A Christmas Communion

A CHRISTMAS COMMUNION

SCRIPTURE:           Luke 22:14-20; Luke 2:11-12, 15

INTRODUCTION.

        There are many ways to recall who Jesus was and is--and what He did for us as Savior and Lord.  Concerning His last meal with the disciples, Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19).  Henceforth, this meal has been a significant memorial of Christ's life on earth.  The Lord's Supper is also a sign for each of us to remember Christ's death "in the flesh" for our sin.

        It is most appropriate, therefore, at Christmas to celebrate this sacred meal combined with the sign of the baby in the manger--"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14a); and the sign of the Savior--who was born to "be crucified and on the third day be raised again" (Luke 24:7); and the sign of the King--the risen and triumphant "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16).  His body and blood were in the manger, as well as on the cross and risen from the tomb.

I.      REMEMBER THE SIGN OF THE BABY.

        God through Jesus is always "being born" as believers are reborn to new life.  The baby in the manger is a sign to recall what He did for us as Messiah.  His mercies "are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).  Indeed, they are new this Christmas!  Go to the manger!  "Do this in remembrance of me."  The sign of salvation has come in the birth of Jesus Christ.

II.     REMEMBER THE SIGN OF THE SAVIOR.

        The babe in the manger cries out for us to remember God who became like us--to save us.  "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).  The God of all creation humbled Himself.  God Himself became a fragile baby to understand our weakness and to show us the way to overcome the world by the power of His Spirit, even unto death on the cross.  Angels announced His being vulnerable for our sakes.  The manger is a sign of the Savior and His amazing grace!

III.    REMEMBER THE SIGN OF THE KING.

        The coming King "attacked" the world as a baby.  He chose not armies--or a royal birth--to display His power.  His strength, as ours, was made perfect in weakness; yet that "baby" won the victory at Calvary!  Behold the manger.  Remember the hymn writer's words:  "This manger of Bethlehem cradles a King."

CONCLUSION.

        The celebration of Jesus' birth calls us to remember Him as the humble infant who was born on earth, so we might be reborn through His death and resurrection.  The manger, like the Cross and the empty tomb, is a sign of His victory.