COMMUNION INTERWOVEN PART 2

    

Image by John Snyder

In part 1 of this mini series, I explained that God, The Father, weaves the theme of the communion through time. He takes the past event and uses it in the present to prophecy into the future. By our participation, we partake in communion, not just remember it as a thing of the past. However, our participation goes further than this. Communion is an act with significance. Many people testify that it helps them stay in the presence of God. You might think that it is what you already know but, do you really?

When we take communion we remember the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It is in this way interwoven into the history of the world. We should remember that He fulfilled all prophecy by coming to us as a baby born of a virgin mother. Oh dear, I have to specify it is not a virgin man but a virgin woman (hahaha these are the times we live in).  

We should remember that Jesus Christ came as a man and faced temptations like us. He had to tolerate our follies and love us still. When they took Him and questioned Him, He held His peace. He answered but with control and specificity. He took the abuse that was beyond that which was required. 

It is important to understand that the enemy wanted to kill Jesus. The enemy beat Him with a vengeance and tortured Him. The enemy degraded Him in terrible ways. The enemy enjoyed this and had his fill with it. The enemy thought he had the victory over Christ. Jesus on the other hand, tolerated, accepted it, and went through it. He knew the idea was to keep Him from going on the cross. The enemy did not want Jesus to make it through. 

That devil knew that there was more to Jesus's death. Perhaps he did not fully understand. Jesus made it through to the cross. He survived to carry the cross part way and to walk through the streets in shame and incredible pain. It is all part of the communion. We have to get it into our heads that Jesus did not have to do any of it. 

Communion is a celebration of Jesus's death on the cross because He did not have to do it. It celebrates everything that Jesus endured culminating in the cross because the enemy tried to keep Him from the cross. He even gave Him vinegar to drink instead of water. His love for The Father and us led Jesus to the cross. 

Man separated from God because of sin committed by Adam and Eve. Sin continued in the world and further separated us from God. When sin was committed in the garden of Eden, a plan to reconcile man to God was set in motion. Maybe even before this, who knows? Jesus was obedient since that time, knowing it led to the cross. Can you see the interweaving of communion in our history now? The plan of salvation or the perfect work of the cross is what we celebrate in communion.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28

 

Jesus said we should eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus was not yet on the cross. The mistake a lot of people make is to say that communion celebrates the death of Christ. It is a lot more than this. It celebrates God's tender heart for His people. As the master event planner, God took every opportunity to prepare us. He wanted us to understand how the cross worked. 

God taught the Jews about sacrifice and altars. In fact Most of the people groups in history had an understanding of this. However, God specially chose a people so that we can now say that He, God did this. Blood for forgiveness or sacrifice for an exchange.

According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22

I pray you are made stronger in your faith in Christ by reading this blog in Jesus name.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I ask you to forgive my sins in knowledge or ignorance. Please forgive me. I accept Jesus as my Saviour. I ask that Jesus comes into my life as I live to be a witness for Him. Please change my life and make me into the person you want me to be. Guide me in these times so I can be used by you to help others in Jesus name I pray. Thank you Father.

 

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