Communion

1 Corinthians 11: 23-27, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’  For as often as you eat this bread or drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until He comes.  Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
     
Facts about the Communion meal:  At the time they were observing the Passover meal, they were also participating in an act of submission.  Obedience is primary in our relationship with our heavenly Father.  Obedience always brings about promise.
     
Communion is an act of commemoration.  Until now the observation of the “Passover Supper”, was done in remembrance of what God did to deliver Israel from the captivity of Egypt.
     
The feast was now to be a covenant and remembrance.  The covenant was that of fellowship.  The items signifying the “Peace Offering” were not consumed by fire and were therefore for the consumption of the priest and the people.  Jesus was saying that their receiving of these portions were more than symbolic of their participation in His death.  Furthermore, they were now to remember His death as deliverance from eternal captivity to eternal life.
     
Jesus picked up the cup, filled with wine, set aside for the anticipated Messiah.  He was proclaiming to them that He was the fulfillment of everything they had been waiting for.  This was an act of proclamation.  Partaking of the settings of the Lords table is a proclamation on our part that we believe in Calvary, Jesus and everything  fulfilled through both.
     
An act of Anticipation.  We do not come to this table because it is the popular thing to do.  We come because we show the anticipation of his return.
     
A word needs to be said about the warning against eating and drinking unworthily.  Many who have misunderstood this have abstained from partaking.  The unworthiness has nothing to do with the person, but the manner in which the portion is taken.  The warning referred to the Corinthians greedy and intemperate manner as described in 1 Corinthians 11: 20- 22, “Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s supper for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another drunk.  What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the Church of God, and shame those who have nothing?  What shall I say to you?  In this I will not praise you.
     
Conclusion; communion a precious practice reserved for those who accept the life made available to them through the blood of Jesus.  It is an act which includes submission to the Lords command, commemoration of the atoning act of Jesus, a proclamation of faith; and a statement of the anticipation of the return of Christ to finalize His redeeming work.