“The Lord’s Evening Meal”

“To eat the Lord’s evening meal. . . . For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.”—1 Cor. 11:20-26, NW.

1. What has Jehovah provided to unify his people as one body?

JEHOVAH God has provided a cup and a table for the people upon whom his great name is called. Favored and happy are all men and women who have the privilege of participating in the cup and at the table. These things he provides in order to unify his people as one body, with all members of it at peace with one another, helping and serving one another.

2. What two classes are now brought together at Memorial, and so what question arises?

² In the world artificial methods are being tried to attain unity within human society, and yet the steady tendency is toward selfish disunity, with finally ‘every man’s hand against his neighbor’. But Jehovah’s unification work is succeeding. For nineteen centuries he has been calling, gathering and preparing the “little flock” of sheeplike men and women. (Luke 12:32) These faithfully follow the Shepherd Jesus Christ and so are to be united with him in the heavenly kingdom to reign with him for the blessing of all the families of the earth. In recent years, since the end of World War I in 1918, Jehovah has been using his Shepherd to gather other sheeplike ones, a “great crowd” of them, and they are called his “other sheep”. (Rev. 7:9-17; John 10:16) There is now only a small remnant of the “little flock” on earth within the Shepherd’s fold, but now he provides them with many companions by bringing together a great crowd of other sheep. Thus he brings about the condition which he describes as “one flock, one shepherd”. The other sheep find in the Bible that their destiny is not heavenly, but earthly. They are to inhabit forever the restored paradise on this earth and to be blessed with peace, prosperity, happiness and perfect human health by the heavenly kingdom of Jesus Christ and his little flock. So, in this condition of “one flock, one shepherd”, the question arises at Memorial time, What are the privileges of the remnant and of the great crowd respecting Jehovah’s cup and table? Difference of destiny should not create disunity among the sheep, and neither should difference of privilege do so. Happily it has been found not to do so. Why not?

3. What name did Paul give to Memorial? How did he describe it?

³ The cup of Jehovah and the table of Jehovah are spoken of in connection with the Lord’s evening meal. Likely you call it “the Lord’s supper”. (1 Cor. 11:20) This name designates the special meal which the Lord Jesus set up among his loyal followers on the night in which he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot. One of Jesus’ followers, the apostle Paul, gives it this name in his letter to the Corinthians. Calling attention to their disorderliness about the matter, he writes: “Therefore, when you come together to one place, it is not possible to eat the Lord’s evening meal. . . . For I received from the Lord that which I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf and, after giving thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This means my body which is in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.’ He did likewise respecting the cup also, after he had the evening meal, saying: ‘This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood. Keep doing this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives.”—1 Cor. 11:20-26, NW; also Moffatt’s translation.

4. How often has it been celebrated? Who now have questions on it?

⁴ The Lord Jesus died in the year 33 (A.D.). For nineteen centuries since then his obedient disciples have observed this supper, or evening meal, on the proper day of each year. The celebration of it annually until this year 1951 has meant its celebration more than 1,900 times, which makes it “often” indeed. Contrary to the claims of some religionists, Jesus personally has not had to suffer again that many times, that “often”, because the apostle Paul says not. (Heb. 9:24-26; 10:10-14) In this twentieth century a faithful remnant of his “little flock” continues obediently to observe the Lord’s evening meal, “proclaiming the death of the Lord.” But now a “great crowd” of other sheep in hundreds of thousands are associating with the remnant under the Shepherd Jesus Christ. Since the “little flock” is limited by the Scriptures to 144,000 members as a whole (Rev. 7:4-8; 14:1, 3), and since the number of copies of The Watchtower printed is some 1,235,000 in 36 languages, the majority of our readers must be outside the “little flock” and be destined for the great crowd of other sheep. As we approach another Memorial season there is no question about what the small remnant must do, but the question all these other sheep now entertain is, Shall I participate in the bread and wine with the remnant? Am I commanded to, and so must I? Is it my privilege also?

DECIDING ON PARTAKING

5-7. What participator recorded the first Memorial? What does he say?

⁵ By examining the circumstances and features of the first celebration it will help us all in determining the Bible answer to these important questions. Let us take the account of a man who was present and participated and who saw and heard what was done. He is the apostle Matthew. The other writers of accounts, Mark, Luke and Paul, were not participators. Matthew 26:17-30 reads:

⁶ “On the first day of the unleavened cakes the disciples came up to Jesus, saying: ‘Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the passover?’ He said: ‘Go into the city to so-and-so and say to him, The Teacher says: “My appointed time is near; I will celebrate the passover with my disciples at your home.’” And the disciples did as Jesus ordered them, and they got things ready for the passover. When, now, it had become evening, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples [so including Matthew]. While they were eating he said: ‘Truly I say to you, One of you will betray me.’ Being very much grieved at this, they commenced each and every one to say to him: ‘Master, it is not I, is it?’ In reply he said: ‘He that dips his hand with me in the bowl is the one that will betray me. True, the Son of man is going away, just as it is written concerning him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if that man had not been born.’ By way of reply, Judas, who was about to betray him, said: ‘It is not I, is it, Rabbi?’ He said to him: ‘That was for you to say.’”

⁷ After this exchange between Jesus and Judas, the account goes on to say: “As they continued eating, Jesus took a loaf and, after saying a blessing, he broke it and, giving it to the disciples, he said: ‘Take, eat. This means my body.’ Also he took a cup and, having given thanks, he gave it to them, saying: ‘Drink out of it, all of you; for this means my “blood of the covenant” which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will by no means drink henceforth any of this product of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom of my Father.’ Finally, after singing praises, they went out to the mount of Olives.”—NW; see also Moffatt’s translation.

8. What does John write on Jesus’ identifying of his betrayer?

⁸ Mark’s account agrees with Matthew’s above. Thus we have two writers as witnesses. The apostle John was at that first Memorial and he tells us more details about the identifying of the betrayer after Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, One of you will betray me.” So John 13:22-30 adds: “The disciples began to look at one another, being at a loss as to which one he meant. There was reclining in front of Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, and Jesus loved him. Therefore Simon Peter nodded to this one and said to him: ‘Tell who it is about whom he is speaking.’ So the latter leaned back upon the breast of Jesus and said to him: ‘Master, who is it?’ Therefore Jesus answered: ‘It is that one to whom I shall give the morsel that I dip.’ And so, having dipped the morsel, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the morsel then Satan entered into the latter. Jesus, therefore, said to him: ‘What you are doing get done more quickly.’ However, none of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose he said this to him. Some, in fact, were imagining, since Judas was holding the money-box, that Jesus was telling him: ‘Buy what things we need for the feast,’ or that he should give something to the poor. Therefore, after he received the morsel, he went out immediately. And it was night.”—NW.

