II. The need for the holy feast

The holy feast which is practiced and followed in the church of God is done by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19). Lord Jesus Christ has told us to do this in remembrance of him. Also Lord Jesus Christ has given commandment in Matthew 28:19-20, ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” So these are the commandments of God. So we have to follow these commandments for sure.

1. Spiritual food

Israelites lived in the wilderness for forty years. Their crossing of red sea symbolizes baptism, the manna they ate refers to the spiritual food, and the water they drank refers to the spiritual drink. “They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (I Cor. 10:2-4).

Since the food that they had was very different from that of the regular food that people used to take that was referred to as spiritual drink and spiritual food. After those years even Israelites did not receive that food. But the church of the New Testament period had received the bread and the cup which were in turn referred to the spiritual drink and spiritual food. The believers of the church of God have been commanded to take part in this holy feast.

2. Fellowship with God

Holy feast is the sacrament for the believers of the church to have fellowship with God. In I Corinthians 10:16 we read “Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?”

1. Fellowship with the body of the Lord Jesus Christ: The bread we share in the holy feast helps us to have fellowship with the body of Christ. Since the body of the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, several blessings has been created. When we receive in faith the bread that is shared in the holy feast, we will have fellowship with the body of Christ. We will achieve the qualification to part take in the blessings the Lord Jesus Christ had earned for us.
2. Fellowship with the blood of Lord Jesus Christ: Lord Jesus Christ had earned more than 15 blessings for the humanity through the shedding of his blood on the cross. We can read those blessings in the following verses mentioned in the bible. Hebrews 12:24, 25; Ephesians 2:13-20; Colossians 1:12-15; I John 1:7; Revelation 1:6; Hebrews 13:12; Hebrews 9:14; Colossians 1:20; John 6:56; Revelation 12:11; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 10;19,20; Hebrews 9:12; John 6:54; Romans 5:8, 9; Acts 20:28; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:9, 10. When a believer receive by faith the grape juice that is been given in the holy feast, he can own thosegoodness through the blood of Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

3. Spiritual growth

Holy feast is not offered to all the people who participate in the church worship. Holy feast is shared to the believers, who had become members of the church through baptism. Believers who have received the Holy Spirit are babes in Christ. Later they have to become matured and they should also grow into God’s children, youth in Christ, and men of God in Christ. The spiritual experiences are instrumental in making people to become the men of God. In addition to this, holy feast also facilitates spiritual growth. Through the prophecies mentioned in Zechariah 9:17 we understand that holy feast actually facilitate spiritual growth. “How attractive and beautiful they will be! Grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women.”

4. Lord’s supper

In Matthew 26:20 it is written that when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. In the early church the holy feast was conducted only in the night. We could understand this while reading Acts 20:7, 11 “On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.” Therefore this is called as Lord’s Supper. When we read I Corinthians 11:20 we are sure of that. “So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.”

5. Part with Christ

Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples before Lord’s Supper and wiped their feet with his towel. In John 13:14-15 we read exactly what Jesus Christ himself had told about having part with him. In these verses Jesus Christ says “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Lord Jesus Christ said to Peter that if I do not wash your feet you do not have part with me. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (John 13:8). We cometo know that how important it is to wash the feet before Lord’s Supper. We comprehend that washing the feet is important for believers to learn humility and to honor one another above themselves. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10). In Matthew 11:29 Jesus Christ says “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

6. Prophetical signs

The Lord’s Supper in which we take part here is a sign that are for yet to come. Jesus Christ said to his disciples, “so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:30).We come to know that believers who take part in the holy feast or Holy Communion gets the privilege of eating and drinking at the table in the kingdom of Lord Jesus Christ. We should understand the truth that the Lord’s Supper that we practice today is not for this world alone it qualifies us to live the life which we are going to live in heaven.

7. Not being accused

Nobody should accuse us of the way in which we practice Lord’s Supper. In Colossians 2:16 it is written “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.” Taking part in this bread and taking part in this cup have already been fulfilled by our Lord himself. When a person adds anything to the Law and order established by the Lord Jesus Christ he would loose the grace of the Lord. Therefore we should follow Lord’s Supper as per the guidance given in the word of God. If not, we will give room for others to accuse us on the way in which we practice Lord’s Supper. Let us not give room for such accusation.