Focusing on the Cross During the Lord's Supper

Every Lord’s Day (Sunday), we have the opportunity to remember Jesus’ sacrifice when we partake of (participate in) the Lord’s Supper. God intended this memorial to be a time of quiet meditation. However, it can sometimes feel like the most frustrating part of worship.

It is incredibly easy to lose focus.

Perhaps a crying baby, someone moving next to you, or your own thoughts about lunch or upcoming sports events distract you. It is disappointing when the Lord’s Supper ends and you realize your mind was far from the cross.

Over the years, this frustration led me to look for ways to stay focused on Jesus’ offering for my sins. I want to remember my covenant (solemn promise) with God made through His blood. Here are five practical methods that have helped me:

• Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ suffering: Read through Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, or John 18-19. Focus on a specific section each month. Reading these accounts regularly will deepen your understanding of the crucifixion.
• Read Old Testament prophecies: Study passages that predicted Jesus’ death. For example, Psalm 22 describes the crucifixion from Jesus’ perspective on the cross, showing that while He felt abandoned, God still heard His cry. Meanwhile, Isaiah 53 describes the scene from an observer’s perspective, emphasizing that Jesus died because of our sins.
• Study Paul’s instructions: Read 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. In this text, Paul corrected the church in Corinth for abusing the Lord’s Supper. He reminded them of Jesus’ commands and warned against participating in an unworthy, careless manner.
• Meditate on hymns: Read the lyrics of songs about the cross. Sometimes, reading the words slowly instead of singing them helps you find deep meanings you might have missed before.
• Write down your thoughts: Jot down what Jesus’ sacrifice means to you. If you prefer not to write during services, write your thoughts at home and bring them to read during communion.

Do not let the weekly frequency of the Lord’s Supper lead to complacency (careless routine). Use these tools to keep this weekly memorial meaningful.