For Christians around the world the celebration of Communion
is something we have in common. Oh we
might call it by different names, and we might fight over how often we should
observe communion, what actually happens to the elements when we receive them,
and even over what we use for elements but there is a common celebration
there. And whether we celebrate weekly,
monthly or quarterly communion should never simply be something we do.
is something we have in common. Oh we
might call it by different names, and we might fight over how often we should
observe communion, what actually happens to the elements when we receive them,
and even over what we use for elements but there is a common celebration
there. And whether we celebrate weekly,
monthly or quarterly communion should never simply be something we do.
Shauna Niequist In her book “Bread and Wine” writes: “We don’t come to the table to fight or to
defend. We don’t come to prove or to conquer, to draw lines in the sand or to
stir up trouble. We come to the table because our hunger brings us there.”
defend. We don’t come to prove or to conquer, to draw lines in the sand or to
stir up trouble. We come to the table because our hunger brings us there.”
We are told that during the Roman persecutions of the early
church that the communion celebration was used to malign the church. It was rumoured to be a cannibalistic ritual,
celebrating with the body and the blood.
While others suggested the term “Love Feast” implied a celebration of a
different type that happened behind closed doors.
church that the communion celebration was used to malign the church. It was rumoured to be a cannibalistic ritual,
celebrating with the body and the blood.
While others suggested the term “Love Feast” implied a celebration of a
different type that happened behind closed doors.
And so for two thousand years Communion has been the central point of the
Christian faith because it directs our attention to the sacrifice that was made
for us and the grace that sacrifice has provided.
It was the night before he would be arrested that Jesus and
his 12 closest friends gathered together to celebrate the Passover feast,
something that each of them had been brought up celebrating. And during the celebration Jesus took the
elements that were so familiar to them and he spoke the words that would become
central to the faith of so many people.
“Do this in remembrance of me”
his 12 closest friends gathered together to celebrate the Passover feast,
something that each of them had been brought up celebrating. And during the celebration Jesus took the
elements that were so familiar to them and he spoke the words that would become
central to the faith of so many people.
“Do this in remembrance of me”
That was the setting behind the scripture that was read this
morning. And two thousand years later Christians all over the world still
celebrate communion, in one form or another.
Why?
morning. And two thousand years later Christians all over the world still
celebrate communion, in one form or another.
Why?
Luke 22:19 He took some bread and
gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the
disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to
remember me.”
gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the
disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to
remember me.”
We need to
understand that Communion Points Us to Yesterday. This is probably the most vitally important
component of the communion service the link it gives us with the past.
understand that Communion Points Us to Yesterday. This is probably the most vitally important
component of the communion service the link it gives us with the past.
The main reason that Jesus gave us the communion service and
the reason he insisted that we observe it on a regular basis, was because he
knew how fragile the human memory is.
That’s the very same reason that God instituted the sacrament of the
Passover for the Jews twelve hundred years before the birth of Jesus, so that
the children of Israel would always remember how He, God, had delivered them
from the Slavery of Egypt.
the reason he insisted that we observe it on a regular basis, was because he
knew how fragile the human memory is.
That’s the very same reason that God instituted the sacrament of the
Passover for the Jews twelve hundred years before the birth of Jesus, so that
the children of Israel would always remember how He, God, had delivered them
from the Slavery of Egypt.
It’s when we are called upon to look back that we
remember. And as we participate in the
communion service, as we eat the bread and drink that juice our minds travel
back in time 2000 years to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that God made for
us. You do realize that the sacrifice
was made for you, not for someone else, but for you personally.
remember. And as we participate in the
communion service, as we eat the bread and drink that juice our minds travel
back in time 2000 years to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that God made for
us. You do realize that the sacrifice
was made for you, not for someone else, but for you personally.
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much
that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life.
that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will
not perish but have eternal life.
But you know that really doesn’t say it all, does it? The phrase, “He gave his only Son” That
doesn’t mean that God said, “Here’s my son, you can have him” Jesus came to
this earth in the womb of a virgin; he was born in a stable and raised in a
carpenter shop. For thirty years the
creator of the universe lived as one of his created ones. For thirty years God lived as a mortal in an
imperfect world. And in order that he
could truly be the ultimate sacrifice for mankind he had to live as we
live. I’m sure that there were days that
his nose was stuffed up, and days that he felt rotten, and days he didn’t want
to get out of bed. But he needed to
experience the full realm of the human spectrum, from birth to death if his
sacrifice was to be effective.
doesn’t mean that God said, “Here’s my son, you can have him” Jesus came to
this earth in the womb of a virgin; he was born in a stable and raised in a
carpenter shop. For thirty years the
creator of the universe lived as one of his created ones. For thirty years God lived as a mortal in an
imperfect world. And in order that he
could truly be the ultimate sacrifice for mankind he had to live as we
live. I’m sure that there were days that
his nose was stuffed up, and days that he felt rotten, and days he didn’t want
to get out of bed. But he needed to
experience the full realm of the human spectrum, from birth to death if his
sacrifice was to be effective.
