Six weeks ago I decided to take a break from blogging to ponder Jesus’ passion.
This I have done.
One of the things I’ve pondered most during this time is the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
The church I’ve belonged to my entire life teaches that when we take this sacrament we’re not just eating bread and drinking wine, but that in, with, and under the bread, we also receive the body of Christ. And that in, with, and under the wine, we also receive the very blood of our Lord Jesus, shed for us on the cross.
This is a teaching I have always questioned.
Is that really what Jesus meant?
Maybe he was just being poetic.
Like when he said I am the vine, you are the branches or I am the light of the world.
The topic came up about a month ago in Bible Class. I took a deep breathe, raised my hand and said, “I’m not saying I don’t think Jesus could turn the bread into his body and the wine into blood, if that’s what he meant. I just don’t understand why it’s so important we agree on that.”
Thankfully, I was not kicked out of class for saying this out loud. I was even told it was a “good question.” For the answer, I was asked to read 1 Corinthians 11:28. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
That seemed pretty clear…until I read the footnote of my Concordia Self-study Bible which said, “The word ‘body’ may refer to either the Lord’s physical body or the church as the body of Christ.”
I still wasn’t sure what to believe. But I wanted to know. I had to know.
So I began searching the Scriptures for passages related to this topic. I read every account of the Last Supper recorded in the Gospels, as well as several chapters in the Epistles. I read a few commentaries as well, and even checked out the Book of Concord, on which all of our church’s doctrinal beliefs are founded. After that I exchanged several emails with an old friend of mine who happens to be a Pastor. These were extremely helpful as well.
The more I read and pondered these things the more I wondered why I was having such a hard time believing what Christ himself said.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26: 26-28
A week ago I took communion. Before I walked up to the table of the Lord, I examined myself as I’d been taught to do. I asked myself these 4 questions:
- Do you recognize your sin and your need for a Savior?
- Do you believe that Jesus paid for all your sins by his suffering and death?
- Will you strive to live a holy life, and amend your sinful ways?
- Do you believe the bread and wine are the true body and blood of Jesus Christ?
Yes, yes, yes, and YES!
With joy I walked up to the altar, took the bread and placed it in my mouth. I washed it down with the wine, and thought about the miracle that just took place. I smiled. Jesus loves me. He knows me, and he still loves me.
It was the most significant participation in the sacrament I have ever experienced. To realize how much I mean to Jesus. To remember and believe all he’s done for me, and all he still does for me. It is truly amazing. Amazing grace. Amazing love. Amazing Savior!
Later I thought about the paralyzed man that was lowered through a roof to be healed by Jesus. The first thing Jesus said to him was, ““Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5
The teachers of the law criticized Jesus for saying this. They didn’t think he had the power to forgive sins. To prove them wrong, Jesus then healed the man of his physical disability. “What is easier?” he had asked them. Which miracle is more incredible? Curing a physical need, or giving life for all eternity?
And now I ask you, what is the greater miracle, changing bread and wine to body and blood, or forgiving sins and granting eternal life?
I think this week God showed me that he does the first, to help me more fully appreciate the second.
I wrote a little poem about Communion. It’s not very good, but I decided to post it anyway. Maybe it’ll get you thinking, and appreciating this amazing gift God gives us through the sacrament a little more as you prepare your hearts and minds for Maunday Thursday worship.
Communion
The heavy wooden church door
swings shut as we go in
displacing sounds without
with calming sounds within
a handshake, and a welcome,
a bulletin, a nod…
and soon we take our places
within the House of God
perhaps we do not notice
the table right away
distractions pull us left and right
and cause our thoughts to stray
but soon the polished silver
attracts our wandering eye
Looks like there’s Communion
we whisper with a sigh
we sing the hymns as posted
we hear the scripture read
we listen to the message
the Nicene Creed is said
and once the offering’s taken
our thanks have been conveyed
it’s then the Pastor tells us
of the night Christ was betrayed
we’ve heard the words so many times
we know them all by heart
and then we stand and get in line
and mindlessly take part
but do we really take to heart
the beauty of it all?
do we take and eat this meal
with wonder and with awe?
do we trust in Jesus’ word
THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN
and know that through this sacrament
our sins are now forgiven?
this miracle, this gift of God,
no greater love is known
and as we drink the blood of Christ
this gift becomes our own
a great and wondrous mystery
how bread and wine can be
at the same time body and blood
Christ shed upon the tree
but O, a greater mystery still
that in His death I find
all my sins are washed away
His victory is mine
please help me take this sacrament
with joy and peace, believing
that through the bread and wine we are
Your body and blood receiving
and knowing this rejoice to find
the Greater Gift to be
that with your lifeblood as the price
You died, and set me free