9. So did Judas celebrate Memorial? What shows whether he did?

⁹ Thus by the agreement of these three witnesses we have it settled that Judas left the gathering before Jesus introduced the Memorial to the other apostles, the faithful eleven. The bread Jesus served at this Memorial was not dipped in the passover sauce before he gave it to them. Neither after setting up the Memorial did Jesus return to eating the passover and dipping morsels of bread. So Jesus served Judas with the sop and dismissed him before the new Memorial. Judas celebrated merely the passover with Jesus and his faithful apostles, just as the temple priests and captains did to whom Judas had bargained to betray Jesus. Judas was not debarred from the passover any more than they were; only all of them celebrated that passover with condemnation to themselves. Jesus let Judas be there for the passover with him that thus prophecy might have its full climax; as Jesus said: “But the result is that the scripture is fulfilled, ‘He that used to feed on my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’” (John 13:18, NW) It follows that Jesus established the Memorial with the eleven loyal apostles, and by this he indicated who were to celebrate it henceforth.

10. Why, though not spirit-begotten, could the apostles partake?

¹⁰ No, those eleven men had not yet been begotten and anointed by God’s spirit, “for as yet there was no spirit, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.” (John 7:39, NW) The spirit first came on the day of Pentecost ten days after Jesus had ascended to heavenly glory at his Father’s right hand. But Jesus had said to those apostles: “In the re-creation, when the Son of man sits down upon his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also yourselves sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:28, NW) He had also called them members of his little flock, saying: “Have no fear, little flock, because your Father has approved of giving you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32, NW) To the apostles James and John he had also said: “The cup I am drinking you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am being baptized you will be baptized.” (Mark 10:39, NW) And right after setting up the Memorial Jesus confirmed their being in line for the heavenly kingdom, when he said: “You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30, NW) In his closing prayer Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father that they might be with him in his kingdom.—John 17:24.

11. So in what way will the other sheep not qualify as those apostles later did?

¹¹ Thus the fact that the eleven apostles were not yet begotten by the spirit cannot be used as an argument that believers who are not begotten of the spirit may partake of the Memorial emblems. Fifty-one days later the holy spirit was poured out upon the apostles and they were brought forth as spiritual sons of God. After that they did celebrate the Memorial as spiritual sons of God. But those who make up the great crowd of other sheep are not in line for the heavenly kingdom and will never be begotten by God’s spirit and be resurrected to spirit life. So they never become the spiritual Israelites to whom the apostle Peter wrote: “Coming to [Christ] as to a living stone, rejected, it is true, by men, but chosen, precious, with God, you yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . you are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that you should declare abroad the excellencies’ of the one that called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”—1 Pet. 2:4-9, NW.

NOT AN ANTITYPE OF THE PASSOVER

12. What argument is raised for the other sheep to partake of it?

¹² Someone will say: “The remnant and the other sheep are now ‘one flock, one shepherd’. The other sheep are devoted to God the same as the remnant. This devoting of oneself to God was symbolized by the Jewish rite of circumcision, was it not? And were not those strangers who sojourned with the Israelites allowed to partake of the passover, if they got circumcised? And so why should not the remnant and the other sheep or stranger class all partake together in common appreciation of Jesus’ ransom sacrifice? Did not those circumcised strangers who partook of the passover make up the mixed multitude which marched out of Egypt with the Israelites, and do they not picture the ‘great crowd’ of other sheep of today? So why not all partake of Memorial?”—Ex. 12:48, 49, 38; Num. 11:4.

13, 14. Why is this no real argument for them to partake?

¹³ We answer, These things may be true, but participating in the Jewish passover is no argument for partaking of the Lord’s evening meal. Why not? Because the passover is not a type of the Lord’s evening meal.

¹⁴ In the passover the natural Jews and the circumcised strangers sojourning among them ate of a roast lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Previous to the supper, the blood of the passover lamb was sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite homes and the celebrators retired indoors under the blood to keep the passover. (Ex. 12:1-27) But when setting up the Memorial Jesus took a loaf of unleavened bread, blessed it, broke it and distributed it, saying: “This means my body which is to be given in your behalf. Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” Then he used wine to represent blood, but he did not tell his disciples to sprinkle the wine the way the lamb’s blood had been sprinkled in Egypt. Instead, he handed them the wine in a cup and told them all to drink it, that is, drink symbolic blood, saying: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.” (Luke 22:19, 20, NW) For the passover celebrators to drink the lamb’s blood would have been to violate God’s covenant with Noah concerning the sanctity of blood. Hence it would have called for the death of the drinkers. But Jesus told his disciples to drink the symbol of blood, the wine. So in a very important respect there is no correspondency between passover and Memorial, and the passover does not typify the Memorial. Celebrating passover does not picture celebrating the Christian Memorial.

15. What Israelites first celebrated, and afterward what Gentiles?

¹⁵ For the first four celebrations of the Memorial (A.D. 33-36) those who participated were Jews, proselytes and circumcised Samaritans. They were not the average Israelites who were entitled to partake of the passover. They were the remnant of the Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah sent by God and who were baptized. Three and a half years after Jesus instituted the Memorial the apostle Peter was sent to the home of the Italian centurion Cornelius. From then on the uncircumcised non-Jews or Gentiles turned to Jehovah God and accepted Jesus as His Messiah and they were baptized in his name and admitted to the Memorial table and its emblems. Jehovah God the Father begot them as his spiritual sons and anointed them with his spirit to preach the kingdom of God. (Acts 10:1 to 11:18; Daniel 9:24-27) During the past nineteen centuries since then these spiritual children of God, these anointed “ambassadors for Christ”, have been the only ones celebrating the true Memorial worthily.

