PEOPLE WHO RECOGNIZE THE LORD’S
Rev. 1:10
1. The two verses just read are familiar to most of us.
2. John was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s Day, Rev. 1:10.
3. Paul told the Corinthians it was not possible to eat the Lord’s Supper, 1 Cor. 11:20.
4. At first glance these verses would seem to be unrelated to each other.
5. A closer look shows they are closely tied together.
6. The unifying point is the word translated Lord.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL WORD THAT OCCURS ONLY TWICE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
A. It is found in the verses which were read—Rev. 1:10 and 1 Cor. 11:20.
B. To appreciate this word, we can see how it was used outside the New Testament.
C. In secular Greek this word meant “belonging to the emperor.”
D. It was sometimes used of an emperor’s birthday.
E. The day an emperor was born was viewed as a day that belonged to him.
F. It was “his day.”
2.
In 1 Cor.
3. It is His Supper. We might say He owns it.
4. This makes sense because it commemorates what He did.
5. We want to primarily consider this word from the standpoint of Rev. 1:10.
6. John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.
7. This expression tells us there is a day that belongs to Jesus.
A. A wisecracker may say that every day belongs to Him.
B. There is a sense in which this is true.
C. There is also a sense in which one day of the week is especially important to Jesus.
8. It is a widely recognized fact that we have seven days in our weeks.
9. The book of Genesis uses a 7 day period to describe time.
10. Of the seven days in our week, one day has a special place in the Lord’s mind.
11. Which day of the week is special to Him (the LORD’s day)?
12. This morning we want to see if we can determine from the scriptures which day this is.
A. We will begin with the final chapter in Mark.
B. By the time recorded in Mk. 16 Jesus was dead.
C. Women came early on the first day of the week to anoint the Lord’s body (verse 1).
D. They were wondering (verse 3) who would roll away the stone.
E. According to verse 6, they soon realized they were too late; Jesus was gone.
F. When did Jesus arise from the dead? That is, what day was the resurrection on?
G. Verse 9a – READ.
13. Mark says that Jesus arose on the first day of the week.
14. There are 7 days in the week.
15. The Jews used the 7th day as a day of rest because this was part of the Old Testament law.
16. This day of rest was the Sabbath (Saturday).
17. If the 7th day is Saturday, and there are only seven days in the week, the first day of the week is Sunday.
18. Since Jesus was raised on the first day of the week, (Mk. 16:9), He was raised on Sunday.
A. Now is not the time to discuss it, but I am persuaded the church began on Sunday.
B. Acts 2:1 describes the “Day of Pentecost.”
C. This day and how it was counted is described in Lev. 23.
D. From what I can tell, prior to 70 A.D. the way the counting was done always led to a Sunday.
E. After 70 A.D. the Pharisees took over and used a different method.
F. At the very least there is a lot of scholarship that says the Day of Pentecost was Sunday.
G. This means the resurrection was on Sunday and the church began on Sunday.
19. Even if people want to dispute the day the church began, other facts are irrefutable.
20. Christians are described as meeting on the first day of the week (Sunday).
21. In the early chapters of Acts it is said Christians met each day.
22. Of the 7 days they met on, the New Testament emphasizes one particular day.
23. Acts 20:7 says “on the first day of the week when we were gathered together to break bread.”
24. Paul spoke of this same day in 1 Cor. 16:1-2 – READ.
25. All of this information is consistent with ancient writings.
A. I have a source which pays attention to unique words in the Bible.
B. This source has an entry on the special word for Lord.
C. This is the word used in 1 Cor. 11:20 and Rev. 1:10.
D. The citation given in this source comes from a grave maker.
E. Here is what the inscription on an ancient tombstone says:
F. “God’s servant fell asleep at the 10th hour.” This part of the inscription is not too revealing.
G. The rest of the message, however, is.
H. “At the dawning of the Lord’s day, the day of the resurrection of Christ.”
26. On an early tombstone it is said that Jesus has a “day.”
27. There is a day of the week that belongs to Him.
28. This day is identified as the day He was raised.
29. What day was Jesus raised on? We saw from Mk. 16 that this day is Sunday.
30. We know the Corinthians were meeting on Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1-2).
31. The Greek text leaves no doubt that the Corinthians were meeting each Sunday.
32. When the Corinthians assembled,
they had the elements for the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor.
