Have you ever been so excited about an event or activity that you began preparations in advance? I have. I’ve even changed outfits a million times hoping that I’ll look ‘just right’. Would we repeat an action in anticipation of the event?
Initially, I thought, No. No one wants to do the same thing over and over again. Then it registered to me that athletes train daily in preparation for their big events. We all studied or revised in anticipation of exams, so we actually do repeat actions as we prepare for events. Would we do the same for an event with Christ? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ASV
[23] For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;
[24] and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord’s death till he come.
The New Covenant 5
Initially, believers met in homes for worship. It might have begun as a convenience, but likely offered security after the persecution of believers started. Such gatherings were referred to as house churches.
Siblings, our brother Paul left nothing to chance as he ministered to the various house churches in person and through his letters. He instructed each church on doctrine, faith, and their relationships with God and each other. So, while sharing common elements, each epistle (letter) has unique components. One unique feature of this first letter to the church at Corinth was its reference to and interpretation of the Lord’s Supper. Paul was not happy with the division that was emerging from the commemoration of Y’shua’s Final Feast with His followers; i.e., the Last Supper (known also as the Eucharist, or communion).
Although observing the ritual, the rich folks ate together, leaving nothing for the working class who often arrived late. (They had to complete their duties before going to worship, it wasn’t tardiness by habit.)
Our Nougat is part of the instruction Paul shared.
Self-Check
Had we been part of the Corinthian church, would we have eaten before the others came? If we were the working class, how would we have responded to being marginalized?
Digging Deeper
In addressing the believers of the Corinthian house church, Paul’s argument had to be persuasive. We know that Paul himself was pretty persuasive in his time. Convincing wealthier members of the church to do differently required diplomacy and intentionality. Paul applied both as he shared the instructions regarding commemorating the Feast in the same way he received them from Y’shua.
Y’shua’s authority was final. For the body of believers gathered, there would be zero scope for negotiation. It was to be accorded the obedience and respect of the commandments. What Paul shared next confirmed that. Participating in that Feast was an act of covenanting with Y’shua.
In eating the bread, and drinking the wine as symbols of Christ’s body and blood, the believers were reenacting the new covenant. Paul told them that their reenactment also served as participation in the blood covenant. The nature and terms of covenant were immutable (unchanged and unchangable), they remained the same each time they were enacted. That’s where repetition became important.
The covenant wasn’t only immutable, it was to be a regular feature of their gathering. The phrase as often as is one that is used twice in the four verses. It is intended to be seen. It is intended to be observed. The Topical Lexicon, which offers commentary on the Bible’s original languages, says that the word hosakis refers to time in an open-ended manner. It is prescriptive, but not rigidity fixed to a set frequency. The Topical Lexicon further states that hosakis applies to contexts where divine purpose, covenant remembrance, or prophetic authority must remain unrestricted by a fixed schedule. Thus, the covenant is to be reenacted. And it ought to be reenacted frequently.
Reenactment isn’t so much about practice makes perfect as occurs with athletes or students. Rather, this is an invitation to recognize that we’re all sinners saved by Y’shua’s grace.
Sin breaks covenant.
Reenactment restores us in the covenant.
Reenactment reminds us of the cost of the new covenant.
Reenactment assures us that Y’shua will come again.
Reenactment reaffirms our gratitude.
Hence we reenact this new covenant as Y’shua’s community of believers – by ourselves and together – as often as we can… until the day of Christ’s return.
What does that have to do with the resurrection, you ask?
Everything
Because Y’shua’s death without resurrection invalidates His promise to eat and drink the Passover Feast with us all in Heaven. Death without a bodily resurrection is natural for humans. Raising Himself from death is Y’shua’s surety on that new blood covenant He entered us in with God. So we reenact with the confidence that Y’shua Who died, now lives, and wishes to share this Feast with us upon His return for us.
But reenacting isn’t only for our benefit. It is also proclamation. It is an act of evangelism. We will explore that aspect tomorrow. Until then, let us continue to reenact the Supper ‘as often as’ we can.
Points to Ponder
What does hosakis mean for us individually and in our communal contexts? Do we remember with appreciation?
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May all we seek be found in Christ