EMBLEMATIC MEANING HELPS DECIDE

16, 17. What does the meaning of the emblems help us decide? What were Jesus’ words explaining their meaning?

¹⁶ What do the emblems which Jesus used in setting up the Memorial mean? This has been a subject of tremendous controversy over centuries. The true Scriptural meaning itself helps in deciding who may rightly partake in harmony with the symbolism. The Memorial being instituted right after eating the passover, only unleavened bread was available to Jesus. Leaven or yeast represents sin; and bread without it is the only proper kind of emblem in the way of bread, to represent something sinless. So what does the loaf of bread mean, and also the wine? Using Moffatt’s translation, we quote again Matthew’s account for Jesus’ words:

¹⁷ “As they were eating, he took a loaf and after the blessing he broke it; then he gave it to the disciples saying, ‘Take and eat this, it means my body.’ He also took a cup, and after thanking God he gave it to them saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you; this means my blood, the new covenant-blood, shed for many, to win the remission of their sins. I tell you, after this I will never drink this produce of the vine, till the day I drink it new with you in the Realm of my Father.’”—Matt. 26:26-29, Mo.

18. Were the bread and wine transubstantiated? So how were they used?

¹⁸ By this we see that Jesus did not say that the bread and wine had been transubstantiated into his literal body and blood; no more than that the cup had been transformed into the new covenant when he said: “This cup means the new covenant ratified by my blood shed for your sake.” (Luke 22:20, Mo) The bread and wine are merely emblems. They undergo no change by the words pronounced over them, but by such words they are explained to mean something else. What? Jesus said, “my body” and “my blood shed for your sake”.

19. What is Paul’s commentary on their meaning at 1 Corinthians 10?

¹⁹ For commentary on these words we turn to Paul, where he says: “Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry. I speak as to men with discernment; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of the Christ? The loaf which we break, is it not a sharing in the body of the Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, although many, are one body, for we are all partaking of that one loaf.” (1 Cor. 10:14-17, NW) For comparison we quote another version of these words, Moffatt’s: “Shun idolatry, then, my beloved. I am speaking to sensible people; weigh my words for yourselves. The cup of blessing, which we bless, is that not participating in the blood of Christ? The bread we break, is that not participating in the body of Christ? (for, many as we are, we are one Bread, one Body, since we all partake of the one Bread).” With Moffatt’s rendering the American Standard Version agrees; also Rotherham, Darby, Cuthbert Lattey, the New World Translation’s margin, etc.a

20. To what was Jesus referring by his words “my body”? What scriptures bear this out?

²⁰ From this inspired testimony it is evident that at the Memorial the Lord Jesus was referring to the “congregation, which is his body”. It is, as Jesus said, “my body,” because God “subjected all things under his feet, and made him head over all things to the congregation, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills up all things in all”. (Eph. 1:22, 23, NW) In further explanation the apostle Paul writes in his same first letter to the Corinthians, saying: “For just as the body is one thing but has many members, and all the members of that body, although being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. For truly by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit. But now God has set the members in the body, each one of them, just as he pleased. If they were all one member, where would the body be? . . . the head cannot say to the feet: ‘I have no need of you.’ . . . Now you are Christ’s body, and members individually. And God has set the respective ones in the congregation.”—1 Cor. 12:12, 13, 18, 19, 21, 27, 28, NW.

21. So what does partaking of the loaf mean? Whom does this debar?

²¹ Hence when a Christian is really devoted to God and eats of the Memorial bread, he is thereby confessing that he is “sharing in the body of the Christ”; he is a member of it. Has he glorified or exalted himself publicly to membership in the spiritual body of Christ? No; but he has met God’s requirements and he recognizes that “God has set” him in the body of Christ. This in itself rules out all the “other sheep” from partaking of the Memorial emblems, as they are not members of Christ’s body. They cannot partake and say: “Because there is one loaf, we, although many, are one body,” that is, “one body” with the members of Christ’s body.

22. What must therefore exist between partakers of the loaf? How?

²² The body of Christ was represented by the “one loaf”, and the members of that spiritual body “are all partaking of that one loaf”. For that reason there must be complete unity among them, for “we, although many, are one body”. (1 Cor. 10:17, NW) Our unity must be not merely with one another, but particularly with the Head Jesus Christ. He is the Principal One. We must remember him. We must keep “holding fast to the head, to the one from whom all the body, being supplied and harmoniously joined together by means of its joints and ligaments, goes on growing with the growth which God gives”. (Col. 2:19, NW) It was because of arguing this vital matter of unity in his first letter to the Corinthians that the apostle suddenly made reference in the tenth chapter to the Lord’s evening meal, or the Memorial. He held before them as a warning example the Israelites in the wilderness who fell away from Jehovah God to the worship of idols representing demons, so committing spiritual as well as physical fornication. He then warned his fellow Christians to “flee from idolatry”. As an argument for them to do this he told them to consider what he had to say about the Lord’s evening meal. The basic thought of that meal was oneness with Christ.

Participation with Demons Forbidden

1. With what argument against demonism does Paul follow up his explanation of the Lord’s evening meal?

THE apostle Paul followed up his explanation of the Lord’s evening meal saying: “Because there is one loaf, we, although many, are one body, for we are all partaking of that one loaf. Look at that which is Israel in a fleshly way: Are not those who eat the sacrifices sharers with [or, in] the altar? What, then, am I to say? That what is sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No; but I say that the things which the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I do not want you to become sharers with the demons [to participate in demons, Mo]. You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons. Or ‘are we inciting Jehovah to jealousy’? We are not stronger than he is, are we?”—1 Cor. 10:17-22, NW.

2. How did ancient Israelites share with God’s altar?

² In ancient Israel, when they offered peace-offerings and thank-offerings, the offerers as well as the priests ate parts of the sacrifices. The sacrifice to God represented the person offering it, to illustrate that a life must go for his life; and by eating part of the sacrifice he was partaking of the sacrifice with the altar. He was sharing with the altar, ‘participating in the altar.’ (Mo) The altar got part of the sacrifice, for some parts of it, the fat, etc., were burned upon the altar; and the person offering the sacrifice through the priest got part of the sacrifice. It was offered to Jehovah God; and as the altar was His, the offerer and the Lord God had fellowship together. (Lev. 19:5, 6; 22:29, 30; Deut. 12:17, 18; 27:5-7) So peaceful relations were either renewed or furthered between God and the offerer.

