Communion
Remembering the Sacrifice: The True Meaning of Communion
There's something profoundly powerful about remembering. In our fast-paced world, we often rush through moments that deserve our full attention, our complete reverence. Yet some things are simply too important to forget—and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ stands at the pinnacle of what we must never let slip from our memory.
An Example Worth Following
Jesus Christ serves as our ultimate example for everything in life. Not just for the big spiritual moments, but for every aspect of how we live, love, and serve. When we look at His final hours before the crucifixion, we see Him establishing something sacred—a practice that would echo through centuries, reminding believers of the price paid for their redemption.
In Luke 22:14-20, we find Jesus sitting with His twelve apostles, knowing exactly what awaited Him. As God incarnate, existing outside of time itself, He had already seen the torture, the mockery, the cross. His flesh was fighting against what His spirit knew must happen. Yet in this heavy moment, He desired one thing: to share the Passover with those He loved.
"With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer," He told them. These weren't empty words. Jesus was about to fulfill the very purpose for which He was born—not to be a carpenter, not merely to heal the sick or preach powerful sermons, but to die for the sins of all humanity.
The Sacred Ordinances
Jesus left the church with two vital ordinances: baptism and communion. Baptism represents our burial in the likeness of His death and our resurrection to new life. Communion—the Lord's Supper—represents His broken body and shed blood. These aren't magical rituals where bread literally becomes flesh or juice transforms into blood. Rather, they're powerful acts of remembrance, sacred moments to reflect on the sacrifice that changed everything.
The bread we break symbolizes Christ's body, broken for us. The cup we drink represents the New Testament in His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. "This do in remembrance of me," Jesus said. Not as empty tradition, but as intentional, heartfelt remembrance.
When Unity Matters Most
The early church in Corinth had a problem. They'd turned the Lord's Supper into something it was never meant to be—a regular meal where some ate their fill while others went hungry, where some even became intoxicated. They'd forgotten the purpose, and Paul had to correct them firmly in 1 Corinthians 11.
This correction reveals something crucial: unity matters to God. When believers gather to observe communion, they must be unified—not just in their understanding of doctrine, but in their relationships with one another. The body of Christ cannot function effectively when its members are in conflict, any more than your physical body could accomplish tasks if your hands were working against each other.
If there's bitterness in your heart toward a brother or sister in Christ, if there's division or unforgiveness, these things must be made right before observing communion. This isn't about being perfect—it's about being honest before God and reconciled with others.
The Danger of Taking It Lightly
Paul's warning to the Corinthians is sobering: "Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27). This doesn't mean we must be sinless—that's impossible. Rather, it means we must examine ourselves, ensuring we truly belong to Christ and aren't living in willful rebellion against Him.
Taking communion unworthily means not discerning the Lord's body—not truly remembering and honoring what Christ did. It means treating His sacrifice casually, as though it were nothing special. For those who do this, Paul warns, there are consequences: "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:30).
God loves His children enough to discipline them. When we weaken the body of Christ through our actions, He may weaken our own bodies to get our attention. This isn't vindictive—it's corrective love from a Father who refuses to let His children destroy themselves.
The Path Forward
The solution is beautifully simple: "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31). Before observing communion, take time for honest self-examination. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any wicked ways. Most often, if we're not right with God, we already know where we left Him. The Holy Spirit has a way of putting His finger directly on the issue.
Getting right with God isn't complicated, but it requires humility. It means acknowledging where you're wrong, understanding that you can't fix yourself on your own, and turning back to Christ. It means forgiving those who've hurt you and seeking forgiveness from those you've wounded.
More Than a Ritual
After the Last Supper, Jesus did something remarkable. He rose from the table, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and washed His disciples' feet. The Creator of the universe knelt down to wash grimy feet. His message was clear: none of us are above serving one another.
But the greatest way we serve each other isn't through grand gestures—it's through love. "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you," Jesus said. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
This is how the world knows we belong to Christ—not by our theological arguments or our religious activities, but by our love for one another. This love starts at home, in how husbands love their wives, how wives respect their husbands, how children obey their parents, and how we all treat each other with grace and kindness.
The Heart of Remembrance
Communion isn't just about looking backward to what Christ did on the cross, though that's certainly central. It's also about recognizing what He's doing in us right now. We're not just saved from the penalty of sin—we're freed from its power. We don't have to live like we used to live. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, giving us the power to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.
When we observe communion, we're declaring that Jesus Christ's death matters—that it changed us, that it continues to change us, and that we're living in light of that sacrifice. We're announcing to the spiritual realm that we belong to Him, that His blood has purchased us, and that we're committed to living as His disciples.
So the next time you observe communion, don't rush through it. Don't treat it as just another religious obligation. Instead, pause. Remember. Reflect on the awful price that was paid and the wonderful gift that was given. Let your heart fill with gratitude for the mercy and grace shown to you.
And then, live differently because of it.
