Communion

Mark 14:22-25,Luke 22:18-20 "This do in remembrance of me"

When Jesus was celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples, he broke some bread and distributing it to them he said, "This is my body, which is given for you.?Do this in remembrance of me." (Lk. 22:19) then he took the wine and said : "This is my blood poured out for many"

Christians understood that during communion, we are to recollect the story of Christ's death.?We?remember the gospel, and as we're reminded, the gospel stirs our hearts in worship.

But is it what Jesus was really getting at when he said, "Do this in remembrance of me"?

Passover

If we look into the origins of this meal, it was designed by God to remind the Jews of their deliverance from slavery and death under Egyptians. They should eat unleavened bread and bitter herbs as if ready to leave their homes, as they remembered how death passed over them because they had obeyed God's command to daub their household doors with blood and thus escape the final plague of death sent on the Egyptians. This was a promise of God's protection and still celebrated in Jewish homes as a family meal. Exodus 12:12-14?

This form of promise from God is called a covenant. As God said after Noah's flood: "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and he earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,?I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds,?I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and ever living creature"…?(Gen. 9:12-16)

The rainbow served as a covenant sign that displayed God's promise to never flood the earth. It reminded?God?of his promise.

Transformation

Jesus transformed this special Passover meal into a "New Covenant". Communion is a covenant sign, too. Jesus called the cup of the Lord's Supper the cup of the "new covenant" in his blood (Lk. 22:20). Christ's body was given to release you from sin and death. His blood was poured out for you on the Cross to cleanse you from evil ways and allow direct access to God though faith in Jesus. That's why ?Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me"!

We remember ours is an ancient faith. We remember the promises of God's word, and as we do so our confidence is built in trusting God and living in his truth. We remember that our sins are transported to the future judgement.. As they have already come to judgement and are forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross, We remember that as we confess our sins, we are forgiven.? So we are assured of eternal life.

It is clear from Paul's writings later on that this phrase was well known and well understood within the church. ?Paul repeats it verbatim in?1 Corinthians 11:23-26: "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."

Community

As we take Communion, we declare ourselves to be in community with him and with one another. It is a great place to level us with other Christians. It reminds us that we are all sinners saved by the grace of God, who sent His Son to be our Passover Saviour. It is not a time for depression but for celebration.

When the church takes communion, it's not primarily a time for our individual, subjective recollection of Jesus' life and death. Although it is a time for turning away from evil and reconciliation with those with whom we have a grievance. Instead it is a family time for love and joy of forgiveness and of our togetherness with one another and Jesus. That is why it is called Communion

It brings to mind the core of the gospel ?through ordinary signs like bread and wine. The sacrifice of Jesus two thousand years ago is being set out now, before God, as a memorial. This is not a "re-sacrificing" of Christ. (Hebrews 10:12?makes clear that Christ could only be sacrificed once), but by faith it is the application of the benefits of Christ's once-for-all death.

So when the church gathers together to "do this in remembrance of me [Jesus]" she is proclaiming Christ's death (1 Cor 11:26) as a memorial before God. He sees our faith and blesses us, nourishing us by the Holy Spirit. In communion,?God is present (Emmanuel)?and?we can receive the blessings he promises!?As God remembers his promises to us, his people, he sets these promises before us again . 1 Corinthians 11:23-25.

We are reminded of the Agape of Jesus. Of this unselfish, sacrificial love that cares for others. We are reminded that we are to love God and our neighbours in practical ways, through unselfish acts of love.

Because Emmanuel is with us at this meal, we can ask for encouragement and for equipping by the Holy Spirit. We can ask for guidance, knowing God hears us, We can ask for healing and gifts.

Above all the Communion remembrance with God present brings us to worship Jesus for his wonderful sacrifice and to worship Father God for his amazing plan to save a people for his very own delight.