3. Why cannot partakers of the loaf be also partakers with demons?

³ The Gentile nations outside of Israel sacrificed on their altars to their gods and idols. They really sacrificed to demons. When the Israelites turned aside from Jehovah, “they sacrificed to demons, to no-gods.” (Deut. 32:17, Mo; Ps. 106:37) In that way they had fellowship with the demons, the foes of Jehovah; they ‘participated in demons’. (Mo) Christians must not be sharers with demons. For that reason they may not engage in idolatry. This means greed, too, for a ‘greedy person is an idolater’ and ‘covetousness is equal to idolatry’. (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5) Jesus never worshiped or served demons. When Satan the Devil, “the ruler of the demons,” offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world in exchange for Jesus’ worship, Jesus replied that he obeyed the divine command to worship only Jehovah God. (Matt. 12:24; 4:8-11, NW) Jesus worshiped no idol, only the living God. In no way did he participate or have fellowship with demons. All through his earthly ministry he expelled demons from possessed persons and he refused to let them testify that he was Christ. Hence if we want to have unity with Christ as members of his body and if we want to partake of Memorial emblems in a worthy manner, we cannot indulge in idolatry of any sort. Especially so now when worldly organizations and heroes are idolized, such as the United Nations and famous world figures. We cannot be “one body” or “one loaf” with Christ Jesus and at the same time be idolaters.

“THE TABLE OF JEHOVAH” AND “THE CUP OF JEHOVAH”

4. In connection with Memorial why does Paul speak of Jehovah’s cup and table?

⁴ But if the apostle has reference to the cup which Jesus gave his disciples to drink from and to the loaf of unleavened bread which he broke for them to eat, why does he speak of the “cup of Jehovah” and the “table of Jehovah”? He says: “You cannot be drinking the cup of Jehovah and the cup of demons; you cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons.” (1 Cor. 10:21, NW) The apostle so speaks because the things symbolized by the Memorial emblems were provisions made by Jehovah in behalf of those belonging to Christ.

5. From what prophecy was “the table of Jehovah” quoted by Paul, and to what did it there apply?

⁵ Paul’s expression “the table of Jehovah” is understood by textual criticsa to be quoted from Malachi 1:7, 12 (Greek LXX). The prophet Malachi there says: “Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible. But ye profane it [God’s name], in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible.” (AS) As Malachi uses it, “the table of Jehovah” applies to his altar, to which the animal sacrifices were brought. The body of the victim was laid on the altar. The blood of the victim was never drunk, but was poured at the altar base or taken into the Most Holy of the temple or otherwise disposed of.

6, 7. According to the connection Paul gives it, how is it the table of Jehovah?

⁶ “The table of Jehovah” may have reference to the entire arrangement of the Lord’s evening meal. But if it refers to one particular feature of it, then it must be to the unleavened bread, for it is bloodless. The loaf represents the “body of Christ” in which Jesus’ little flock of Kingdom joint heirs share. It is God that has arranged for the “body of Christ”. He creates it, setting the members of it according to his pleasure, Jesus Christ to be Head of the body and the 144,000 members of the “little flock” to be the body beneath him, each occupying an assigned place. So the privilege of being associated with Jesus the Head is a glorious provision which God has made for those of the little flock, and to them alone is this privilege given.

⁷ On this point we read: “Now we know that God makes all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God, those who are the ones called according to his purpose; because those whom he gave his first recognition he also foreordained to be patterned after the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Moreover, those whom he foreordained are the ones he also called; and those whom he called are the ones he also declared to be righteous. Finally those whom he declared righteous are the ones he also glorified.”—Rom. 8:28-30, NW.

8, 9. To whom is this privilege of being Christ’s body-members given? How is unity with it consistently maintained?

⁸ So this provision of union with his firstborn Son in one spiritual body was given or worked out by Jehovah God for the “little flock”, eleven members of which were with Jesus when he established the Memorial. In order to stay in union with the Head Jesus Christ it is necessary to keep patterned after his image by copying him in his earthly course. That is why we are told: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: ‘I shall reside among them and walk among them, and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.’ ‘“Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,” says Jehovah, “and quit touching the unclean thing,’” “‘and I will take you in.’” “‘And I shall be a father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says Jehovah the Almighty.’ Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved ones, let us cleanse ourselves of every defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in God’s fear.”—2 Cor. 6:14 to 7:1, NW.

⁹ So we cannot compromise the “table of Jehovah”. We cannot participate in the body of Christ and take a piece of the Memorial loaf and at the same time partake of the “table of demons”, worshiping idols, and having unclean connections. If we try to do so, we incite Jehovah, who is stronger than we are, yes, almighty, to jealousy; and that would mean our destruction.—Deut. 32:21-26.

10. By its connection with the new covenant, how is the Memorial cup the “cup of Jehovah”?

¹⁰ Now as to the “cup of Jehovah”. Jesus offered the Memorial cup to his disciples with the words: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.” (Luke 22:20, NW) This same cup is the “cup of Jehovah” because the new covenant is the agreement or contract he makes in order to take out of all nations a “people for his name”. But it is Christ Jesus who acts as mediator between God and men by providing the sacrificial blood to put that new covenant into force, just as Moses slaughtered animal victims and sprinkled their blood in order to put the ancient Law covenant into force between God and fleshly Israel. (Jer. 31:31-34; Acts 15:14; Ex. 24:1-8; Heb. 9:14-24; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6) The ones taken into this new covenant are the “people for his name”, beginning with the faithful Jewish remnant at Pentecost and later taking in the Gentile believers from the centurion Cornelius onward. All these Jehovah God anoints with his spirit, by this making them anointed ones or members of the “body of the Christ”. These God gathers to him, saying: “Gather yourselves unto me—ye my men of loving-kindness, who have solemnised my covenant over sacrifice [Christ’s sacrifice].” (Ps. 50:5, Ro) This new covenant is an additional fact which shows that the privilege of drinking of the cup at the Memorial celebration is limited to those who are members of Christ’s body.

