Communion With Christ

Apr 14, 2022

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

- Matthew 26:26-29

On Thursday of Holy Week, Jesus and His disciples celebrated Passover with a meal we now refer to as the “Last Supper.” At this gathering, Jesus shared an ominous foreshadowing of the horrific torture and death He was about to face. The sacrificial system that Passover was built on was dismissed with the words of Jesus to His disciples. The Old Covenant was replaced by the New Covenant. His body was broken and His blood was shed to once and for all pay for the sin of our world.

I remember growing up taking communion, a practice that remembers and honors the breaking of bread and drinking of wine that took place on that Holy Night. I never quite got it. Communion seemed like a fun chance to enjoy some grape juice, but I didn’t experience any spiritual depth.

It wasn’t until I grappled with my deep brokenness, failure, and sinful nature, that then communion began to take on a whole new meaning.

It was when I looked at the deepest, ugliest parts of this broken world that I realized how beautiful that breaking of bread and sharing of the cup is. I began to appreciate what a gift it is to be able to commune with Christ, when I truly faced how undeserving I am.

Friend, I know there are parts of your story you don’t post on Facebook. I know there are secrets you don’t advertise to your friends. I know there are regrets and insecurities and deep hurts that stay locked away. Do you know that Jesus saw those very things, and He’s still offering you the bread and the cup? Just as He sat with His disciples 2000 years ago, He sits with you today, with all the good and all the hard, and He whispers, “Here my child, take and eat. Come and drink.”

We waste hours and months and years trying to measure up, cover up, run as far as we can away from our failures and towards perfection.

But the whole point of Easter is that we would never be able to measure up on our own, but the work is already done.

We are all betrayers like Judas, and yet Jesus Christ is still offering us the cup. Jesus Christ still allowed His body to be broken for us. Jesus Christ thought of your face as He laid in agony, hands outstretched on a cross.

It’s Thursday, and Jesus is anticipating a painful death. But He sits with His followers, He looks them in the eyes, and He makes sure they know that what is about to happen is for them. He makes sure His intentions are clear - the cross is personal. He looked at Peter and John and Judas and you, and said, “I’m going to die for you. Because I want to be sure you can commune with me for eternity.”

As you reflect today on what the Last Supper means for you. As you grapple with your brokenness, and surrender to a God who has done the work for you, will you eat the bread? Will you drink the cup? Will you stop trying to prove, stop trying to defend, stop running, and let the Savior of the world truly save you?

Father,

Thank you for inviting us in. Thank you for doing what we couldn’t. Thank you for the bread and the cup and the work on the cross. We surrender to you.