How to Commune

154 – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Tradition

One great danger

that religious people face

is falling into routine.

This was curse

of the Pharisees.

This destroyed the

spirituality of

the early church.

God is clear,

He hates formalities

without the heart.

Micah 6:6–8 ESV

“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

In fact,

we are specifically warned

against partaking of

communion with

as a form.

1 Corinthians 11:27 ESV

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.

Probably,

greatest question

we could ask is:

WHY DO WE DO THIS?

The question really is:

what is communion?

what is its purpose?

why do we do it?

At the risk of

giving information

that you already know

very well.

Let’s tell the story.

The Past

Jesus was hours from death

He look around the room.

Seated there were

many half converted people.

He had tried to warn

them about what was

about to happen

But,

they never listened.

Jesus was surrounded by

His best friends.

But He was alone!

Nobody understood Him.

the purpose of His mission.

John 13:1 ESV

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

He wanted to

show them

teach them

instruct them

one last time.

So he planned to celebrate

the passover together

one day early.

You know the story.

they were bickering about

who is the greatest

who will be vice president.

One the other hand,

Jesus was facing the most

ignominious death.

How could he reach them.

How could H change

their hearts.

The Communion

is the story of

Christ’s emmense love

for us

unrighteous

half-converted

selfish

self-absorbed

disciples.

Communion is about

Christ including us

in His plan of Salvation.

Communion is to remember

Christ’s offensive

yet lovely

sacrifice.

But communion is more.

I looks into the past.

But also:

It looks into the future.

The Future

Matthew 26:29 ESV

I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Christ here prefigures

the grand scene of

The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Revelation 19:6–9 ESV

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

In vision,

John sees,

that amazing celebrations

fist meal in heaven.

Jesus will again,

partake of

the fruit of the vine

with the saints!

He has been fasting

abstaining

for a long time!

Grape juice was always

at the center of any

great Jewish festival.

Jesus said,

I’m not going to party again

until I bring you home

to be with me.

And,

what a party

it will be!

Communion celebrate

rich history

joyeous future.

But more,

contemplative present.

The Present

As we stand

in awe of

the story of salvation

what Christ went through

just for us....

As we stand

in awe of

the great bliss

that awaits

believers in Christ....

We can help but

contemplate

a few important

questions today.

With thankful and humble

hearts we should ask.

Where Do I Stand?

I can see

where Christ’s

heart is.

But,

where is mine.

Paul explains

one major purpose of

this communion:

1 Corinthians 11:28 ESV

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

Please,

don’t allow this

to be just another

feel-good tradition

Paul is clear,

there could be

consequences for

taking it so lightly.

1 Corinthians 11:29 ESV

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Allow the love

of God to

prick the heart

and respond.

I believe that

as the disciples

celebrated the first

few communions together.

They experience very

mixed emotions.

Thoughts of

love

thankfulness

joy

mingled with

regrets

repentance

resolve.

Why?

They were reminded

how unprepared they were

for Jesus to leave.

how the missed

the purpose of Jesus death.

how they were

arguing about

who is best

their last night together.

May this tradition

do the same for us today.

Follow Pauls advice,

“examine yourself.”

Think of the past.

amazing sacrifice of Christ.

Think of the future.

Think of the future.

amazing joy of our future home with God.

Think of the present.

check your own heart, asking where you stand.

assemble together to fellowship, to remember Christ's sacrifice and to examine their own hearts as to whether they have any unconfessed sin.

317 – Lead Me to Calvary