HOW THE CUP IS SHARED

11. How did Jesus indicate there is another sense to the cup, making it the “cup of Jehovah” in which his followers might share?

¹¹ These members do not share in providing the blood of the new covenant. Only Jesus does that. By his blood he mediates the new covenant in their behalf. And so the body members could not in that sense be “sharing in the blood of the Christ”. How, then, can the apostle’s words be true: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of the Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16, NW) Because this cup is the “cup of Jehovah” in still another sense. How so? In that it pictures the portion which Jehovah has poured. Jesus and his little flock of Kingdom joint heirs must drink it in order to prove their integrity to Him and their worthiness of the Kingdom. This is the cup to which Jesus referred when, shortly after introducing the Memorial, he prayed: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will.” And, again: “My Father, if it is not possible for this to pass away except I drink it, let your will take place.” (Matt. 26:39, 42, NW) And when Peter, to defend Jesus, wounded one of the men who came out to arrest him, Jesus said: “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup that the Father has given me, should I not by all means drink it?”—John 18:11, NW.

12. How also was it shown to be a “cup of salvation”?

¹² That “cup of Jehovah” symbolized God’s will for the drinker, and drinking it spelled suffering and death on the disgraceful torture stake for Jesus. But God’s will for Jesus did not end in his death. It also included the resurrection of Jesus from the dead to immortal life in heaven as a glorified Son of God, and so a saving of him out of death. (Heb. 5:7) It was therefore for him a “cup of salvation” also, salvation for holding fast his integrity to his Father without sin. Here the words of Psalm 116, which applies in particular to Jesus Christ in Gethsemane, are fitting, because Jesus determined to drink the “cup of Jehovah” even to the death: “What shall I render unto Jehovah for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of Jehovah. I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, yea, in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of Jehovah is the death of his saints.”—Ps. 116:12-15, AS.

13. What was it Jesus said that made it sure his followers would drink the cup with him? What about it made it hard to drink?

¹³ But according to God’s will the cup which Jesus was given to drink he also shares with his little flock of Kingdom joint heirs. This he made sure when he said to two of his apostles who applied for specific seats in the Kingdom with him: “The cup I am drinking you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am being baptized you will be baptized. However, this sitting down at my right or at my left is not mine to give, but it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared.” (Mark 10:34-40, NW) The cup which Jesus was then drinking and which his heavenly Father had poured and given him was God’s will for him. This will was recorded aforetime in the Holy Scriptures and it marked out suffering and a disgraceful death for him as if he were a sinner, a blasphemer and a reproach to Jehovah God. This latter feature was what made it so hard for Jesus to drink, so that he took the matter to his Father three times in prayer and then resigned himself to drinking this portion of the divine will. This course led to gaining the Kingdom.

14, 15. What is the purpose of this potion in the cup both as to Jesus and as to his followers?

¹⁴ Here we see that the Memorial cup represented more than Jesus’ dying as a ransom sacrifice, a sacrifice that would validate the new covenant and remove the sins of his disciples who are taken into the covenant. The disciples have no part at all in the ransom sacrifice and in mediating the new covenant, but they themselves need the ransom sacrifice and Jesus’ mediatorship. So now note this: The ransom sacrifice for mankind did not itself require Jesus to suffer reproach and persecution and finally to pass out of this life in disgrace like a condemned criminal, seditionist and blasphemer. That part of the potion in the cup was poured in by the Father to test to the limit the integrity of the Son of God and to prove the Devil a liar in his charges against God’s Son and to show Jesus’ unswerving support of God’s universal sovereignty.

¹⁵ This portion of the cup Jesus had to drink in order to prove before all the universe his worthiness to the Kingdom for which God had covenanted with him. He must sell all he had for this “pearl of high value”. (Matt. 13:45, 46, NW) And since Jesus took his disciples into the covenant for the Kingdom with him, they also are obliged to drink this cup with him, in order likewise to demonstrate their integrity toward God and to uphold his universal sovereignty and to prove their worthiness to reign with Jesus Christ in heavenly glory. So they drink of the cup with him.

16. What scriptures does Paul write them showing they must share in Jesus’ death and so drink the cup?

¹⁶ Hence it is written to the “little flock” of footstep followers: “Trustworthy is the saying: Certainly if we died together, we shall also live together; if we go on enduring, we shall also rule together as kings.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12, NW) Those who are incorporated into the “body of Christ” (symbolized by the Memorial loaf) must be baptized into his death if they wish to be part of his glorified “body” in the heavens. So the apostle asks the members of Christ’s body: “Seeing that we died with reference to sin, how shall we keep on living any longer in it? Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, we also should likewise walk in a newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.”—Rom. 6:2-5, NW.

17. What does the Memorial wine itself represent, and hence what does drinking it mean?

¹⁷ This same apostle, when in prison at Rome, wrote that he counted all selfish earthly advantages as a “lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in union with him, . . . so as to know him and the power of his resurrection and a sharing in his sufferings, submitting myself to his kind of death, to see if I may by any means attain to the earlier resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:8-11, NW) Since the contents of the Memorial cup represented “his kind of death” in vindication of Jehovah’s universal sovereignty, Jesus fittingly said that the wine meant “my blood” and he gave it to his disciples to drink.

18, 19. How, then, is it a “cup of blessing” for which we bless God?

¹⁸ As the Memorial wine represents shed blood, it spells death to the one whose blood was spilled for the new covenant. According to Jehovah’s covenant made with Noah right after the flood, he safeguarded all creature blood as sacred and made the drinking of the blood, and especially human blood, deserving of death to the drinker. (Gen. 9:1-6) Now when the disciples drink the cup of Memorial wine, they are in symbol drinking blood, but drinking under divine command. So it means for them to shed their blood or to die as Jesus Christ did in the cause of his Father’s universal sovereignty. They undertake death with him, that they might prove the Devil a lying rebel and prove themselves worthy of life with Jesus in his heavenly kingdom. For this reason the apostle wrote them: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of the Christ?”

