Isaiah 53:1 Communion Devo

Before we enter into this, however, I want to just state that Northwest Pentecostal Assembly celebrates open communion - so if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you are welcome to join with us. We will hold onto the elements until everyone has received them and then partake together.

The verse for our Communion today is Isaiah 53:1, which says:

English Standard Version Chapter 53

Who has believed what he has heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

One commentary that I was reading as I prepared this explained that this section is a rhetorical question asked by a group of Israelites who believed what God has revealed about His Servant - the promised Messiah. This question is asked in a way that makes it sound like very few people would believe the message - because it is astounding or mind-blowing. This is still the same today, the number who believe is much smaller than those who scoff and walk away. The “arm of the LORD” that has been revealed is His miraculous saving power, and it has been revealed through the message about God’s Servant - the Messiah - and also later by the Messiah Himself. These Israelites that believed are now going on to share the message that they have believed, though it may or may not be received by those they share it with.

Cool, so how does this tie in with Communion? We are those who have believed the message about God’s Suffering Servant, we have received the truth about Jesus, the Messiah. And although the arm of the Lord has been revealed to the world through Jesus’ saving act of death and resurrection, many still do not believe. We who do believe, remember this through celebrating Communion. Paul wrote to the Corinthians instructions about how to celebrate Communion, and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 is a passage that guides us through Communion so well that we will follow it today as well. Before we enter into this, however, I want to just state that Northwest Pentecostal Assembly celebrates open communion - so if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, then you are welcome to join with us. We will hold onto the elements until everyone has received them and then partake together. I would like everyone to look at the elements that you hold - a little cup of grape juice and a fishy cracker. How can this possibly represent the sacrifice that Jesus gave, the extent of what He went through? Do we really think about it when we do this once a month? Do you ever look at that little fishy cracker in your hand and think: This is symbolic of the body of Jesus, the body that was beaten and bruised and bloody… for me! For you… and for our sinfulness. This tiny cup of grape juice, it’s not the right color, but can you picture it? If this were actually blood - which thank goodness it’s not, am I right? - this would be just a small amount of what Jesus gave up for us. We are the reason that He suffered the way He did, His amazing boundless love for us drove Him to it. So let’s enter this with true contemplation of what Jesus has done, the cost that He paid, the price that He deemed we were worthy of.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

23 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, 24 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.” 25 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.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In this moment, as we sit in serious thought, I want you to picture Jesus in front of you. He’s looking at you, there is such love in His eyes, love that was revealed with His actions leading up to and on the cross. Hear His voice today as He says “My child, I did this for love for you. It was horrible. But… I would do it all again for you.”

Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice. Help us to remember and never forget what you have done, especially as we prepare our hearts for your message and for Good Friday and Easter next week. Amen.