The Lord’s Supper – You are what you eat

The Lord’s Supper – You are what you eat

Have you ever heard the popular expression, “You are what you eat”?  The idea is that if you eat bad foods you’ll feel bad but if you eat good foods you’ll feel good. So if I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and chicken and fish I’ll probably be healthy, but if I eat lots of ice-cream and spam I’m probably be unhealthy. You are what you eat. 

Think about this concept as we come to the Lord’s table. What are we eating here? What are we feeding on? In the words of institution Jesus invites us to feed on him.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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.” (ESV)

How do we feed on Christ? We feed on him spiritually by remembering his life, death, and resurrection. We feed on him by remembering the gospel message—that if we repent of our sins and put our faith in him he will give us eternal life. We feed on him by remembering he is Lord and Savior of all. By our faith in Christ we feed on Christ. You are what you eat. Maybe a better way is, “You are who you eat.” If you want to be like Christ feed on Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:25-26 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “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. (ESV)

This week we’ve all been eating other things. We’ve been eating the victories and defeats of relationships and life. We’ve been eating media and entertainment. We’ve been eating busyness and self-justification. We’ve been eating work work and more work. Whatever you’ve been eating this week, whatever you’ve been looking to for comfort and peace, let’s stop eating that for just a moment and eat and drink Jesus by focusing on him.

If you’ve never taken the Lord’s Supper before you are welcome to join us. You just need to confess your sins and put your faith and trust in Christ Jesus. The only requirement for taking the Supper is being a disciple of his. If that’s not you, would you let the meal pass you by? But if it is you, think about what it means that you are what you eat and come and feed on Christ.

Pastor Jonathan Romig wrote this reflection on the Lord’s Supper.