¹⁹ Yes, it is a “cup of blessing” over which we bless God. It indeed represents death with Jesus Christ, baptism into his death, but to share in that kind of death is a privilege. As the apostle wrote from his prison: “To you the privilege was given in behalf of Christ, not only to put your faith in him, but also to suffer in his behalf.” (Phil. 1:29, NW) That cup has God’s blessing, for it represents God’s will for Jesus and his little flock. That cup or the privilege of drinking out of it was given for the little flock that they might display their integrity on earth now to the utmost and might gain an “entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. (2 Pet. 1:11, NW) So with deep appreciation those privileged to drink the cup bless God for it. For it is a privilege to vindicate him by death with Christ and afterward to be resurrected by him to immortal life in Christ’s kingdom for the further vindication of His universal sovereignty.

20. In whose remembrance is it drunk, and why?

²⁰ Since it is Christ’s death that validates the new covenant, and since he set the example in death and his disciples are baptized into his death, they drink the cup in remembrance of him.

21. Why, then, is the Memorial cup not for the “other sheep” to drink?

²¹ These facts help the great crowd of “other sheep” today to discern that the Memorial cup is not for them to drink. They are not dying Christ’s death, but if any die before the battle of Armageddon, they die like the faithful men and women who were Jehovah’s witnesses before Christ. They do not sacrifice the flesh or earthly hopes for the new world, but they are marching forward to life in the paradise earth in the new world. Many will pass through Armageddon and enter that world without dying. So properly they refrain from partaking of the Memorial cup.

EATING AND DRINKING FOR LIFE IN ONESELF

22. Does not John 6:51 indicate all believers should partake?

²² But is not the above contradicted by Jesus’ words to the Jews about the miraculous manna? Did he not say: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world”? (John 6:51, NW) Note those words “my flesh in behalf of the life of the world”. Do they not indicate that all believers in Christ, regardless of whether their hopes for life in the new world are earthly or heavenly, may partake, yes, must partake of the Memorial bread and also of the wine? The answer to this question is No!

23. What discussion led up to that statement, and how does bread correspond to the flesh Jesus gives for the world’s life?

²³ At the time Jesus uttered the above words he was discussing the manna which provided miracle bread for the Israelites in their wilderness journey to the Promised Land. The manna bread did not give life eternal to the Israelites and mixed multitude with them. So Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.” So he explained that the bread he gave for the life of the world was his flesh. (John 6:48-51, NW) However, those Israelites in the wilderness did not drink blood of any kind, for they were forbidden to do so, not only by the divine covenant with Noah their ancestor but also by the stated terms of the Law covenant through their mediator Moses. The manna from heaven which they ate was bloodless, and in this sense it was like Jesus’ flesh. Flesh could not be eaten unless drained of its blood. Hence what obedient mankind of the new world will partake of for everlasting life will be like bloodless flesh, which Jesus provided by coming down from heaven.

24. What else did he speak of besides flesh for the world’s life?

²⁴ So Jesus spoke of something more than the manna for the life of the world when he said: “Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. Just as the living Father sent me forth and I live because of the Father, he also that feeds on me, even that one will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not as when your forefathers ate and yet died. He that feeds on this bread will live forever.”—John 6:53-58, NW.

25. So feeding on his flesh and drinking his blood results in what? And what does “life in you” here mean?

²⁵ Note that Jesus here said that those drinking his blood as well as eating his flesh remain in union with him and he in union with them. This means that they are made members of his body, being baptized into Christ and thereby being baptized into his kind of death. Jesus’ food was to do his Father’s will, and they feed on Jesus’ flesh by doing God’s will together with Jesus and finishing it as he did. (John 4:34) Unless his disciples take this course, they have no life in them. “Life in you” does not necessarily mean inherent life or immortality in the heavens, but has a meaning similar to that mentioned by Jesus when he said: “The hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who have given heed will live. For just as the Father has in himself the gift of life, so he has granted to the Son to have also in himself the gift of life.” (John 5:25, 26, NW; Knox) So for the members of the body of the Christ to have ‘life in themselves’ means to share the privilege with Jesus of bestowing the benefits of his sacrificed life upon obedient mankind during the thousand years of his kingdom. They will become his heavenly bride, “the Lamb’s wife.” As such they will mother the earthly children of the “Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ. (Rev. 19:7-9; 21:9, 10; Isa. 9:6) So the “little flock”, the “bride” class, are the exclusive ones that drink the blood of the Son of man as well as feed on his flesh. However, there at John 6:25-58 Jesus was not discussing the Memorial supper with those Jews, many of whom then forsook him.

Look! I say to you: Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting. Already the reaper is receiving a reward and gathering fruit for everlasting life.—John 4:35, 36, NW.

[Footnotes]

Partaking in a Worthy Manner

1. In 1 Corinthians what does Paul discuss on the Memorial question?

IN REFERRING to the Memorial or the Lord’s evening meal in his first letter to the Corinthians the apostle Paul was discussing, not the question of who should partake of the emblems, but what the emblems meant and how to partake of them worthily or in a worthy manner.

2. How were those Corinthians not celebrating the Memorial consistently, in a worthy manner, and to their own good?

² At the very beginning of his letter he pointed out that there existed sects and religious divisions among them, and he asked, “Does Christ exist divided?” There were jealousy and strife among them, so that they were not spiritual, but fleshly, and were conducting themselves like worldly men. (1 Cor. 1:11-13; 3:1-4; NW) This did not befit those who partake of the Memorial emblems, for the loaf of bread symbolized the unity of the body of Christ. Neither could they idolize religious leaders and say, “I belong to this one, or, to that one,” nor could they commit self-idolatry by covetousness nor commit any other kind of idolatry, for that was demonism. So those who thus participated in the “table of demons” could not rightly participate in the “table of Jehovah” at the Lord’s evening meal. Also, back there, some were bringing their own suppers or evening meals to the congregation’s meeting place. They had a social meal there immediately before the Lord’s evening meal, indulging in food to excess and getting in no condition to appreciate properly the meaning of the Lord’s evening meal. Besides, they ignored some at their social meal and let them go hungry, so that some might have craved the Lord’s evening meal mainly for a bit of food. All this was not making for the celebration of the Memorial in a worthy manner and to their own good.—1 Cor. 11:17-22.

3, 4. How can partakers become guilty respecting the body and blood of the Lord?