The gift of Christ however wasn’t enough to assure our
salvation. In the Old Testament God had
laid down the law and there he outlined the sacrifices that needed to be made
when the law was broken. And the penalty
for continually breaking God’s law was eternal separation from God. A just God could not go back and change the
rules; he couldn’t change the laws and the penalties for breaking the law. But he could pay the price for us, and that’s
what he did when he came to this earth.
He came to pay the price for each one of us. He died so that we wouldn’t have to.
salvation. In the Old Testament God had
laid down the law and there he outlined the sacrifices that needed to be made
when the law was broken. And the penalty
for continually breaking God’s law was eternal separation from God. A just God could not go back and change the
rules; he couldn’t change the laws and the penalties for breaking the law. But he could pay the price for us, and that’s
what he did when he came to this earth.
He came to pay the price for each one of us. He died so that we wouldn’t have to.
And it’s when we come to the communion table that we remember
that he died for us.
that he died for us.
Each year at Christmas it is so easy as believers to get
caught up in the birth of Christ and to forget that the birth of Christ was a
meaningless event without the death of Christ. The nativity scene is never
complete without the shadow of the cross.
caught up in the birth of Christ and to forget that the birth of Christ was a
meaningless event without the death of Christ. The nativity scene is never
complete without the shadow of the cross.
Now I wouldn’t have been the one to send to die for the sins
of the world. I mean the conversation
would have gone a little bit like this, “Denn, we are sending you to earth as
God’s Ultimate sacrifice” “Ok, I can
live with that” “Well Denn, that’s the problem
but we’ll get to that later. Ok? You
will be born in a stable and you will be raised in a carpenters shop.”
of the world. I mean the conversation
would have gone a little bit like this, “Denn, we are sending you to earth as
God’s Ultimate sacrifice” “Ok, I can
live with that” “Well Denn, that’s the problem
but we’ll get to that later. Ok? You
will be born in a stable and you will be raised in a carpenters shop.”
“No problem, I’d prefer a fishing boat, but a carpenters shop
is better than a farm” “Now Denn, in
order for your sacrifice to be effective, you’re going to have to die for the
people of earth. Do you have a
preference for your death?” “Hmmm. Let’s
think now, if I’m going to die for the sins of the world then I’d like to die
of old age, preferably in my sleep surrounded by my great great grandchildren.”
is better than a farm” “Now Denn, in
order for your sacrifice to be effective, you’re going to have to die for the
people of earth. Do you have a
preference for your death?” “Hmmm. Let’s
think now, if I’m going to die for the sins of the world then I’d like to die
of old age, preferably in my sleep surrounded by my great great grandchildren.”
If we were honest that’s the way most of us would want to go,
comfortably at the end of a long and productive life. Most of us wouldn’t mind dying for the sins
of the world if’n we could do it when and where we wanted. But those weren’t the terms that Jesus came
under. He was willing to admit his
weakness and fears to God, when he prayed in the garden just hours before he
would be arrested, but then he was willing to say, “But not my will but yours
be done.”
comfortably at the end of a long and productive life. Most of us wouldn’t mind dying for the sins
of the world if’n we could do it when and where we wanted. But those weren’t the terms that Jesus came
under. He was willing to admit his
weakness and fears to God, when he prayed in the garden just hours before he
would be arrested, but then he was willing to say, “But not my will but yours
be done.”
And then for me and for you, let’s make it a little more
personal for you and you and you and you.
Think about it for each one of you, think about it for each one of us, as
a matter of fact think about this. I
want you to focus on the thought that for you and you alone Jesus Christ the
Son of God was beaten and cursed and mocked.
They pulled his beard out, they humiliated him, they stripped him of his
clothes and nailed him to a cross and killed him for you sins, but the story
doesn’t end there. They put him in a
borrowed grave carved out of the side of the hill, and after three days he rose
from the dead. And he did all of that
for you, and for you and you and you and you.
It is in remembrance of the past that we take part in the communion
service.
personal for you and you and you and you.
