UNITED BY THE SUPPER

Dirk Philips (1504-1568), early Mennonite theologian wrote,

“The harmony and fellowship of the believers are also portrayed and typified in the bread and wine of the Supper. In order to show the significance of this fellowship, the Lord chose and ordained such signs in the Supper as are everywhere available, and which by their form alert and persuade people toward such a communion. For as the bread is made of many grains broken and ground together, and out of many grains has come one loaf of bread in which every little kernel has lost its individual body and form; and likewise as the grapes, by changing their form become the body of a common wine and drink, so also must all Christians be united with Christ and with one another.

First they must be United with Christ, whom they received by faith and who becomes their nourishment. For there is no closer intimacy nor anything more inseparable than the union of food with those who are fed, for the food is taken and becomes changed in its nature, and becomes one with the one fed. Thus also Christians by faith just Christ are wholly United with him and incorporated in him, yea, transformed and changed so as to be like him in kind and nature. Therefore Christ takes such an interest in their behalf that he who harms them harms Christ himself.  Again, he that does good to them does it to Christ , he himself says: “What you have done to one of the least of my brothers, you have done it to me” (Mt. 25:40).

Through this fellowship and love of Christ love must in turn be so enkindled in Christians that they consider the infirmities and needs of all Christians as being common to all, taking to themselves their condition and needs and thus becoming a community Through The Love which Bears one another’s burdens, and thus fulfills the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
Third, the bread and wine in the supper are a token of remembrance of the bitter suffering and innocent death and shedding of blood of Jesus Christ, namely, that by it we remember that Christ Jesus in his great love gave his body and shed his blood for us. “He has made it to be a remembrance, and the gracious, merciful Lord has given food to those who fear him” (Psalm 111:3-5). He has instituted a Supper with the bread and wine for the believers that thereby they should remember his suffering and death.”

“Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus