The Body and Blood of Christ

Today we celebrated Holy Communion. It comes under a number of different names. Sometimes it is called the Passover Meal, reminding the people of when the blood of the lamb, painted on the doorframes in Egypt, spared the eldest born male in every family as the Angel of Death passed over them. We also hear it called the Lord’s Supper, indicating Jesus celebrating the Passover with them, but identifying Himself as the “lamb” whose blood was shed for the people. I have heard it called the Breaking of Bread, which simply describes part of the meal. It is also called Eucharist, which means “thanksgiving”, thus another name known as the Great Thanksgiving. But what is it. Jesus does say, “This do as often as you eat/drink it in remembrance of me”. Is it just remembering? Jesus celebrated the festivals and the Sabbath Day, but it appears that the Gentiles were not commanded to do the same. We read in Colossian 2, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” As a matter of fact, when the leaders of the church were accusing the disciples of doing what was unlawful the Sabbath (working/picking grain), Jesus defended them. He Himself healed (worked) on the Sabbath. So, if God didn’t seem to enforce the holy days, then why would He command us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper often. It was more than remembering, or else He would have required us to keep all of the feasts, etc. I like what Martin Luther writes, “It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink.” And if it were just remembering, why would Paul tell us in 1 Corinthians 11, “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.” Lord, You put a great importance on both Baptism and Communion. Help us to understand and receive it worthily. Amen