Think about it for each one of you, think about it for each one of us, as
a matter of fact think about this. I
want you to focus on the thought that for you and you alone Jesus Christ the
Son of God was beaten and cursed and mocked.
They pulled his beard out, they humiliated him, they stripped him of his
clothes and nailed him to a cross and killed him for you sins, but the story
doesn’t end there. They put him in a
borrowed grave carved out of the side of the hill, and after three days he rose
from the dead. And he did all of that
for you, and for you and you and you and you.
It is in remembrance of the past that we take part in the communion
service.
And so we are going to pause for a few minutes and take the
time to share the bread of communion together, and as we take the small piece
of bread we need to reflect on how Jesus gave his body to save us from our
past.
time to share the bread of communion together, and as we take the small piece
of bread we need to reflect on how Jesus gave his body to save us from our
past.
Whatever it is that yesterday holds, the forgiveness of
Christ is enough to wipe away that stain.
If you’ve never experienced the forgiveness that comes through the grace
of Christ just take the time this morning to embrace that gift, to ask Christ
to forgive you and to believe that he has.
Christ is enough to wipe away that stain.
If you’ve never experienced the forgiveness that comes through the grace
of Christ just take the time this morning to embrace that gift, to ask Christ
to forgive you and to believe that he has.
Bread
Let’s pick up the story in Luke 22:18 For I will
not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”
Communion isn’t just about
yesterday, Communion Allows us to See the Future Time and time again Jesus points us beyond
his crucifixion, beyond his resurrection, beyond his ascension and directs our
attention to the Second Advent, that is to say his second coming. And that is where Jesus is directing our
attention here. Listen to what Paul
writes about the communion service in 1 Corinthians 11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
yesterday, Communion Allows us to See the Future Time and time again Jesus points us beyond
his crucifixion, beyond his resurrection, beyond his ascension and directs our
attention to the Second Advent, that is to say his second coming. And that is where Jesus is directing our
attention here. Listen to what Paul
writes about the communion service in 1 Corinthians 11:26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
He is coming again, you do believe that don’t you? His second coming is chronicled in depth
throughout the New Testament, leaving only one detail conspicuous in it’s
absence and that is the when. We know
the “who”, it’s Jesus Christ. We know
the “how” he’ll come in the clouds for all to see. We know the “why”, it to gather his church to
him, but instead of telling us the when, he tells us in Mark 13:32-33 “However,
no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels
in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know
when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! And so to demand to know what Jesus didn’t know is not only rude but it
borders on blasphemy.
throughout the New Testament, leaving only one detail conspicuous in it’s
absence and that is the when. We know
the “who”, it’s Jesus Christ. We know
the “how” he’ll come in the clouds for all to see. We know the “why”, it to gather his church to
him, but instead of telling us the when, he tells us in Mark 13:32-33 “However,
no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels
in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know
when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! And so to demand to know what Jesus didn’t know is not only rude but it
borders on blasphemy.
Communion then does not just direct you to reflect on the
past, but it will cause you to focus on the future. Yes Jesus did come so many years ago, but the
truth is that he is coming again. And
while he came humbly last time as a child, born in a stable, this time he will
come with a shout and the sound of a trumpet.
When I was a kid we played hid and seek, do kids still play that? And the person who was it would close their
eyes and count to a hundred while the other kids hid and then when the had
gotten all the way to a hundred do you remember what they shouted, right “Ready
or not, here I come” And while the scripture don’t tell us the exact words that
will herald the second coming of our Lord, I’m sure that will be very similar
to “Ready
or not here I come”
past, but it will cause you to focus on the future. Yes Jesus did come so many years ago, but the
truth is that he is coming again. And
while he came humbly last time as a child, born in a stable, this time he will
come with a shout and the sound of a trumpet.
When I was a kid we played hid and seek, do kids still play that? And the person who was it would close their
eyes and count to a hundred while the other kids hid and then when the had
gotten all the way to a hundred do you remember what they shouted, right “Ready
or not, here I come” And while the scripture don’t tell us the exact words that
will herald the second coming of our Lord, I’m sure that will be very similar
to “Ready
or not here I come”
Too many of us have lost the urgency of Christ’s coming. Oh I’m sure that we all know he’s coming
again, I’m sure we all believe that he’s coming again, but somehow I’m not sure
that we are all anxiously awaiting his coming again. I doubt that the average Christian is really
waiting with baited breath for his arrival.
again, I’m sure we all believe that he’s coming again, but somehow I’m not sure
that we are all anxiously awaiting his coming again. I doubt that the average Christian is really
waiting with baited breath for his arrival.
