John 6:53-58
But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only
insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the
Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty
appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit
and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real
drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I
into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I
live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of
me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later
died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
Several years ago, friends invited us to join several other couples for the sharing of
a potluck meal in their home…and a visit afterward. We had all read a
book called So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Any More*…and the hosts
suggested that we discuss our thoughts on this book after dinner. We
went around the living room, discussing the parts of the book that spoke
to us the most…and sharing experiences and opinions. We also shared
our “faith” – how we got from “Point A” to “Point B” in our journey with
Christ…questions and concerns we still have…and how God works in and
through us each day. It was a wonderful evening. At times, the
feelings and expressions were raw, as we spoke openly and from the
heart…but generally, it was a sweet time that bonded us as friends – and
brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the evening, the
hosts produced a bottle of wine and some bread, and we shared in Holy
Communion. This might sound sacrilegious or disrespectful to you, but I
assure you, it was incredibly holy. We had shared such an amazing time
of worship and reflection. We prayed…we held hands…we shed more than a
few tears. And we felt the presence of Jesus. It was only natural that
we would “eat and drink flesh and blood”…that we would “die to
ourselves” and live in Jesus.
The service of Holy Communion is a
profoundly humbling and meaningful time…or at least, it should be.
Whether you kneel at the altar rail in a church sanctuary, are presented
with bread and “wine” at your bedside or on a church pew, or even
partake in the sacraments in a friend’s living room…this commitment to
surrender your sin to the body and blood of Jesus is incredibly
powerful.
Don’t just go through the motions of Holy Communion.
The next time you are offered the “bread and wine,” really think about
what you are doing. Remind yourself that the bread does indeed
represent Jesus’ body…broken for you. When you eat the bread, you
surrender your heart – and your sins – to Him. When you drink the
“wine,” you are allowing Jesus’ blood to wash over you and remove every
trace and blemish of your transgressions. You are committing to a New
Life in Christ…and you are reminded of this covenant. This is a
precious, sacred moment.
When you participate in Holy Communion,
think about the piece of bread you are handed…and the “cup” you drink.
Thank Jesus for His amazing sacrifice, and vow to honor Him with your
daily living. We who share in the flesh and blood of the Son of Man
with a heart of genuine commitment to serve Him are promised a life that
never ends. The “exchange” is more than we could ever expect or
deserve…but everything about the love of Christ is “too much.” And
aren’t we glad and grateful for His gifts?!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
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