May 24, 2023

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

(1 Corinthians 10:16–17 esv)

  The Lord’s Supper is arguably the most enigmatic aspect of Christian worship. Established by Jesus at the end of the Passover meal and shared with his closest disciples*, the sacrament of communion calls Christians to take the elements of bread and wine in faith, and through them to participate in the promises we have received by grace through the body and blood of Jesus given for the “forgiveness of sins" upon the cross.  While much more can be said about this befuddling wonder - it is important to note that the risen Lord Jesus is spiritually present in the communion elements, and that the table is set aside for all who actively place their faith in Jesus.   

  Because God is truly and spiritually present in the meal, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32 warns believers about the right approach to the table, and “pulls back the curtain” to reveal God’s discipline in the life of the church for their failure to rightly regard the Lord’s presence. For the purpose of this email I would like to point out two things before we discuss in more depth on Sunday. First - consider the deep and glorious wonder of the fact that God the Father gave us his only Son so that we might be restored into fellowship through and in him. Second - bear in mind that the spiritual reality of God’s presence in the sacraments does not depend on our experience during them. We participate by faith^, so the “effect” of the meal is not reflected by the presence of spiritual “vibes” or any other sort of heebie-jeebie reaction. If you consistently walk away from the Lord’s Supper thinking, “I don’t get it!” don’t worry - one day you will.

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* Matthew: 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:18-20; I Cor 11:23-25
^ the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen (Heb 11:1)

—Matt Allhands