33. The items for the supper were being improperly used, but the Corinthians knew to bring them.
34. When Sunday came, the members of the Corinthian church remembered Jesus.
35. This should not surprise us.
36. On the table we see the words, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
37. This was what Jesus said in Lk. 22:19.
38. The Lord gave us a command. When should eat the supper in memory of Him?
39. Should it be on the special day that belongs to Him or some other day?
A. It is now fashionable to eat the Lord’s Supper on any old day.
B. If we have it on Thursday, forget about having it on Sunday.
C. This is a thoughtless conclusion that overlooks the fact that Jesus has a special day.
40. Another question.
41. There are 52 Sundays in a year.
42. If Sunday is the “Lord’s day,” how many special days does He have each year?
43. Would we not say 52?
44. Of Jesus’ special 52 days, how many times should we remember Him?
45. When Paul spoke of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Cor. 10-11, he repeatedly used the present tense.
A. I want to read some of the places where the present tense describes the communion.
B. The beginning point will be 1 Cor. 10:16 – READ.
C. The words “bless”and “break” are in the present tense.
D. This is consistent with every Sunday communion.
E. We continue to meet week by week and we continue to remember week by week what Jesus did.
F. In 1 Cor. 11:24 there is a verb; it is probably rendered “do” in your Bible.
G. This verb is also in the present tense – READ.
H. The present tense is also found in verse 26 of 1 Cor. 11 – READ.
I. Paul said Christians “proclaim” (present tense) Jesus’ death.
J. This is a regular part of the assembly on Jesus’ special day.
46. Let’s not fail to observe verse 28 in this chapter – READ.
47. Christians are to “prove” themselves. This is in the present tense. The KJV says “examine.”
48. How many Sundays should we use to “examine” ourselves?
49. Would God be pleased with self examination once or twice a year, or once a month?
50. Every time we come together on Jesus’ special day is a time for personal examination.
51. Paul joined this examination with the Lord’s Supper.
52. If we examine ourselves each Sunday, we need to have the Lord’s Supper each Sunday.
53. The present tense is also used in 28b.
54. The “eating and drinking” are on-going actions.
55. YOU MAY BE THINKING THIS LESSON IS ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER. IT’S NOT. IT IS A DESCRIPTION OF HOW CHRISTIANS ARE
A. A Christian is someone who knows what the “Lord’s Day” is.
B. This is a day that belongs to Jesus.
C. This day is not, as some have alleged, a “Christian Sabbath.”
D. It is however, a day that is very special to the Lord.
E. It is a time when He joins with His people as they worship.
F. Part of this time involves observing the Lord's Supper each Sunday.
56. A Christian knows what this day is and uses it in the right way.
57. At different times we a variety of opinions about Sunday.
58. “It is my only day off. It is my only day to sleep in. It is the only day I can relax.”
59. Sunday can be a time for rest.
60. The older or more active people get, the more they appreciate a Sunday nap.
61. A Christian is someone who says, “Sunday is the Lord’s day.”
62. “I have spiritual obligations on this day that God wants me to meet.”
63. I am obligated to meet with the people of God.
64. I have a duty to worship in the way Jesus has directed.
65. I am bound to examine myself during this time and this includes the period when we have communion.
66. Jesus has a special day and I will use this day to pay special attention to Him.
67. I am persuaded that most people are good at associating things with special days.
A. We have a day to honor mothers and fathers.
B. A day is set aside to remember Presidents, influential historical figures, and many other things.
C. The most important person who has ever lived has a special day each week.
D. Do we honor Jesus each time this day comes, or say to Him that it really doesn’t matter to us?
68. Is the Lord’s day less important to us than Labor Day or Valentine’s Day?
69. Is it less important than Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, or New Year’s Day?
70. A mature Christian sees Sunday as the most important day of the week.
71. Jesus has a day.
72. What are we doing with it? Are we honoring Him as His word describes?
73. Are we even one of His children?
74. Any day is a good time to become a Christian. Sunday is an especially good time.