THE HOPE OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST: A Present Communion

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

Paul is taking us back to the Upper Room where Jesus shared a meal with His disciples.  Together they observed the Passover.  All that lamb of the Old Covenant symbolized was being fulfilled in the death of Christ, the Lamb of God, who would take those same elements and institute the New Covenant. 

We call this time together in our worship, “communion.”  As we meet here, we are in the Presence of Christ and have fellowship with Him, and we share this together as a church so that we have communion with each other.

It is thrilling to know that as we come to the Lord’s Table, there is present an honored Guest taking the seat at the head of the Table—Jesus Christ Himself!  He is unseen, yet very much there.  As we look around this Table, we see His family—a banqueting hall filled with royalty—princes and princesses seated about us in sweet company, breaking bread with one another!