Bobby Jamieson's Understanding the Lord’s Supper

 

In Understanding the Lord’s Supper, Bobby Jamieson provides a clear and insightful exploration of the Lord’s Supper. In the first five chapters, he examines key biblical passages related to the ordinance, including the Passover, Jesus’ institution of the Lord’s Supper, Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Chapters 6 through 10 address essential questions about the Lord’s Supper: its nature and significance, its purpose, who is eligible to partake, the appropriate setting for its observance, and who should administer it. The final chapters, 11 and 12, offer guidance on how churches should celebrate the Lord’s Supper and how individuals should approach it.

In his chapter “The Right Company,” Jamieson shares a truth that has deeply resonated with me, and I wholeheartedly embrace his perspective. Before reading this, I saw the Lord’s Supper as a sacred moment where the Gospel is something we hear and see. But Jamieson beautifully expands this, writing, “In the Lord’s Supper, the Gospel becomes not just something we hear, or even something we see, but something we eat.” I am captivated by this phrase, “eating the Gospel,” because it so vividly captures the heart of the Lord’s Supper. As Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:16, this meal is a “participation” in the body and blood of Christ. The bread represents Christ’s body, broken for us, and the wine represents His blood, poured out for the forgiveness of our sins (Matthew 26:26-28). When we, as baptized believers, partake of these elements in faith, we engage with the reality of Christ’s sacrifice in a tangible way—through taste and touch, not just hearing or seeing.

In the chapter “Come Together,” Jamieson offers a profound insight into 1 Corinthians 11:29, particularly the phrase “recognize the body.” He explains that it basically means perceiving and living out the connection between love for Christ and love for His people. Jamieson powerfully notes that we cannot proclaim Christ’s death while harboring disdain for His people. This interpretation is deeply rooted in the passage’s context. As baptized believers, we are called to examine ourselves before partaking in the Lord’s Supper, ensuring that our love for Christ flows into genuine care for His body, the church. Thus, as Jamieson beautifully concludes, the Lord’s Supper is a sacred moment of uniting to cherish Christ and care for one another.

In the chapter "Best for Last," Jamieson articulates a truth that resonates deeply with Christian belief, reinforcing the hope that every born-again believer holds: the confident expectation of King Jesus’ return to reign in glory. This future hope assures us of a time when sorrow, pain, and sin will cease to exist. Jamieson’s words serve as a powerful reminder to anticipate the return of our King with longing. Often, during the Lord’s Supper, I reflect on the cross—Christ’s redemptive work—and examine my heart, yet I seldom look forward to the coming Kingdom. Jamieson draws attention to the Scripture where Jesus declares, “I tell you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). He emphasizes, “The Lord’s Supper does not merely look back to the cross; it also looks forward to the coming of God’s Kingdom.” Through Jamieson’s insight, I am reminded that the Lord’s Supper is an ideal moment to anticipate the glorious future when King Jesus returns to reign. This perspective strengthens Christians, sustaining us through our pilgrimage in a fallen world.

In the chapter discussing the Lord’s Supper, Bobby Jamieson offers a profound insight that resonates deeply: “The Lord’s Supper actually makes many one.” This truth originates not from Jamieson but from Scripture itself, and his exposition brings this beautiful reality to light. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 10:16–17, Paul teaches that partaking in the Lord’s Supper is an act of communion with Christ, allowing believers to experience the benefits of His death. Furthermore, Paul emphasizes that “we who are many are one body,” highlighting the unifying power of this ordinance. This perspective has reshaped my understanding, as I had not previously considered the Lord’s Supper as a central act in fostering church unity. I am now convinced that it plays a vital role in maintaining the oneness of the body of Christ. Those who administer the Lord’s Supper should seize the opportunity to proclaim and promote this unity, reinforcing the church’s shared identity in Christ.

In his discussion of the appropriate context for the Lord’s Supper, Bobby Jamieson offers a provocative yet biblically grounded perspective that has challenged my previous assumptions. He strongly contends that the Lord’s Supper should be celebrated solely within the gathered assembly of a local church, excluding settings such as family gatherings, campus ministries, retreat centers, or college classes. He even argues that a subset of a local church is not an appropriate context for this ordinance. This teaching led me to reflect on my involvement in a parachurch ministry conference, where I played a key role in administering the Lord’s Supper. Upon careful reflection, informed by Scripture and Jamieson’s exposition, I now recognize that this was an error. I am fully persuaded that the Lord’s Supper should be observed only by the entire gathered body of a local church.

I wholeheartedly recommend Understanding the Lord’s Supper by Bobby Jamieson to my friend Ryan. Thanks to Brother Jiby’s generosity, the Understanding Series is available at no cost, and I am eager to pass this book along to Ryan. While the content is foundational, it has profoundly corrected my error and deepened my insight into the Lord’s Supper. I am confident that this book will similarly impart wisdom and understanding to Ryan, equipping him to lead the church with greater clarity and effectiveness.