³ So after explaining the instructions he had received from the Lord concerning the Lord’s evening meal, Paul went on to say: “For as often as you eat this loaf and drink this cup, you keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives. Consequently, whoever eats the loaf and drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord. First let a man approve himself after scrutiny, and thus let him eat of the loaf and drink of the cup. For he that eats and drinks eats and drinks judgment against himself if he does not discern the body. That is why many among you are weak and sickly and quite a few are sleeping in death. But if we would discern what we ourselves are, we would not be judged. However, when we are judged, we are disciplined by Jehovah, that we may not become condemned with the world. Consequently, my brothers, when you come together to eat it, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, that you may not come together for judgment.”—1 Cor. 11:26-34, NW.

⁴ So whoever partakes of the Memorial emblems while he is in an unworthy condition and partakes in an unworthy manner by a lack of appreciation becomes guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord. All partakers must keenly sense their unity with the Head Jesus Christ in doing God’s will. We must remember him as the vital one with whom to be in union and must not create divisions among ourselves and so destroy the united body. It is Jesus’ blood that validates the new covenant, and we must not act toward that blood as if it were a common thing, willfully sinning by sectarianism, idolatry, greed, and works of the flesh. By that covenant we are a people for Jehovah’s name, and we should honor that name by our lives. Christ Jesus, who provided his blood for the new covenant, died in vindication of Jehovah’s name and universal sovereignty. We should copy him in the kind of death that he died, becoming “united with him in the likeness of his death” that we may also “be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection”. So we must keep ourselves free from guilt against these vital things, not playing hypocrites at the Memorial or Lord’s evening meal.

5. How should we seek to partake worthily?

⁵ To partake of the emblems worthily we must break away from such guilty practices, since they are out of harmony with our being members of Christ’s body and our taking the Memorial bread and wine. We should scrutinize ourselves with respect to these matters, seek God’s forgiveness for any misbehavior, and then determine to follow right conduct and approve ourselves by God’s measurements before partaking. Otherwise we shall eat and drink divine judgment against ourselves, and that will lead to being disciplined.

6. To avoid disciplining, what must partakers discern? In what way?

⁶ That will happen to a person “if he does not discern the body”, says Paul. (1 Cor. 11:29, NW) By this the unified body of the Christ is meant. Moffatt’s translation indicates this for us, because here his translation capitalizes the word Body, the same as when it says Christians are “baptized into one Body” and are “Christ’s Body”. Moffatt’s reads: “For he who eats and drinks without a proper sense of the Body, eats and drinks to his own condemnation.” (1 Cor. 11:29; 12:13, 27, Mo) Memorial partakers must keep clearly in mind that they are “Christ’s body”, symbolized by the one loaf, and consequently they must keep unity as “one body”. We must have a “proper sense of the Body”, sensing our personal unity with the Head Jesus Christ. If we do not, then we will become spiritually “weak and sickly” and even be “sleeping in death”, as many of the Corinthians did back there. For this, Jehovah God had to discipline them through his theocratic organization represented by the apostle Paul, that they might not be condemned with the world and be destroyed as it will shortly be. To be spiritually strong, healthy and alive toward God’s organization and its work, we must respect, among other things, what the Memorial means.

TIME AND ORDER OF CELEBRATION

7. On what day of what month do we celebrate Memorial? Why?

⁷ So with due respect for the Lord’s evening meal we examine the time and order for its celebration. Copying Jesus as to the time when he set up the Memorial, we celebrate it once a year on the 14th day of Nisan, Nisan being the first month of the calendar for Jehovah’s covenant people according to his decree at Exodus 12:1-6. This was passover day, for immediately after observing the Jewish passover as a Jew “under law” Jesus introduced the Memorial to his eleven faithful apostles. By God’s decree, passover was celebrated once a year, on the day that was the anniversary of the first passover held by the Jews in Egypt just before they marched out of that “house of bondage”. On that passover day Jesus died on the torture stake at Calvary, not alone as the great passover, the “Lamb of God”, but also as the Heir of God’s kingdom which will vindicate God’s sovereignty over all creation. So, to “keep proclaiming the death of the Lord, until he arrives”, we properly celebrate it only on its anniversary date, Nisan 14.

8. At what time of day should it be observed? When this year?

⁸ At what time of day should it be observed? After sundown, or after 6 p.m. Standard Time, for among Jehovah’s ancient covenant-people each new day began at that time and it extended through midnight and the following daylight period until sundown. Hence Memorial must be observed on the night of Nisan 14. Paul says it was “in the night in which he was going to be handed over” that Jesus took the Memorial emblems and handed them out to his apostles. (1 Cor. 11:23, NW) The very name, the Lord’s supper or “the Lord’s evening meal”, shows it was a celebration at night. Also the fact that Paul says to the Corinthians, “Each one takes his own evening meal beforehand,” proves that those first-century Christians celebrated it at night, and not in the morning after each one had taken his breakfast or in the afternoon after taking lunch or the midday meal. (1 Cor. 11:20, 21, NW) Accordingly, the proper time to observe the Lord’s evening meal in 1951 is after sunset or after 6 p.m. of Friday, March 23, for at that time Nisan 14 this year begins.

9. What does the unleavened quality of the bread picture? How does 1 Corinthians 5:7-11 show this?

⁹ The bread Jesus broke was unleavened, the only kind permitted at passover, as this unleavened quality pictured sinlessness. Discussing why members of Christ’s body should abstain from sin and should not permit gross sinners within their congregational body, the apostle writes the Corinthian Christians: “Clear away the old yeast, that you may be a new lump, according as you are free from ferment. For, indeed, Christ our passover has been sacrificed. Consequently, let us keep the feast, not with old yeast, neither with yeast of injuriousness and wickedness, but with unfermented cakes of purity and truth. In my letter I wrote you to quit mixing in company with fornicators, . . . quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.”—1 Cor. 5:7-11, NW.

10. Why were one loaf and a common cup used for a group?

¹⁰ The record shows Jesus used just one loaf; but that was to serve just eleven apostles. Paul’s words at 1 Corinthians 10:16 (NW), “The loaf which we break,” suggests one loaf to a congregation, but does not specify the size of the congregation or the number of partakers to be served. The wine Jesus served was that which was available at the passover in his day, when four, or sometimes even five cups, were served to passover celebrators. (Luke 22:17, 20) Hence if a number partake from one loaf and from one cup, it would be appropriate to symbolize unity and the sharing in common privileges.

