Communion

This post is so that those who feel led can take communion at home. I urge you to spend a few moments in worship before you read further. Give Him the glory He deserves.

About Communion

When Jesus sat at table with His disciples to take the Passover meal, something shifted in the atmosphere. Here was the fulfillment of Passover itself.

We’ve read the story, how the Israelites were told to put blood on the doorposts of their homes so that the angel of death would “pass over” them. Everyone inside, behind the blood, would be saved. (See Ex 12:23)

I want to take you back further, to Adam’s and Eve’s creation. God, Elohim, gave them “dominion” over the earth. In other words, God made mankind to also have His authority. They were like him in every way, completely in His image. Minister Dutch Sheets says they were so much like Him, you had to do a double take. Not only physically, in their appearance, but also mentally, they thought like God, and spiritually, they “subdued” the earth. (See Ge 1:27-28)

I heard another minister say Jesus’ death shows how much God valued men. What a wonderful thought. God valued us so much that He set out from that moment in the Garden, in His mercy, to bring us back into proper relationship. His love for us was that great. However, it would take a Man to save men. Thousands of years of animal sacrifices only covered sin. They couldn’t remove it. (See Heb 9:12)

God came to earth in the flesh because there wasn’t any other way to accomplish our deliverance. It would take a sinless, willing sacrifice of the same kind. This is why there was a virgin birth. Man’s will could not be involved. This had to be all-God, all the way. God had to walk in man’s shoes, subject Himself to man’s temptations, and overcome them all. (See Heb 4:15)

But why the shedding of blood? I asked God this question one morning. Why did blood always have to be involved, and how did blood cleanse anything? We are told that the life is in the blood. (See Lev 17:11) If you’re like me, though, that doesn’t help much. What does that even mean?

I decided to do a little research about blood and was startled at what I found. The blood performs three functions in the body: nourishment, cleansing, and healing. The blood moves nutrients between the cells. In the same action, it cleanses the cells of waste. White blood cells fight viruses and diseases.

God is so amazing. He designed the blood to do what Christ’s death and Resurrection would do. When Jesus laid down His life, His blood cleansed man from all sin and the power of sin and provided them eternal life. He is our heavenly nourishment. His body was crushed and bruised to provide our mental and physical healing. (See Is 53:4-6)

As a perfect man, who death could not touch, He subjected Himself to death anyway. Revelation 13:8 says, He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” God had a strategy for our salvation before He even spoke light into existence. Do you get that? Before Adam’s and Eve’s sin.

So as we raise this cup to our lips, as we think on Jesus’ words, consider the grandness of it. See Him as the rock in the desert from which water flowed at Moses’ strike. (See Ex 17:6) See Him as the bread of life, manna, fallen from heaven. (See Ex 16:35) See Him as the pole lifted up in the wilderness that brought the Israelites healing. (See Jn 3:14)

See Him as the design of the temple. He is the shewbread, the laver of cleansing water, the way into the Holy of holies. He is the door. He is the sacrifice. He is the faithful High Priest. In Him, are truly “all things.” (See Ex 25:30; Ex 30:18-20; Ex 26:33; Jn 10:7; Heb 2:17; Rm 11:36)

Our Scripture to Read:

“Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, along with his apostles. He told them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer, because I tell you, I will never eat it again until it finds its fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it among yourselves, because I tell you, from now on I will never drink the product of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, gave thanks, broke it in pieces, and handed it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Keep on doing this in memory of me." He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood, which is being poured out for you.”(Luke 22:14-20 ISV)

Our Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to you in remembrance of our Savior’s words. We take this communion and dedicate ourselves to You. As He willingly became our sacrifice, we offer humble hearts in extreme gratitude and devotion. We believe He died on the cross to satisfy our debt to sin, and we believe He rose again in great victory. Both His death and His Resurrection were for our benefit. How marvelous you are!

Father, we lift this cup, which represents the complete action of His blood. He gives life through the blood. He cleanses our heart through the blood, and He heals our minds and bodies through the blood. Nothing You do is ever halfway, but you are exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.*

Father, we take this bread, and we break it, recalling Jesus as the bread of life. As His body was bruised to take on our punishment, we give our complete selves to you. We choose to walk sacrificial lives, to love others when we’re angry, to give generously from our point of need, to show mercy as You have been merciful to us. In times of doubt, we give a sacrifice of praise because in You is peace that cannot ever be taken away.

Father, we dedicate every part of ourselves to you. Give us eyes to see You. Give us ears to hear You. Take our voices and use them for Your glory. Take our hands and work through us. Take our feet and walk with us. Make an outward change to our new inward creation. With Jesus’ sacrifice, You fulfilled the Old Covenant and created a New Covenant, a better covenant, sealed with Jesus’ blood that lives still on the altars of heaven, unalterable, unchangeable, eternal.

Thank you, Father. We are forever grateful.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

*Reference Eph 3:20

Image by bereanaoficial1 from Pixabay

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.feelgoodromance.com
www.suzannedwilliams.com