Upon reading the Scripture set before us today, I had quite a few questions about Paul and what he’s saying to the church in Corinth. Maybe you’re like me, looking for answers as we read about public worship, head coverings for women, who the head of the household is, and communion. What is Paul getting at here, and how do we apply it to our lives?
Luckily, Pastor Mike Drop Podcast, Episode 27 covers lots of these questions, and I invite you to check it out to hear from some of our pastors on staff. There’s a lot of great wisdom and answers for us in that episode, and today I want to focus us a bit more on our hearts for Jesus and the beauty of communion in Christ. Let’s start with verses 23-26:
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
These words are probably familiar to you, and it can be easy to brush right past them in Scripture, but I want you to close your eyes and envision sitting at the table with Jesus that night. Envision him looking you in the eyes as these words are said, and I invite you to notice how you feel.
Our God, in his reckless love for us, sent his Son to the cross for our sins. When we partake in communion, my prayer is that we would stop and envision, for just a moment, the look Jesus had in his eyes as he said these words. Take a moment to consider his heart posture for you. Take a moment to be fully present with him and thank him. And then look around at your brothers and sisters in Christ, because we are better together, each a part of Christ’s body. Communion is a beautiful, holy sacrament that brings us closer to God and helps us remember his immense love for us. It’s unconditional, it’s radical, and it’s here for you today.