There's something profoundly powerful about remembering. In our fast-paced world, we often rush through moments that deserve our full attention, our complete reverence. Yet some things are simply too important to forget—and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ stands at the pinnacle of what we must never let slip from our memory.
An Example Worth Following
Jesus Christ serves as our ultimate example for everything in life. Not just for the big spiritual moments, but for every aspect of how we live, love, and serve. When we look at His final hours before the crucifixion, we see Him establishing something sacred—a practice that would echo through centuries, reminding believers of the price paid for their redemption.
In Luke 22:14-20, we find Jesus sitting with His twelve apostles, knowing exactly what awaited Him. As God incarnate, existing outside of time itself, He had already seen the torture, the mockery, the cross. His flesh was fighting against what His spirit knew must happen. Yet in this heavy moment, He desired one thing: to share the Passover with those He loved.
"With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer," He told them. These weren't empty words. Jesus was about to fulfill the very purpose for which He was born—not to be a carpenter, not merely to heal the sick or preach powerful sermons, but to die for the sins of all humanity.
The Sacred Ordinances
Jesus left the church with two vital ordinances: baptism and communion. Baptism represents our burial in the likeness of His death and our resurrection to new life. Communion—the Lord's Supper—represents His broken body and shed blood. These aren't magical rituals where bread literally becomes flesh or juice transforms into blood. Rather, they're powerful acts of remembrance, sacred moments to reflect on the sacrifice that changed everything.
The bread we break symbolizes Christ's body, broken for us. The cup we drink represents the New Testament in His blood, shed for the forgiveness of sins. "This do in remembrance of me," Jesus said. Not as empty tradition, but as intentional, heartfelt remembrance.
When Unity Matters Most
The early church in Corinth had a problem. They'd turned the Lord's Supper into something it was never meant to be—a regular meal where some ate their fill while others went hungry, where some even became intoxicated. They'd forgotten the purpose, and Paul had to correct them firmly in 1 Corinthians 11.
This correction reveals something crucial: unity matters to God. When believers gather to observe communion, they must be unified—not just in their understanding of doctrine, but in their relationships with one another. The body of Christ cannot function effectively when its members are in conflict, any more than your physical body could accomplish tasks if your hands were working against each other.
If there's bitterness in your heart toward a brother or sister in Christ, if there's division or unforgiveness, these things must be made right before observing communion. This isn't about being perfect—it's about being honest before God and reconciled with others.
The Danger of Taking It Lightly
Paul's warning to the Corinthians is sobering: "Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:27). This doesn't mean we must be sinless—that's impossible. Rather, it means we must examine ourselves, ensuring we truly belong to Christ and aren't living in willful rebellion against Him.
Taking communion unworthily means not discerning the Lord's body—not truly remembering and honoring what Christ did. It means treating His sacrifice casually, as though it were nothing special. For those who do this, Paul warns, there are consequences: "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep" (1 Corinthians 11:30).
God loves His children enough to discipline them. When we weaken the body of Christ through our actions, He may weaken our own bodies to get our attention. This isn't vindictive—it's corrective love from a Father who refuses to let His children destroy themselves.
The Path Forward
The solution is beautifully simple: "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Corinthians 11:31). Before observing communion, take time for honest self-examination. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any wicked ways. Most often, if we're not right with God, we already know where we left Him. The Holy Spirit has a way of putting His finger directly on the issue.
Getting right with God isn't complicated, but it requires humility. It means acknowledging where you're wrong, understanding that you can't fix yourself on your own, and turning back to Christ. It means forgiving those who've hurt you and seeking forgiveness from those you've wounded.
More Than a Ritual
After the Last Supper, Jesus did something remarkable. He rose from the table, laid aside His garments, took a towel, and washed His disciples' feet. The Creator of the universe knelt down to wash grimy feet. His message was clear: none of us are above serving one another.
But the greatest way we serve each other isn't through grand gestures—it's through love. "A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another as I have loved you," Jesus said. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).
This is how the world knows we belong to Christ—not by our theological arguments or our religious activities, but by our love for one another. This love starts at home, in how husbands love their wives, how wives respect their husbands, how children obey their parents, and how we all treat each other with grace and kindness.
The Heart of Remembrance
Communion isn't just about looking backward to what Christ did on the cross, though that's certainly central. It's also about recognizing what He's doing in us right now. We're not just saved from the penalty of sin—we're freed from its power. We don't have to live like we used to live. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, giving us the power to say no to sin and yes to righteousness.
When we observe communion, we're declaring that Jesus Christ's death matters—that it changed us, that it continues to change us, and that we're living in light of that sacrifice. We're announcing to the spiritual realm that we belong to Him, that His blood has purchased us, and that we're committed to living as His disciples.
So the next time you observe communion, don't rush through it. Don't treat it as just another religious obligation. Instead, pause. Remember. Reflect on the awful price that was paid and the wonderful gift that was given. Let your heart fill with gratitude for the mercy and grace shown to you.
And then, live differently because of it.
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