A Precious Gift from Dr. Robert Webber

On the night He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This bread is a symbol of my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is a symbol of the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." As the son of a pastor, and as a music and worship pastor for almost twenty five years, I have heard the Words of Institution quoted many times just like this as a prelude to receiving the Lord’s Supper. There is only one problem. Jesus did not say what is written above. Wonderful pastors who would warn anyone about adding a “jot or tittle” (Mat. 5:18, Rev. 22:18-19) to Holy Scripture, find it necessary to do just that when quoting Jesus as He shared the Passover meal with His disciples. The word “symbol” is grafted into these verses with a theological agenda. Clearly, the intent is to promote memorialism - the Zwinglian theology of the Lord's Table.

The reality of this addition to Scripture did not faze me at all for many years. And, despite the insistence that there wasn't much happening at the table other than a memory exercise, I distinctly remember longing for those rare services (three or four times a year) when the “offertory” table would be draped in a white cloth, pregnant with the symbolic elements that we were assured were, “only bread and juice.” One of my pastors actually said, “There is nothing special or mystical about what we are going to do…” But somehow, I knew even as a child, that there was more to the Table than conjuring up sad memories to fit the standard funeral-like presentation of the Lord’s Supper. There had to be more.

In the early 90s, Dr. Robert E. Webber spoke at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His message was riveting and inspiring. In those few moments, He offered me a precious gift for which I shall eternally be grateful. Dr. Webber gave me permission to believe that MORE was happening at the Table than my humanistic sign of obedience to God and the dredging up of latent sadness. He told our assembled student body about Christus Victor - that the Lord's Table was a celebration of victory rather than an interment service for the Lord. He had my attention. Dr. Webber then made a statement that skewered my soul. He said that when we needed healing from illness or brokenness, we should, “flee to the Eucharist” where we might truly, “know Him in the breaking of the bread.” Suddenly Luke 24 was bursting with meaning. Much like Cleopas, I wanted to run and tell everyone. Dr. Webber told us of 1 Corinthians 10:16, how the bread and cup are our “participation” in the body and blood of Christ. He insisted that the Word and the Table are the twin peaks of worship. They are at the heart of incarnational spirituality – the Word proclaimed becomes flesh – And we can hear and taste and touch and KNOW the intensified Presence of Christ at His Table. He also shared that the word Jesus would have used for “remembrance” did not mean that we should have a “warm fuzzy” thought about Jesus, but it suggests a reconnection with a past event – the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus. I could not have been more excited about these discoveries. Sadly, when I arrived back at the church I served, the shroud of memorialism still covered the Table. There was only one peak in worship – the Sermon. And I was left with a heart burning to have the meal I saw on the menu week after week.

Despite my contextual constraints, I will never be satisfied again with mere memorialism. Is it not ironic that Paul claims those who do not rightly discern the Body of Christ are weak and sick and some have died? Or, how amazing that those who claim the Lord’s Supper is a mere symbol for Christians who receive it in good standing have no problem with Paul’s admonition that those who eat and drink unworthily invite judgement upon themselves. How can a mere symbol have such serious import to anyone? Do you sense a disconnect here?

I will forever be grateful to Dr. Webber (may his name be praised), for the many gifts he gave me. But for helping me to discover the Eucharist, I am most indebted. When he passed away on April 27th, I wanted to do exactly what he had taught me. It was as if his voiced echoed in my ears, “flee to the Eucharist.” Thank you, Bob for all you have done for so many of us. We will always remember!