"A Small Cracker and Thimble-Sized Amount of Juice"

Steven J. Wallace

"They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea" (Psa. 106:21, 22).

After Israel was scattered among the Gentiles, the Psalmist contemplates the rebellious posture of Israel when they departed from Egypt. The 106th Psalm also relates how the people failed to destroy the idol-worshipers of the land and became influenced by them, mingling with them, learning their works, serving their gods, and even sacrificing their sons and daughters to demons (Psa. 106:34-38). This Psalm explains why the people of God were taken away into captivity and scattered abroad.

We also must be careful of the world's influence today. Are we allowing the world to lull us to sleep and to forget God? Have we forgotten His awesome works of healing the sick, walking on water, raising the dead, rising from the dead, and ascending into the heavens to make intercession for us? God had interacted and interjected Himself into the world's affairs throughout the Old Testament on various occasions. But no work is as great and profound as when He sent His only begotten Son to enter into this world where through giving up His life in the shedding of blood, life would be found for sinners. It set in motion a movement that changed the world and turned it upside down (Acts 17:6). A remnant of faithful ones has continued to exist on earth ever since. The movement survived the hardest and most violent of times that the world could produce against it. The work of Christ is real, is relevant, and is permanent. So real and impactful it is, that we in fact, reference time in connection to the Lord as B.C. and A.D.

When we gather with the church, we remember Jesus of Nazareth's greatest work in the Lord's Supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7)! Think of it, the all-powerful Creator entering into the creation to live as a man and deliver over His life so that we can live through His death! What an awesome work to give relief to those overwhelmed in debt of sin, to give hope and joy to those stooped in despair, and to give life to the spiritually walking dead (Eph. 2:1-7).

Now there is scornful criticism and confusion published by the world against the church and the Lord's Supper. Some have mocked the church of Christ for eating only a small cracker and drinking a thimble-sized amount of juice. This uneducated view thinks that it cannot be a "supper" or "feast" with such a small quantity of food and drink. The uninformed and worldly voices chime in that such a small amount "is confusing." There are three important facts that these people have forgotten or never observed at all.

Matthew 26:26-29:

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
28 "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
First, they have forgotten that the Lord's Supper was instituted during the Passover which began the Days of Unleavened Bread (see, Matt. 26:17). All leaven was removed from the houses.

First, they have forgotten that the Lord's Supper was instituted during the Passover which began the Days of Unleavened Bread (see, Matt. 26:17). All leaven was removed from the houses.

Second, Jesus only took the emblems of unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine to represent His offering. This fact is important. Notice, "This is my body," (Matt. 26:26). What is "this"? It is the unleavened bread. Also observe, "This is my blood," (Matt. 26:28). What is His blood? The fruit of the vine! The Lord didn't bring in the meat of the lamb or the dish of bitter sauce that they dipped into (Matt. 26:23). He selected only these two elements to be consumed in the Lord's Supper memorial.

Third, the nature of the "supper" and the "feast" is not carnal or physical (1 Cor. 11:22, 34). Rather, it is a spiritual feast set up as a memorial service. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me," (1 Cor. 11:24, 25). To those who think it cannot be a supper or feast unless the quantity of food is served in great proportions, I would kindly remind them that the Lord said not to labor for the food that perishes but for the food that endures to everlasting life (Jn. 6:27).

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