It began with a meal among friends. No, they were more than friends; they were newly adopted siblings of the most powerful man in the known world. As they ate together, this man dealt them some bad news; it was time for him to die. His teachings were too volatile, too big, too challenging. He had broken too many barriers for their society to accept his message and his very existence any longer. He was simply too much for the world to contain.
So he told them this as they finished what would be their final meal together:
"My time has come. I am going to my death. My body is going to be broken - yes. But I am doing it for you, willingly, freely, because I love you so much. And you are worth it. I am like this bread, torn apart, broken, but I am broken for the best reasons - you.
And my blood is going to be poured out just like this wine, but I let it flow openly as a new promise for you. I am promising that nothing can separate us anymore, not any part of life, no matter how bad, and not death either.
When you eat and drink, think of me and what I have taught you, and know how much you are worth to me, and how far I am willing to go to prove it.
I love you."
And he did it. He was taken, suffered, and died, and three days later was not found dead, but appearing alive, repeatedly, to these sisters and brothers in faith, still full of the love and encouragement they had learned to expect from him.
And so to this very day, we remember Jesus, his life, teaching, death and his promise of love & life everlasting every time we eat and drink together. That is Communion.
So he told them this as they finished what would be their final meal together:
"My time has come. I am going to my death. My body is going to be broken - yes. But I am doing it for you, willingly, freely, because I love you so much. And you are worth it. I am like this bread, torn apart, broken, but I am broken for the best reasons - you.
And my blood is going to be poured out just like this wine, but I let it flow openly as a new promise for you. I am promising that nothing can separate us anymore, not any part of life, no matter how bad, and not death either.
When you eat and drink, think of me and what I have taught you, and know how much you are worth to me, and how far I am willing to go to prove it.
I love you."
And he did it. He was taken, suffered, and died, and three days later was not found dead, but appearing alive, repeatedly, to these sisters and brothers in faith, still full of the love and encouragement they had learned to expect from him.
And so to this very day, we remember Jesus, his life, teaching, death and his promise of love & life everlasting every time we eat and drink together. That is Communion.
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