". . . take, eat: this is my body . . ." (I Corinthians 11: 24.)

Scriptural References: Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 22:19, I Corinthians 11:24.

In the symbols of the Lord's Supper the bread represents the broken body of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the believer raises the bread to his Ups he is to remember the broken body of Jesus.

The precious body of Jesus!! In our meditations upon the broken body our thoughts first turn to that wonderful miracle of the Virgin Birth. Isaiah wrote, over 700 years before Christ, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel! God with us!!

God tabernacled in flesh!!!

This thought inspired John to write: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." Paul called him the "image of the invisible God." Again in Philippians Paul writes "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

This is my body, Jesus said!! The tabernacle of God!!

WHY?

Why was it necessary for Jesus to be "made flesh?" What was the purpose of God tabernacling himself in flesh? Many things come to mind. He assumed a nature like unto our own and thus took on our sorrows and our griefs. Isaiah calls Him "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Paul says in Hebrews "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." And again, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

What a wonderful Saviour! Immanuel "He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows," victoriously, without defeat. We have a Saviour who knows our infirmities!! In our sorrow we look to one who conquered sorrow, in our grief to one who was victorious over grief. Jesus said, "This is my body!!" A body like unto ours that conquered sin, sorrow, weariness, pain, hunger, etc. In Him we have victory!! "This is my body which is broken for you." In our weakness and failure we are triumphant in Him!! "He was made to be sin for us."

Jesus was born that He might die!! He became incarnate in order that, in assuming a nature like unto our own, I might offer up His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree . . ." "For he hath made him to be sin for us . . ." Christ voluntarily placed Himself in the situation of fallen man as a violator of God's holy law. He holds Himself responsible for our guilt and takes upon Himself the full penalty of our sins. Jesus said, "This is my body which is broken for you."

DWELLS IN THE BELIEVER

When we partake of the bread that represents His broken body we are to remember that Christ dwells in the believer. Christ has made the believer His abiding place. Christ said, "Abide in me and I in you." Paul expressed this glorious truth in this manner: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me . . ." Again in Colossians Paul wrote ". . . Christ in you, the hope of glory." The tremendous importance of this can only be realized in the light of I John 4:4: ". . . greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." Christ liveth in each believer!! Christ, in the flesh, conquered every temptation, every sorrow, every heartache, etc.!! This is the victory, Christ in the believer, the hope of glory!

WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM

The body of our Lord was three days and three nights the grave but the grave could not hold the body of Jesus. "He is not here: for he has risen." What does this mean, this bodily resurrection? Oh, wonderful truth!! In Him we too shall rise!! "Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you."

Listen again to God's word, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." We shall be like Him!! Shout it over every sorrow, heartache, pain and grief. This is the victory.

One last thought concerning the body of Jesus and that is, we shall see Him as He is. This same Jesus is coming again, bodily and visibly. Oh. wonderful day.