I heard a story once that involved H.A. Ironside a noted
preacher of yesterday, after speaking in one large church a woman accosted him
at the door and demanded, “How dare you do that?” “Do what?” was Ironside’s
response. “You prayed ‘come Lord Jesus come’ and that would ruin all my plans”
Would it ruin all your plans? If we were
real truthful about it this morning how many of us would consider the second
coming as an intrusion on our lives and plans.
preacher of yesterday, after speaking in one large church a woman accosted him
at the door and demanded, “How dare you do that?” “Do what?” was Ironside’s
response. “You prayed ‘come Lord Jesus come’ and that would ruin all my plans”
Would it ruin all your plans? If we were
real truthful about it this morning how many of us would consider the second
coming as an intrusion on our lives and plans.
One of my favourite quotes comes from the French Chemist Pierre Bethelot who made this statement in 1869, “In one hundred years of
physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is our belief that when science reaches
this stage, God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys and will say
to humanity, ‘Gentlemen, it is closing time.’ ”
physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is our belief that when science reaches
this stage, God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys and will say
to humanity, ‘Gentlemen, it is closing time.’ ”
This morning we not only want to look to what Christ did in
the past but look to the promise of his return.
As we take the time to reflect over the cup this morning I trust that we
are looking with anticipation to the return of Jesus Christ.
the past but look to the promise of his return.
As we take the time to reflect over the cup this morning I trust that we
are looking with anticipation to the return of Jesus Christ.
Cup
Luke 22:20
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new
covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which
is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new
covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which
is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
Communion Directs us to Today
Let us always remember that no matter how wonderful yesterday
was, it is gone. And no matter how rosy
tomorrow looks it’s not here yet. We have only today, and it is a gift, that’s
why it’s called the present.
was, it is gone. And no matter how rosy
tomorrow looks it’s not here yet. We have only today, and it is a gift, that’s
why it’s called the present.
As important as Christ’s death and resurrection was 2000
years ago it is worthless unless you are doing something with it today. As important as the return of Christ will be
when it happens, you still have to make a decision today for it to impact your
life tomorrow.
years ago it is worthless unless you are doing something with it today. As important as the return of Christ will be
when it happens, you still have to make a decision today for it to impact your
life tomorrow.
Jesus offered himself up as a sacrifice and laid down his
life for you 2000 years ago, but it’s only when you claim the power of that sacrifice
that you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
life for you 2000 years ago, but it’s only when you claim the power of that sacrifice
that you enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Has anyone every received a car for their birthday? No?
Don’t feel bad neither did have I, but I do have a birthday coming up
soon. . . But if you had of you could park
that car in a garage and reflect on the history of that automobile, perhaps
thinking back to how long that particular model had been around, marvelling at
the different modifications and design changes that had taken place through the
years. You could have thought about how
it progressed from a pile of unassembled parts to eventually become the
finished product that was displayed on the dealer’s showroom floor.
Don’t feel bad neither did have I, but I do have a birthday coming up
soon. . . But if you had of you could park
that car in a garage and reflect on the history of that automobile, perhaps
thinking back to how long that particular model had been around, marvelling at
the different modifications and design changes that had taken place through the
years. You could have thought about how
it progressed from a pile of unassembled parts to eventually become the
finished product that was displayed on the dealer’s showroom floor.
Or perhaps you want to speculate about what was going to
happen to your car in the future, perhaps wondering what it would be worth in
25 or 30 years. And how the classic
lines of that beauty would cause it be a sought after collector’s item. Much like the 1973 Vega I once owned.
happen to your car in the future, perhaps wondering what it would be worth in
25 or 30 years. And how the classic
lines of that beauty would cause it be a sought after collector’s item. Much like the 1973 Vega I once owned.
But regardless of how noble the past history of your car
might be, or how impressive the future of it might be unless you are willing to
use it today, you are gonna walk. We
need to apply our Christianity to our everyday life; Christ has to be a vital
part of our Today, not just our Yesterday or Tomorrow. And that is why the
Bible says
might be, or how impressive the future of it might be unless you are willing to
use it today, you are gonna walk. We
need to apply our Christianity to our everyday life; Christ has to be a vital
part of our Today, not just our Yesterday or Tomorrow. And that is why the
Bible says
2
Corinthians 6:2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today
is the day of salvation.
Corinthians 6:2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today
is the day of salvation.