Should there be only 1 cup
in our Love Feast? 一杯進聖餐?
Some Christian Denominations/churches like to share one cup in Holy Communion(The Lord's Supper).
There is no Bible reference in the Torah of Moses that people should drink from one cup at each congregation.
No reference of a single cup or a single piece of bread for Passover.
There is no reference of drinking one drink or from one cup in the Torah.
Exodus 43 - The Lord's Passover
v39. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victuals.
v46. In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
v47. All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
v48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Jehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
v49. One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
v50. Thus did all the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
v51. And it came to pass the selfsame day, that Jehovah did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
The Mosaic Passover(Pesach) requires circumcision for inclusion.
v39 mentioned unleavened cakes(bread) but has not memtioned one loaf of bread or one cup. They ate more than one piece of cake. Logically, they also need more than one cup of drink to share amongst the congregation, and the families.
Many Passover lambs would have been slaughtered to symbolise one Christ, the sinless for the sinful - "imputed righteousness".
Unity is in participation of unleavened sustenances; and not in sharing just one piece of bread or just one cup of drink.
Matt 26
v26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
v27. And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
v28. for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.
v26 symbolise(speaks of) the sharing of one bread given by our Lord Jesus, the Head of the table.
v27 speaks of our Lord taking one cup and gave it to them to share.
So, one cake of bread and one cup can be shared around to symbolise unity and common sharing.
This does not imply the Love Feast and Pesach only contain one piece of bread and one cup of vine.
Mark 14
v22. And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.
v23. And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.
v24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
v25. Verily I say unto you, I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
v22 tells us that they were eating when Jesus took bread. So there was more than one cake of bread to eat and share.
v23 tells us Jesus gave thanks with one cup. This is symbolising thanks giving of all vine. When the head of the table is blessed, all are blessed.
Till this modern day, the Jewish meal sharing has the head bless the loaf and the cup, not having the cup shared around the tables.
v24 does not mention that the single cup alone contains the blood of the covenant. And the single cup was not to be used for all mankind to drink upon. Only Jesus and the 12. Yet we are still referring to the cup when we drink in memory of Him.
v25 does not refer to drinking from one single cup, but of the fruit of the vine. No mentioning that there is only a single cup for sharing in the kingdom of God.
Luke 22
v15. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
v16. for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
v17. And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
v18. for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
v19. And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
v20. And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.
v15,16 refers to a proper meal; not just a symbol or a mock meal.
v17 suggests there are more than one cup. Christ asked that the content of the cup be divided amongst the disciples.This is drinking from the same cup.
Our Lord Jesus Christ took cup after supper. He asked for the sharing of one single cup. He asked for the remembering of His covenant as often as they drink it. (Lk22 v19)
The importance is in the "Memory of Him"; not in unhygienic sharing of one single cup mouth. And yet the sharing from the single cup of Christ's blessing is in the very centre of this ritual and meal.
If people push the idea of sharing one cup, and it actually turns into blood, then they should also push the idea of partaking in the same cup used that night, which is impossible.
The idea of "Do it (likewise) as often as you drink it in rememorance of me" is not achieved by finding and using exactly the same bread and cup. The World cannot posibly share from the same vine Christ drank that night when even that very cup is not available anymore.
The whole Love Feast is a matter of Rememorance. In terms of Redemption, Christ has done it all on the cross; saying that, "It is finished".
I, Rev. David C S Lim, 林志誠 牧師, can be reached by internet 也在互聯网﹕
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耶穌基督的救恩將人從根本而終極的惡中救出來，藉著救主，死亡不再是終極的惡，它已被置於生命的力量之下。
完全的善是由耶穌而來。
在天上和地下只有耶穌基督的救恩是唯一使人的罪得赦及與神和好的途徑。