Proclaiming Communion

Today we had communion at church. It is a sacrament that I look forward to. Ever since I was young, I have always known that it was something very special, significant in the lives of Christians. I remember as a child not being allowed to take it, it was only for those who embraced the mystery of it, because it is a holy sign of God’s grace given freely for and to us. I understand that now. I also understand the gift of salvation represented in the elements. The shed blood and broken body of Christ for our benefit. Though we do not deserve it, yet we are of inestimable value to God and he gave all to bring us back into fellowship with him.

I cannot approach communion lightly. It is not just a rite we perform once a month. It represents the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Scripture says as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we proclaim the death of Christ until he returns. I believe that truth, that fundamental tenet of the faith I embrace. What we need to grasp as we eat the bread and drink the wine is that without death there can be no resurrection. That’s why proclaiming Christ’s death is so fundamental. His resurrection is our hope and our joy; the promise of our own resurrection, even in this life as we are gradually transformed into his likeness.

Remember this as you next take communion. Remember the price Jesus paid as he went to the cross as ransom for us. Death has been conquered and the promise of a life everlasting is ours even now. Darkness and death have been overcome by the light and life of God. We have that light within us now. We are alive in Christ and we will experience that light and life throughout eternity. Communion reminds us of that. It is a sure promise we can stake our lives on, now and forever.