Call to Worship June 23 2019
The Lord’s Supper by Thomas Watson
“Branch 1. Was Christ’s body broken for us? Let us be deeply affected with the great love of Christ. Who can tread upon these hot coals, and his heart not burn? Cry out with Ignatius, ’Christ, my love, is crucified!’ If a friend should die for us—would not our hearts be much affected with his kindness? That the God of heaven should die for us—how should this stupendous mercy have a melting influence upon us! The body of Christ broken—is enough to break the most flinty heart. At our Savior’s passion, the very rocks cleaved asunder. ‘The rocks split apart,’ Matthew 27:51. He who is not affected with Christ’s love—has a heart harder than the rocks! If Saul was so affected with David’s mercy in sparing his life, 1 Samuel 24:16, how may we be affected with Christ’s kindness who, to spare our life—lost His own! Let us pray that, as Christ was fastened to the cross—so may He be fastened to our hearts.
Branch 2. Is Jesus Christ spiritually exhibited to us in the Lord’s Supper? Let us then set a high value and estimate upon Him.
1. Let us prize Christ’s BODY. Every crumb of this Bread of life is precious. ‘My flesh is food indeed,’ John 6:55. The manna was a lively type and emblem of Christ’s body, for manna was sweet. ‘The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey.’ Exodus 16:31. It was a delicious food. Therefore it was called angel’s food for its excellency. So Christ, the sacramental manna, is sweet to a believer’s soul. ‘His fruit was sweet to my taste,’ Song of Solomon 2:3. Everything of Christ is sweet. His name is sweet. His virtue is sweet. This manna sweetens the bitter waters of Marah.
Nay, Christ’s flesh excels manna. Manna was food—but not medicine. If an Israelite had been sick, manna could not have cured him. But this blessed manna of Christ’s body, is not only for food—but for medicine! Christ has healing under His wings, Malachi 4:2. He heals the blind eye, the hard heart. Keep this medicine next to your heart—and it will heal you of all your spiritual distempers.
Also, manna was corruptible. It ceased when Israel came to Canaan. But this blessed manna of Christ’s body will never cease. The saints will feed with infinite delight and soul satisfaction upon Christ to all eternity! The joys of heaven would cease—if this manna would cease. The manna was put in a golden pot in the ark to be preserved there. So the blessed manna of Christ’s body, being put in the golden pot of the Divine nature, is laid up in the ark of heaven for the support of saints forever. Well, then, may we say of Christ’s blessed body—it is food indeed. In the field of Christ’s body, being dug upon the cross—we find the pearl of salvation!”