The King's Church in Ilford
Communion TKC - 30/12/07
Reading: 1Cor 11:23-33
Communion, Breaking Of Bread, The Lord's Supper, Eucharist & Mass are all names for the same thing - this dramatic ceremony that the Lord Jesus instituted just before He died. It's something which has been central to Christian worship over the last 2000 years, and yet, partly because of that, it's become a ritual that we just do, without necessarily understanding much about it.
There is a danger too, of it feeding our religious instincts. This is that part of us that loves external forms and rituals, rules and rites - while at the same time missing the true meaning of it. Some of us grew up in churches where Communion would be celebrated in a particular way, and woe betide you if you left a detail out, or did something differently. Some churches feel they need to protect it, so they dictate that only clergy can celebrate it - and you won't find that in the Bible!
Some say that even by the time John came to write what was the last of the gospels - that Communion had already become a ritual; and for that reason John makes no mention of it as such. Rather he includes Jesus washing his disciples feet. Not quite so easy to make a ritual of that, although some have. However, what John did include was the magnificent chapter about Jesus describing Himself as the Bread of Life.
I want us to explore some of the meaning of Communion this morning. Perhaps in doing so we'll come to a better understanding of not only how best to celebrate it, but how to get the best from it. I've always had this feeling that we do little more than scratch the surface of what communion is all about. Maybe it's just me, but perhaps together we can go on a journey of exploration this morning, and who knows what we'll discover.
Communion is like a diamond with many facets; but I'm going to look at it under three headings: Past, Present and Future.
In Communion, There is something to look back to,
There is something to lay hold of now
There is something to look forward to
Past
There is no doubt that the 'Looking back' is the most important issue. It is vital that we never forget the cross. The fact is that we do forget great events so easily, especially if they were before our lifetime.
"What was the date of the Norman conquest?" Perhaps after John's quiz last week, I should be asking, "Who were the invaders?"
"What was the significance of the Magna Carta?"
"Do we still celebrate VE day?"
These were all momentous, history-changing events for our nation, but we barely think about them these days, although we all live in the good of them.
However, even more important than the birth of Christ, was the death of Christ. The death of Christ is the ultimate expression of God's love towards us. It is the greatest possible sacrifice that anyone could ever make. This is not one man laying down his life for another. This is our holy God, who had every reason to judge us and condemn us to destruction, laying his life down for us instead - in the most horrific manner imaginable. It is vital that we never forget it.
When Jesus took a piece of bread and tore it apart, he gave his disciples something visual to remind them. Every time they tore a piece of bread off a loaf, they would remember that Jesus' own body had been torn apart for their sakes.
Every time they drank wine - it wasn't a luxury drink in those days. Most of the water wasn't drinkable. The alcohol killed off the bugs in it. Every time they drank wine, its deep red colour would remind them of Jesus' blood given in sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. The concept of sacrifice was familiar to them, whereas it's not to us. We need to be reminded.
But the blood meant more than that. It was the sign of a new agreement between God and mankind - an agreement negotiated by Christ Himself, and sealed in his own blood. We call it the New Covenant. It is the event upon which the history of this world hinges. It is the event that changed forever, the course of our lives, from eternal loss and punishment, to eternal life, and the gaining of everything worth having. It is the event that turned our despair into hope, our mourning into joy. We must never forget the blood that has given us a hope and a future.
Present
This drama is not just a memorial, although it is that above all else. It's also a Covenant Meal where we not only remember the blood that made it possible, but celebrate the fact that all of us who are God's children are partners together in this Covenant. We call it a Fellowship Meal, but 'fellowship' is a bit of jargon. It means being partners together. Next to marriage, which is also a Covenant partnership, but of a different kind, this New Covenant is possibly the deepest Covenant that you and I will enter into in this lifetime. It is not only a Covenant with God. It is a recognition that God has called us together, not only as family, but also as partners in Christ who will together seek first the Kingdom of God. We have been called into this by God. It is deep, and it is serious, which is why it's hedged about with warnings. We need to come back to these.
First, there's another important aspect for the present. Jesus taught us in John ch.6 that unless we eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, we have no life in us. He goes on: For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. Protestant churches believe Jesus was speaking metaphorically here. There's no evidence in Acts or the letters, that the early church ever regarded the bread as becoming anything other than bread, and the wine anything other than wine.
However, the association here with Communion is very strong. Now we believe when we lay hands on one another that the Holy Spirit is imparted. It may be for healing, or empowerment, or for victory over sin. In the same way, Jesus is saying when we eat the bread, and drink from the cup, we receive grace - God's enabling power - to live a victorious Christian life. By faith, we're feeding on Christ; we're drawing strength from Him; we're receiving Life from Him.
Now this is holy ground. Paul makes it clear that there is something sacred and powerful in Communion, and it's not to be taken lightly. We have to mean business, and come with repentant hearts. "A man ought to examine himself before he eats the bread or drinks of the cup." There is a particular sin we need to watch out for - that of failing to discern the Body of Christ. Now this could mean failing to recognise that you are actually feeding on Christ; or it could mean that you are not giving due recognition to your brothers and sisters around you, that they too are part of Christ's Body, and that we are partners together in the Kingdom. It's usually taken to mean that if you've fallen out with someone, go and put it right first. Don't take the bread and the cup if you've had a disagreement with someone, and it's not resolved. If we do, we risk bringing judgement on ourselves. "That is why," Paul says, "many of you are weak and sick, and some have fallen asleep." - That means 'died' to you and me! It follows that if you can get sick taking Communion in a wrong spirit, you couldn't half get well if you take it in a right spirit!
Future
Lastly, there is a future element to Communion. Paul tells us that in taking it, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." In Luke, Jesus says He will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom of God comes. So Communion reminds us of our hope. This is what it's all about. It's why Jesus came and redeemed us. We haven't seen this bit yet - only glimpses of what is to come. At this stage our purpose is to ensure we take as many with us as we can. Communion reminds us that the best is yet to come - by a long way!
So how should we celebrate Communion?
1. Don't take it at all unless you're a Believer. It'll be meaningless, and you'll be in danger of bringing judgement on yourself.
2. If you are a Believer, then do business with God first, and with your brothers and sisters if necessary. Make sure you're in right relationship with them.
3. There's a beautiful prayer which says, "Come, not because you must, but because you may. It's a Believer's privilege. We should make the most of it.
4. Do it reverently, not religiously. Don't just go through the motions, but take it with awe and thanksgiving. (That's what the word Eucharist means.)
5. It would be good to remind ourselves first of what it's all about, and to think about it for a few moments. The Scriptures are there for our benefit. We could make better use of them. There are a lot to choose from. We don't have to make a liturgy out of them.
6. Public prayers of thanksgiving are a blessing too. I would imagine that these would burst out of us as the truth and wonder of it all hits us afresh.
7. You don't have to take a little bit of bread only - the few crumbs mentality. As long as you leave some for others, it's OK to feast on Jesus.
Paul told us that faith, hope, and love would last forever. When we take Communion, we remember Christ's love for us, and that draws love for Him out of us. We feast on Him, and draw strength from Him by faith. And to drink it until He comes is to remind us of our hope of eternal life. The best is indeed, yet to come!