Communion

Opening of communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–29 ESV

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

What is this saying? Are we supposed to do more than just show up and take communion and remember? What is reverence? What is this part about drinking judgment on ourselves?

First thing, reverence is deep respect or admiration, The fear of the Lord. We are to examine ourselves, our lives, the things we are doing within closed doors, not what we show others, but what we keep hidden that we think no one sees. We are to repent for the sins we have conducted. Maybe the ones we did on the way here, yelling at traffic. We are to come before our Lord and Savior humbly and remember all the things he has done for us. Acknowledge the stuff he has brought us out of, thank him, and proclaim his sacrifice until he comes again. This is just one way for us to stay out of the repetitive and ritualistic faith that so many have fallen into.

The explanation of us taking communion

1 Corinthians 10:16–18 ESV

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

In the same way that after the sacrifices were made in the Old Testament that the Israelites would eat particular sacrifices to take part in the actions at the alter, we drink and eat the bread to partake in the sacrifice Jesus made.

Silent time to reflect.

Pray over the communion

Mark 14:22–25 ESV

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”