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GETTING EXCITED

ABOUT

COMMUNION

It was just one of the days of our vacation. We had decided that we would have steak and shrimp for dinner. It would be cooked on the barbie. The steak and shrimp had been purchased. Baked potato and salad with rolls would be on the menu as well. Some excitement was in the air.

The rain would not dissuade us. The grill needed checking out. What a mess it was. A squirrel had been busy under the grill cover but we decided that would be okay.  Neither the squirrel nor the rain would dampen our spirits. Someone would be needed to hold the umbrella for the grill and the grill needed cleaning up. The task was tackled and after determining that there was enough gas for our venture we proceeded to see if the grill would light. It didn’t want to work just right so we found some matches and finally got the grill to fire up. The grill was glowing and the excitement was growing.

Baked potatoes were washed and wrapped in foil and placed in the oven. They would be ready in about an hour. Soon thereafter the shrimp were prepared and wrapped in foil for the grill. They were a little larger than your thumb. It only took about 20 minutes to barbeque the shrimp. This part of the meal was ready. As the salad and the rolls were being prepared the steaks were placed on foil on the grill. They sizzled and the aroma filled the air. We judged it would take at least 20 minutes for the steaks. Everyone wanted them well done.

Finally everything was prepared—the table had been set and everyone was sufficiently excited about out surf and turf meal. It was all worthy of the excitement. Eight of us gathered abound the table for what was a very enjoyable vacation meal. And oh, by the way, the meal was delicious and the fellowship between friends was great.

JESUS CELEBRATED PASSOVER

Jesus was excited about the last supper. Was it the fellowship of the disciples? Was it the Passover meal itself? Was it the opportunity of the diversion of what Jesus knew was ahead. It could have been all that. Jesus said “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”. We need that excitement about communion. It’s not enough just to go through the motions again and again. Communion needs to mean something and something special!
  • Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. 8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. 9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? 10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. 11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. 13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. 14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22:7-20 (KJV)
Our vacation meal was about good food—friendship—working together—fellowship—and just plain old fun. It was an adventure. It was about friends being and doing something together.

WHAT IS COMMUNION?

What is communion all about? Something so important as to command our attention each and every month demands that we give it more than just a cursory emphasis. It might even be said that communion is in a sense the heartbeat of the church. As we review this important even necessary function of the community of faith we will clarify and give further definition to our faith. Communion incorporates the: who—what—when—and where of our faith. We need to celebrate communion as if Jesus was a part of the service itself, not simply an observer.
  • Jesus has made a commitment to “be in our midst”
Matthew 18: 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
 
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  • Communion is about “US” = You—Me—Jesus
I Corin. 11: 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.  27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 
  • "WE” have placed an importance on this service
  • “WE” have decided to remember and not to forget
  • “WE” have gathered reverently and intently to participate

IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS

Communion is about “REMEMBERING”
  • Lest we too betray the Lord as did Judas
  • Lest we forget the price that was paid
  • Lest we forget we were purged from our old sins
  • Lest we forget what manner of man we were
  • Lest we forget God
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“Remembering” lest we too betray the Lord as did Judas
  • Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 24  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. 30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Matt 26:20-30 (KJV)
 “Remembering” lest we forget the price that was paid
  • I Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
“Remembering” lest we forget we were purged from our old sins
  • 2 Peter 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
“Remembering” lest we forget what manner of person we were
  • James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
“Remembering” lest we forget God
  • Jeremiah 2:32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

COMMUNION IS ABOUT.......

  • Communion is about “DESIRE”/emotion
  • Communion is about the “KINGDOM OF GOD”
  • Communion is about “RESURRECTION & ETERNAL LIFE”
  • Communion is about remembering “JESUS DEATH” and his “COMING AGAIN”
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Communion is about “DESIRE”/emotion
  • Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
Communion is about the “KINGDOM OF GOD”
  • Luke 22:160 For I say unto you,  I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you,  I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
Communion is about “RESURRECTION & ETERNAL LIFE”
  • John 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
Communion is about remembering “JESUS DEATH” and his “COMING AGAIN”
 
  • I Corin. 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Get excited about communion! Jesus did and does.