man examine himself.”
Response: Those who partake must be born-again believers. They must be sure the Blood has been applied to their heart before partaking of the sacred emblems—otherwise they do so unworthily. Those who partake receive the symbolic emblems as a continual commemoration of the time when God’s mercy drew them into grace and imparted Christ’s righteousness to them. If this has not taken place, they commemorate the event unworthily. It means to search one’s heart. Ask your students why it is necessary for the Christian to examine himself. How do we do this? Bring out that we do this by reading of the Bible and prayer, to see if anything has entered into the heart that shouldn’t be there.
- Explain what it means to discern the Lord’s body.
Response: Ask your students why we should strive with all spiritual and physical capabilities to understand the full meaning of the offering made for us on Calvary. When one partakes of the emblems by faith, that is, “discerning the Lord’s body,” it brings one into contact with Him. If one is diseased or sick, he has the right to believe that Christ’s Blood will make him every whit whole.
- How did Jesus’ washing the disciples’ feet differ from the foot-washing customs of the day?
Response: The original institution of the ordinance was not, as some have said, merely one of the customs or practices of Christ’s time, when the feet of the guests were washed upon their arrival before the meal and not after its completion. This ordinance is not for sinners, but for those who are saved. It is very necessary for the saints to observe this (John 13:8).
- Why did Peter change his mind after first telling Jesus, “Thou shalt never wash my feet?”
Response: See John 13:8 for the words that caused Peter to change his mind. Ask your students if they feel the Lord would place the same importance on taking part in Foot Washing today if we want to have a part with Him. They should conclude that we have no reason to think the Lord would deem it any less necessary in our day.
- 1 Timothy 5:10 lists several good works which Paul said were commendable. What are they?
Response: The works are: brought up children, lodged strangers, washed the saints’ feet, and relieved the afflicted. These works were commendable in Paul’s day. Ask your students if the same works are commendable today. It might be interesting to point out that this verse in 1 Timothy is the only reference, besides John 13, that shows the observance of the washing of the saints’ feet. In 1 Corinthians 11:20-31 we read that divisions had arisen as to the observance of the Lord’s Supper. However, apparently no confusion had come up regarding Foot Washing, as no further directive was given to the Church concerning its observance.
- Read Matthew 28:19-20. How does this Scripture relate to Foot Washing?
Response: The students should understand that the disciples were commanded to teach others to observe all things whatsoever Jesus had commanded. How then can the ordinance of Foot Washing be excluded?
CLASS ACTIVITIES
Bring emblems (wafer and grape juice) to class, explaining what each means and how we observe the Lord’s Supper. Be sure that you do not give to students—only show and explain.
Bring a basin and towel to class. Explain how these objects are used in a Foot Washing service.
Have your students share some good memories of their special family occasions: some exciting times on a vacation, a tradition practiced by the family at Christmastime, the feelings of excitement and joy over a birth or wedding, etc. Share some of your own memories of celebrations, surprises, or even family jokes and sayings that are really special to just your own family. Point out how these things are most enjoyed and appreciated by those who participated—family members. Just so with the ordinance service, we cannot participate in remembrance of Him unless we are part of the Family.
Bring a bell to class. Discuss with students the uses or need for a bell: In a classroom a bell is used as a reminder that it is time to change classes or go to lunch. A church bell reminds those who hear it that it is time for worship. Many of us use a timer in the kitchen so that when the bell rings we are reminded the cake is done or it’s time to put something on to cook. Jesus wanted to be sure His followers would remember that it was His death which gave them spiritual life, so He initiated the Lord’s Supper and told them to observe and do it “in remembrance of me.” The ordinances are our reminders of something we never want to forget.
Bring a box of greeting cards to class. Ask the students how often they send or receive a card. Why do they do this? Because they or someone else remembered some special occasion. Jesus wants to be remembered too, so He instituted the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper and said for us to observe it “in remembrance” of Him.
Bring a calendar to class and go through it month by month and have your students note special holidays, maybe even their birthdays. Then point out that one of the factors making these occasions special is that they don’t occur every day. We have time to look forward to and prepare for those occasions we celebrate. Observing the ordinances only quarterly sets them apart from our other services and makes them special.
RESOURCE MATERIALS
- Tract No. 69 — Ordinances
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