This Sabbath we will celebrate our union with Christ and one another through communion. As we anticipate the remembrance of Jesus' death and the price paid for our sin, I would encourage you to examine yourself in preparation for receiving the Lord's Supper.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
We participate in the blood and body of Christ because Jesus' death serves as a substitute for our own. We also participate in the blood and body of Christ because we too have taken up our cross, having died to our old selves, and being raised to new life through Christ's sacrifice. Romans 6:4-5 tells us, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Having been raised from the dead we are free to walk in obedience with Christ, denying our old self as we walk in newness of life.
"Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:8)
God's covenant with the Israelites was sealed with blood, in this case the blood of twelve young bulls. It reminded the Israelites of the solemnity and cost of the covenant God had made with them. The covenant we have entered into with the Lord is also sealed in blood, but it is not the blood of young bulls or even a lamb; it is the blood of Jesus, God's Son, who died on the cross in order to pay the price for our sin. As we gather at the Lord's table, we do so solemnly, remembering the price that was paid to seal the covenant with us as God's people. As we gather this Sabbath to remember the Lord's death until He comes, we do so in order to remind ourselves of the cost of our salvation and to give thanks to the Father, Son and Spirit, who together made our new life possible.
"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people." (Psalm 116:13-14)
Although the Psalmist may not have had the slightest inkling as to the celebration of communion, what was written should bring that solemn remembrance to mind. When we lift the cup, a physical representation of the blood of Christ, we lift the cup of salvation. For through the blood of Jesus our salvation has come. As we celebrate that immeasurable gift we do so with great gratitude, fulfilling our promise to remember His death until He comes in the presence of all His people.
I find in the rite of communion a closeness with my Savior not found elsewhere. I take the bread and remember His body willingly broken for me; I take the cup and remember His blood shed opening the path to salvation. We tend to forget it is indeed a time of joyful celebration - we are His!!!!! "Truth Here Revealed" is a poem written by Ruth Bell Graham She wrote: "This is my body broken like bread for you, This is My blood like water shed for you. Drink it – and wonder, Marvel – and eat God torn asunder, man made complete. Stagger the mind at truth here revealed, Kneel – and be broken, rise and be healed. Go out and die, die live and live! Take all He offers, take all and give. Here’s a remembering, to scorch and to bless; Sinners partaking God’s righteousness."
As Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, He said, “’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." ( Be willing to endure physical and mental abuse, as I will do, for love of others.)
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup of wine, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’”. (Be willing to endure bloodshed, as I will do, for love of others.)
"Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
Here Jesus looks forward to the great banquet where He will sit with those who belong to Him in a world made new. As we take communion we remember the past, but we are also invited to look forward to the future; to a time when we will be united with Christ fully and completely, when "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
This Sabbath we will celebrate our union with Christ and one another through communion. As we anticipate the remembrance of Jesus' death and the price paid for our sin, I would encourage you to examine yourself in preparation for receiving the Lord's Supper.
ReplyDeleteIs not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
ReplyDeleteWe participate in the blood and body of Christ because Jesus' death serves as a substitute for our own. We also participate in the blood and body of Christ because we too have taken up our cross, having died to our old selves, and being raised to new life through Christ's sacrifice. Romans 6:4-5 tells us, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Having been raised from the dead we are free to walk in obedience with Christ, denying our old self as we walk in newness of life.
"Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:8)
ReplyDeleteGod's covenant with the Israelites was sealed with blood, in this case the blood of twelve young bulls. It reminded the Israelites of the solemnity and cost of the covenant God had made with them. The covenant we have entered into with the Lord is also sealed in blood, but it is not the blood of young bulls or even a lamb; it is the blood of Jesus, God's Son, who died on the cross in order to pay the price for our sin. As we gather at the Lord's table, we do so solemnly, remembering the price that was paid to seal the covenant with us as God's people. As we gather this Sabbath to remember the Lord's death until He comes, we do so in order to remind ourselves of the cost of our salvation and to give thanks to the Father, Son and Spirit, who together made our new life possible.
"I will lift up the cup of salvation
ReplyDeleteand call on the name of the Lord.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people."
(Psalm 116:13-14)
Although the Psalmist may not have had the slightest inkling as to the celebration of communion, what was written should bring that solemn remembrance to mind. When we lift the cup, a physical representation of the blood of Christ, we lift the cup of salvation. For through the blood of Jesus our salvation has come. As we celebrate that immeasurable gift we do so with great gratitude, fulfilling our promise to remember His death until He comes in the presence of all His people.
I find in the rite of communion a closeness with my Savior not found elsewhere. I take the bread and remember His body willingly broken for me; I take the cup and remember His blood shed opening the path to salvation. We tend to forget it is indeed a time of joyful celebration - we are His!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Truth Here Revealed" is a poem written by Ruth Bell Graham She wrote: "This is my body broken like bread for you, This is My blood like water shed for you. Drink it – and wonder, Marvel – and eat God torn asunder, man made complete. Stagger the mind at truth here revealed, Kneel – and be broken, rise and be healed. Go out and die, die live and live! Take all He offers, take all and give. Here’s a remembering, to scorch and to bless; Sinners partaking God’s righteousness."
As Jesus broke the bread and gave it to His disciples, He said, “’This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
ReplyDelete( Be willing to endure physical and mental abuse, as I will do, for love of others.)
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup of wine, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’”.
(Be willing to endure bloodshed, as I will do, for love of others.)
"Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
ReplyDeleteHere Jesus looks forward to the great banquet where He will sit with those who belong to Him in a world made new. As we take communion we remember the past, but we are also invited to look forward to the future; to a time when we will be united with Christ fully and completely, when "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
Good Sabbath! May God bless His church as we meet together for worship. See you in church!
ReplyDelete