Luke 22:19 “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
History has taught us a very valuable and inarguably profound lesson – “People suffering from sudden, unexpected hardship are likely to adopt views they previously thought unthinkable”. World has changed forever after COVID-19. Social distancing, face masks and quarantine are practices that were unheard of. This invisible, vicarious virus has inculcated new norms, lifestyles and travel restrictions. The world has adopted practices, ideologies and theories that were unthinkable prior to 2020. As 9/11 tightened the security checks for air travel, COVID-19 has changed our way of living forever. Even though it has shocked many, the Bible repeatedly warns us about the things to come. This hardship has taken many back to the Bible to research and revisit the caveat.
When Jesus repeatedly educated the disciples about His gruesome, ghastly and dreadful death on the cross, the essence of the message did not sink into the disciples until they faced the cross and the crucifixion. To them, the command of His commemoration (do this in remembrance of me) at the last supper was just a ceremonial custom. However, after the resurrection of Jesus, every time they broke bread, the disciples, re-lived, revived and revisited the historical victory at Calvary. The communion table is an act of commemoration and celebration of the victory that Jesus earned on the cross for us.
Reliving history through communion:
1. Commit: Communion is not a custom but a commitment. Communion gives us a place at the dinner table next to the “Chief Guest Jesus”. Over the dinner table we talk, discuss and share our burdens, achievements and struggles. Similarly, the communion table is the splendid dinner table with Christ to remember His grace, forgiveness and redemption. At the communion table we bring back the appalling scene of Christ on the Cross and remember that our sins, struggles and slander have been nailed to the cross. Communion helps us to renew our covenant and recommit our lives to Him.
2. Celebrate: Communion is not a ceremony but a celebration. Jesus gave us the elements of bread and wine as symbols that become His body when we partake it. Communion heals our physical body, emotional wellbeing and revives our spirit. We remember the victory of Jesus over sin, curse and death. Communion breaks sinful patterns, chains of curse and the pain of death. Communion helps us to celebrate the victory that we have through Christ and the cross of Calvary.
3. Consummation: Communion is consummation not a convention. Communion unites us with Jesus. Communion is the completion of our covenant with our God and Saviour. Every time we take communion, it takes us back to Calvary; it takes us to the empty tomb and takes us into the most holy place of His presence to enjoy the oneness, intimacy and unity with Christ. Remember communion is the consummation of our intimate covenant with Christ.
We have followed the Biblical canon of communion for the past 2,000 years but communion is more than a custom, command or convention. It is the loving command of Jesus at the last intimate conversation, at the last supper. Every time we remember Jesus at communion we relive history, celebrate His victory and have a commemoration meal with Him.
1 Corinthians 11:24b Do this in remembrance of me.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want to relive crucifixion and celebrate your victory at the communion table. Make your presence vivid and vivacious to me. Amen
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