Why do we do Communion?

Introduction - The Table

If you attend church during a communion service, regardless of the church, at the front there is usually a tabel of some kind. Sometimes it is really fancy table, ornate woodworking, sometimes it is a plane table, perhaps a plastic white table much liek this one; and sometimes, the table to covered with a cloth. The table cloth may have “do this in rememberance of me”, or it could be a simple white table cloth.

Now upon this table there is usually some items placed. Here you will see that we have these silver dishes. There could be any number of dishes. Some churches have a dish for the bread, if you call these little waffers bread. And there is, of course, some dish to hold the juice. Now we, for the sake of time and ease of distribution, use these silver dishes that are failry easy to pass around, and we stack 2 cups, the bottom has the waffer, and the top contains the juice.

There is usually some ceremony involved. Prayer. Scripture reading. Specific people involved, in our case deacons. A specific manner in which we distribute the items to the congregation, and then a specific manner in which I serve the deacons, and the chairmen of the deacons serves me.

It is specific. It is on purpose. It has meaning. And Communion is one of two ordinances observed in the Church: Baptism and Communion were established and commanded by Jesus.

What exactly IS Communion?

(begin removing ceremonial communion items, and start preparing a dinner table)

Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 26.

Matthew 26:17 CSB

On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

In order for us to understand Communion, we must first get our minds right with the setting. Jesus taught so much in parable and in action. He walked with the disciples, taught them in action. You will notice here that it was the first day of Unleveaned Bread, and the DIsciples were preparing for the Passover meal. Very important.

The first thing we need to remember is that this is something special.

The disciples were making preparation for the Passover meal.

Passover Meal

Deuteronomy 16:1 (CSB)

“Set aside the month of Abib (aviv) and observe the Passover to the Lord your God, because the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night in the month of Abib.

Exodus 12:7–14 CSB

They must take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where they eat them. They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over fire—its head as well as its legs and inner organs. You must not leave any of it until morning; any part of it left until morning you must burn. Here is how you must eat it: You must be dressed for travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in a hurry; it is the Lord’s Passover. “I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, both people and animals. I am the Lord; I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. “This day is to be a memorial for you, and you must celebrate it as a festival to the Lord. You are to celebrate it throughout your generations as a permanent statute.

The blood of the Lamb would be placed on the doorposts and the lintel of the houses. Then they would eat the Lord’s Passover.

Called Passover because God said: I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night and strike every frist born male in the land of Egypt, but when I see the distinguishing mark for you, when I SEE THE BLOOD, I will PASS OVER YOU - No harm will come to you.

Passover is a permanent statute. The amazing night that would never be forgotten to the Jewish people. Still celebrated today, by the way. And this was the meal that the DIsciples werer preparing to eat.

A MEAL.

Communion Meal

Matthew 26:26–28 CSB

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus and the Disciples were in the upper room.

Having a meal.

Now they reclined at the table, they didn’t have chairs and such like we have in the fellowship hall. BUt it was a meal just like we have every month. A joyful time. Laughter. Jokes. Fellowship.

And while they were eating.

Jesus grabs the bread. He blessed the bread. Prayer to the Father. He gave thanks.

Then he broke the bread.

and gave some to the disciples.

Take and eat; this is my body.

He BROKE the bread- and gave it to the disciples. THIS IS MY BODY.

Then He took the cup - and again HE GAVE THANKS

and gave it to the disciples.

DRINK from it, all of you - this is MY BLOOD of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

SO simple. SO MUCH.

Let’s look at it.

Bread is the Body

Matthew 26:26 CSB

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.”

Jesus BROKE the bread and gave it to the disciples. He did not hand them the whole bread, but broken bread.

The broken bread which represents Jesus’ sufferings in His body. When we take the bread we MUST remember that His suffering was not physcological or spiritual, but PHYSICAL as well. His broken body - no never a broken bone - but His broken hearted prayer in the Garden of Gethesemane.

Luke 22:42–44 CSB

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

AGONY In His heart nowing everything that was coming.

Later being denied by Peter, His Disciples by and large abondoning Him - BROKEN!

Brutally beaten by the Roman soldiers. Mocked. Spit on. Slapped. Scourged. Sometimes I think we forget all that came BEFORE THE CROSS!

The scourging. The Crown of thorns PUSHED on His head.

Carrying the cross after ALL THAT.

Body Broken.

1 Corinthians 11:24 CSB

and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Cup is the Blood

Matthew 26:27–28 CSB

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

The Disciples would have been very aware of the words here. In Israel, for Jewish people there would be complete understanding that sins are fogiven by the pouring out of blood. This is why in Heb 9:22 the words are written clearly to the Jewish people.

Hebrews 9:22 CSB

According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The idea of blood atonement was nothing new to the Disciples.

BUT NOW

Jesus said something interesting: This is MY BLOOD of the Covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Death on the cross.

Jesus did not just die. Jesus did not die of old age. Jesus died a violent death. The worst death. Death on the cross.

He was beaten. Scourged. Mocked. Spit on. Forced to carry His own cross.

Hands and feet nailed.

Side pierced with a spear.

It is interesting that Jesus said this CUP is MY BLOOD.

He prayed:

Luke 22:42 CSB

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

You see THIS CUP - This cup is the reminder of all Jesus did.

He did this for us. What did He say? My blood, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Deliverance.

Meaning

The breaking of bread and drinking of wine at Passover serve as key reminders of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. Jesus coupled these familiar elements of the Seder with his death and the establishment of the New Covenant.

Now the Passover Seder, the COMMUNION not only reminds us of God’s faithfulness to deliver Israel from physical slavery in Egypt. But also deliverance from sin for those who put their trust His Son.

Communion is a sacred time of fellowship with God and each other, where we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

It is a special time of worship where we commemorate the Lord’s death through prayer and relection. It is quite simple in practice, but there is SO MUCH built into it. It is Special. There is weight.

John Piper says that the purpose of communion is to recieve from Christ the nourishment and strength and hope and joy; which comes from feasting our souls on all that He purchased for us on the cross, especially His own fellowship.

2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB

He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

And Pastor’s say NEVER announce Comminion service because people will skip it. Stastically it is the lowest attended service.

My how so many have forgotten what Communion is all about. It is the most special time.

Communion is a time of remembering, reflection, and recgonition. It is also a time of humbling.

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 CSB

So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

We should be tahnking God for what He did. The greatest THANK YOU we can give to God, is to do what God says to do.

1 cor here is a reminder.

Romans 5:8 CSB

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Forgive. Because you were forgiven.

Examine yourself. Because Jesus said YOU WERE worth it.

Whoever eats and drinks without refcognizing the body.

When we take communion it is sacred. It is speacial. It is a meal with Jesus.