Communion

What has been your experience of communion and what does it mean to you?

Recently, I had the privilege to lead our church in communion. I share my thoughts from that occasion here with you for your contemplation.

Communion is a personal invitation to you, from Jesus himself. He says to you “do this in remembrance of me”.

On the last occasion Jesus was with his disciples, his followers, before the events leading to his death commenced, Jesus was having a meal with them. It was intimate, Jesus and his disciples talked freely, they knew each other well. But this wasn’t just like any other meal they had had together. Jesus knew the events that were about to unfold.

A death was about to take place. Not any death.

Recorded in the Bible is some of the conversation that occurred during that meal.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-30)

Why did Jesus have to die and why is it significant to us today?

Jesus’ death wasn’t just the death of a human body. There is a significant, underlying spiritual reason for Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus was God in human form. God chose to enter humanity as one of us. Why? Humanity…all humans that have existed, us today and all those yet to exist…are alienated from God, our Creator…who loves us to the magnitude that we will never be able to comprehend. We are born sinful and selfish without any hope or means of knowing God’s love for us. We don’t acknowledge God and we don’t want to. We are ignorant and we are stubborn in our unbelief. We reject God. Yet, because of God’s great love for us, God chose to intervene to remove the alienation, to remove the separation so that we may know him, intimately and personally.

Jesus died for one reason, to take on himself the penalty, the punishment of your sin, to die for you, so you can be forgiven by God, have all of your sin removed, and be reconciled with and connected with God today.

Jesus says, this bread, this represents my body, this represents that I came to earth to sacrifice my life in your place, because I love you, take it and eat it, remember what I have done for you.

Jesus says, this cup, this represents my blood, this represents that I died for you to forgive your sins, because I love you, take it and drink from it, remember what I have done for you.

Who is Jesus to you? Have you encountered him for yourself? Have you chosen to believe what he did for you? Have you asked him to forgive your sins? Have you experienced the love and acceptance of God? Has he been real to you this week? Have you acknowledged and involved him in your life? Have you followed him or have you denied him? Have you experienced his peace, his love and his joy? Is your life different because of Jesus?

What is your response to him? It doesn’t matter when the last time was that you came before him and spoke to him. It doesn’t matter if you have never acknowledged him in this way before. He is inviting you to come, to be honest with him, to confess your sin to him and to receive his love and forgiveness for you.

Next time communion is available, think about what communion represents, who Jesus is to you and what  your response is to him.

“Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19)