Let me start by saying that we live in a world where people are perishing, love is diminishing and the heart of many are turning away from God. We hear and see it all the time in the news so the battle against the enemy is becoming more challenging.
Thank you, Lord, for the sacred gift of holy communion! We desperately need this divine nourishment to renew our weary bodies and restless spirits, to truly join together in the profound mystery of sharing in the body and blood of our Savior.
Ever since I started meditating upon Holy Communion, I have come to realize that the essence and the significance of the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ is eternally unchanging. The truth about Jesus and what he instituted has an everlasting effect.
SCRIPTURE
The scripture that is always referred or used when we partake in Holy Communion is 1 Corinthians 11:23-32.
I want you guys to camp out with me on 5 very important and profound words in this scripture.
Body, Blood, Remembrance, Proclaim and Unworthy manner
I spent lot of time thinking about unworthy manner and have come to realize is that God does not want us to think about it but the first four. The last one which is unworthiness will take care of itself.
You will see what Scripture has to say about it.
BODY AND BLOOD
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:24-25.
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Let’s start with BLOOD first.
Now, in the times of law, in order to avoid death to God, animals were sacrificed and their blood was accepted by God as atonement for the sins.
Why blood though? Why not our belongings or materialistic things that we acquire over period of time.
In order save life, life was needed. Scripture tells us that life is in the blood, and the wage of sin is death.
When God created us in HIS own image, he created us to live with HIM forever and never die. But sin separated us from God.
So, in order to bring an end to the necessity of a daily sacrifice, God himself had to come once for all and shed his blood for all humanity.
Jesus had to shed his blood so that we all can have eternal life with him. The word became flesh and sacrificed himself for remission of sins for all.
Now, what about his BODY.
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:42-45.
This scripture is so revealing of the attributes of sins of the world. Often times, it’s hard to understand how Jesus bore our sins upon himself and had to go through so much pain, agony and suffering and had to die for us. Why his body was broken to sins to be raised in glory for us.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
He went to the darkest place of all to leave and bury our sins where they belong and then raised to glory.
When you hold the elements, remember that you are holding on to the very life of Jesus that was ended but resurrected for you and me.
REMEMBRANCE
HE died on the cross for us and in return he simply asks us to remember.
Remember what? Remember his death, sacrifice and resurrection.
What happens when we remember someone?
We get connected. We start to think. We start to feel. It’s a free will that’s given to us by God.
I will leave it to you what you want to remember about him when you partake in his communion. But for me, he becomes alive when I remember him.
Why? If Jesus would not have resurrected, then he would have died in vain and empty tomb has shown us that we have a loving and living Christ.
That he is life giver; we are covered with his precious blood that heals all sickness and diseases and there is a promise to an everlasting life thru HIS Resurrection.
PROCLAMATION
Let’s read 1 Corinthians 11:26
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
We should not have any doubt in our heart about whether He died for you and me or not. When Jesus said these words to his disciples, it was not only for them but for all of us.
Look what Revelation 5:9-10 has to say about it
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Who are they and whom are they singing to? If you read the whole chapter, you will come to know that there are 4 living creatures (not dead but living) and 24 elders falling down before the lamb who we all know is Jesus.
Partaking in the Holy Communion equips us with divine strength to battle the enemy. Jesus has made us triumphant over the wicked wiles and schemes of the devil.
UNWORTHY MANNER
As I wrote earlier in the beginning that God does not want to judge us. Otherwise, why would God send his only begotten son to be offered as sacrifice for us.
Love and judgment cannot exist together.
Let’s read verse 1 Corinthians 11:31.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
If we partake with thanksgiving, realizing what Jesus did on the cross, recognizing that we have eternal life with HIM, then we don’t have to worry about unworthy manner.
As we are part of God’s family, we can only love and uplift one another and with humble heart go to the cross.
Holy communion has become incredibly dear to my heart, and as a united body of believers, let us grasp the profound significance of this sacred ritual:
Our past, present, and future are intricately woven together through the divine gift of holy communion.
What Jesus accomplished on the cross in the past not only redeems our present existence but also powerfully shapes our future alongside him.
He bestowed upon us and the generations to follow, an everlasting and eternal life filled with his presence.
**But here lies the crucial point.
**In this moment in time, we must fervently remember him and boldly proclaim his word, forging an unbreakable connection between our past and present, so that we may walk with him into the glorious future.
Holy Communion is for everyone
but those who believe in salvation
are restored and have eternal life.
Desire Life. Desire Love. Desire Light and Stay Blessed.
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