Communion

The Cross

When I was growing up, there was a table at the front of the church. Inscribed in it were the words,

In Remembrance of Me

These words were spoken by Jesus when He was with His disciples, shortly before He went to the cross.

This is My body which is broken for you. This cup is the new covenant in My blood.

Much has been made about what actually happens when we share in the Lord’s Supper. It has probably been one of the most divisive issues in Christianity. I’m not going to take much time trying to explain what different churches believe. There are many with a deeper understanding than what I have.

My question is this,

What are we celebrating?

Jesus said,

This is My body...

When we look at Jesus’ sacrifice, when we look at how badly He was beaten, every time we partake of the bread, we remember the price that He paid for our salvation.

Jesus died once for sin, the righteous for the unrighteous.

Isaiah 52:14 NIV

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—

He who knew no sin, became the atoning sacrifice for our sin. He was beaten beyond recognition. When we take time and reflect, when we ponder the immensity of God’s love, that Jesus would suffer for us, How can we not recognize the body and the blood of our Lord.

I can’t even begin to imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to have been tied to a pole and beaten by Roman soldiers.

He had done nothing, and yet He became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Not only was He beaten, He was forced to carry His cross to the place of the Skull, Golgotha, but He was nailed to that cross for you and for me.

I shudder if I get a sliver under my finger nail and yet they nailed Him to a cross to die.

It was the ultimate form of cruelty and brutality, and even though He had the power to stop it, Jesus came to fulfill the purpose of God the Father to pay for our sins.

Jesus shed His blood…

When Jesus took the cup, He said,

This cup is the New Covenant in My blood.

The Old Covenant demanded animal sacrifices. Every year the High Priest was required to enter the Most Holy Place to sprinkle blood on the Mercy Seat. It was a fearful thing to make atonement for the sin of the people, and yet Jesus came once to make atonement for our sin.

1 John 2:1–2 NIV

1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. We now can experience forgiveness because Jesus shed His precious blood.

Hebrews 10:19–23 NIV

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

This morning, we are going to share from the Lord’s table, and we remember what He has done. Let’s do this in remembrance of Him.

Would those serving communion come to serve this morning.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NKJV

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.