Many churches have communion, and many have them especially
at Christmas Eve, and on Christmas day this year since it falls on a Sunday. Yet today I feel compelled to address an important issue regarding communion at this time since this is the time of year when those who would not typically attend a service, do so for whatever personal reason, and may be confused about it… and some Christians as well.
When I was first saved, I didn’t understand communion; the details and specifics of it were not taught to me… and I knew little more than the fact that we were given some bread and wine and we got to eat a little snack during church.
In-fact when I was very young I even made a little joke about it when I was hungry and actually said “I want more Jesus.”
It was Jesus Himself that explained the details and specifics of the ceremony in 1st Corinthians 11:23-32:
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
There are quite a few things that we can glean from these verses. Firstly the word “supped” in verse 25 is not commonly used today, but in the original Greek the word is deipnéō which means “to dine / to eat the evening meal”.
The communion that Jesus gave to His disciples was not a measly morsel of bread and a drop of wine. It was as much as they could take until they were full, symbolizing the abundant bountiful provision of Jesus Christ.
To a degree, I understand why churches today offer the standard thin wafer and small cup of grape juice that wouldn’t quench the hunger or thirst of a mouse; but at the same time let us remember that there is actually total sufficiency in our LORD and Savior. That no-one is ever left in want when they come to Him.
Secondly, I once knew a person who thought that the verses 27-31 about examining oneself and taking unworthily was speaking of sin.. and therefore this person would not take communion for several years.
The key thing here is to look at exactly what verse 29 is saying… to eat and drink in an unworthy manner is to “not discern the LORD’s Body” meaning to not recognize and identify with the many sacrifices which Jesus suffered to make us free. It goes on to say that this is the reason that many are weak and sick, and why many have fallen asleep “died”. Yet this verse is not talking about sin. For who among the disciples were totally sinless?
Finally my friends, the more we can identify with Jesus’ completed work, the more we can truly be set free. This is His everlasting gift to us, and what a perfect time to receive a gift more precious than anything under our Christmas trees, than the one who actually is represented by the tree. Jesus!
Let us today say with meaning and heart the thing that I jokingly said in my youth, but now can say with sincerity and truth of spirit: “I want more Jesus!” The more of Him we receive, the more we can know the marvelous blessings of His eternal gift.