11. What does the record show regarding the giving thanks and asking a blessing over the bread and the wine?

¹¹ After taking the loaf Jesus ‘said a blessing’, according to Matthew 26:26 and Mark 14:22, or ‘gave thanks’, according to Luke 22:19. How much of an intermission elapsed between serving the bread first and serving the cup, the combined records do not show, but Mark 14:23-25 (NW) reads: “And taking a cup, he offered thanks and gave it to them, and they all drank out of it. And he said to them: ‘This means my “blood of the covenant” which is to be poured out in behalf of many. Truly I say to you, I shall by no means drink any more of the product of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’” Matthew 26:27-29 agrees with that, showing that Jesus gave separate thanks over the cup and after an intermission. Paul’s words, at 1 Corinthians 10:16, “The cup of blessing which we bless,” indicates that a special and separate blessing was said over the cup, for the apostle does not there mention the thanks offered for the bread. But in handing out each emblem Jesus explained the significance of each, showing different features about them.

12. Why may additional words be said over the emblems while they are being served?

¹² How much more Jesus said than the brief sentences in the record while he passed out the bread and wine, the writers do not show. In our modern celebrations it is customary for the congregation as well as the chairman to remain very quiet while the emblems are being passed around and some are partaking. Some partakers even bow their heads and offer prayer, as though the prayer the one called upon offered over the emblem partaken of was not enough. But it is possible that Jesus said much more over each emblem as it was served and as the apostles were partaking, for he was not pronouncing some magical formula over each emblem to transubstantiate it. Certainly the accounts of that night do not record all that was said. In the light of this there is no rule against it if some appropriate words are said by the meeting’s chairman as each of the emblems is being passed to the partakers.

RECOMMENDATIONS

13. What was the procedure in the Memorial celebration at the Brooklyn Bethel home last year?

¹³ Last year, the Brooklyn Bethel family was privileged to celebrate its first Memorial in the Kingdom Hall of the new Bethel home, Saturday night, April 1, 1950. The head of the family, the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, presided. After the usual song and opening prayer the president gave the talk of exposition on the Lord’s evening meal. He had read the manuscript copy of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. With this he had pondered over this celebration. So, after finishing the talk, he called for a brother of the remnant to offer thanks for the bread. Then while ushers were serving the bread, allowing each one present to partake if judging himself worthy, the president did not let solemn silence dominate, but offered appropriate comments in further appreciation of the “loaf”. After this was served, he called for another brother of the remnant to ask the blessing upon the cup of wine. This emblem was then served, giving any and all an opportunity to drink of it; and again, while this was being passed, the president added further comments to help all in appreciating more the meaning of the cup and the partaking of it. These incidental comments during passing of the emblems were enjoyed by all, including those there of the “other sheep” who did not themselves partake but observed those of the remnant of Christ’s body partake. It helped to relieve the ceremony of the former heavy atmosphere and somberness which was so depressing to many.

14. Hence what is recommended to all units or companies of us?

¹⁴ The above procedure is Scriptural, and we recommend it to all units or companies of God’s devoted people. The one presiding may choose to offer additional remarks during the passing of the bread and then the passing of the wine. If so, let him be choice and to the point in what he says on each emblem. The occasion is one for spiritual edification to all present, to sharpen their discernment and to deepen their appreciation of all the features of the Lord’s evening meal and their privileges in connection with it.

15. Why can the other sheep present rejoice though not partaking of the emblems?

¹⁵ Although the “other sheep” present may not be privileged to eat and drink the emblems, they can rejoice that this does not mean condemnation to themselves. Having a “proper sense of the Body”, they can rejoice that the new covenant is reaching its culmination in taking out of earth a people for Jehovah’s name and that now they are privileged to be associated with the remnant of that people, the last of the “body of Christ”. Although not in line to participate in the Memorial emblems, they can rejoice that Christ Jesus is the “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”. And just as the circumcised strangers sojourning among the Israelites at the time of the exodus partook of the passover lamb, so too they are now partaking with the spiritual remnant of the antitypical Lamb, exercising faith in Christ’s blood and doing God’s will as he set the example. (John 1:29; Ex. 12:48, 49) While not drinking his blood, they wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Rev. 7:14) With the remnant they are marching out of this world, and they can look forward to complete deliverance from it at Armageddon, where the world will be engulfed as when Pharaoh’s hosts were destroyed at the Red sea.

16. What features of other meetings are not forbidden to follow the Lord’s evening meal, and why not?

¹⁶ When the emblems have been served and partaken of by all the worthy ones, then the Lord’s evening meal is finished. The commandment laid upon those of Christ’s body to keep it has been obeyed. What follows after that in the course of our being met together is not a part of the Lord’s evening meal. So it may be in accord with the usual procedure toward the close of our other meetings, such as making service announcements and arrangements and singing a song and dismissing with prayer. Jesus’ discoursing and praying with his disciples as recorded at John, chapters 14 to 17, was not part of the Lord’s evening meal, but came after it. What he then said to the apostles and offered in prayer was dictated by the urgency of the situation and by the convenience of having them all together for the last time before his betrayal and death. The account also says, “Finally, after singing praises, they went out to the mount of Olives,” and this singing of psalms was customary to the passover season. (Mark 14:26, NW) So our having just celebrated the Memorial does not forbid that these features of our other meetings may not follow the Lord’s evening meal.

17. What follow-up effort worthy of the Memorial this year is recommended with all attenders?

¹⁷ Last year at Memorial celebrations throughout the earth 511,203 attended the meeting, although only 22,723 partook. We have good reason to expect that this year still more than a half million will respect this Memorial celebration with their presence. Seeing that we are nearing our complete exodus from this world into the new world, we suggest that all active Kingdom publishers engage in helping the more than half a million attenders out into the field service this coming week end of March 23, 1951. Thus you will aid them in having part in the final witness before the accomplished end of this old world takes place. What a worthy follow-up that would be to the Lord’s evening meal this year in this time of God’s patience with us all for our salvation!—2 Pet. 3:15, NW.

I will by no means drink henceforth any of this product of the wine until that day when I drink it new with you in the kingdom.—Matt. 26:29, NW.