How often I need reminding . . .

 

READ Luke 21-24

The Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, was instituted just before Jesus died. “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’ “ (Luke 22:19–20)

Whenever we do this as a local congregation in our church, it is solemn, a time for reflection of what Jesus did on the Cross, our own unworthiness. We confess known sins and are thankful for our redemption. Yet at that first communion, the disciples quickly revealed why redemption was necessary. Right after this solemn occasion when Jesus also told them He would be betrayed and killed by one of them, they were discussing who that might be. That soon led to this:

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. (Luke 22:24–26)

I tried to imagine this scenario in our church and became dismayed to think of us arguing over who was the greatest Christian in the congregation. If that happened, what would I think? Or do?

Then Jesus told Peter that He was praying for him because his determination to be faithful would become three denials on that very day. Peter was dismayed, probably a similar feeling as mine toward fighting after communion, but Jesus was not wrong; Peter did deny Him three times.

We might defend Peter and say this happened before the Cross, before the Holy Spirit filled him and that is part of the story, yet it also reveals the need for redemption. The human heart can be sincere in wanting to love and obey God, but without the power of the Holy Spirit, sin can and will defeat good intentions. We need Jesus.

In a conversation yesterday about the convoys of truckers who are protesting government actions, my conclusion was this: no one can knowingly obey the will of God without the Spirit of God in their life, without the faith in Jesus Christ and the redemption that comes from repentance and yielding to Him. We who are Christians cannot demand that non-Christians do God’s will apart from having Him in their lives. We could not do it so it is unfair and even foolish to be disappointed when others cannot.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:5–8)

Trying to persuade unbelieving leaders to do justly is something like Moses trying to persuade Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Releasing them from bondage was not profitable for that Egyptian leader. No matter the pressure put on him to do so, his heart was hard. In the end, God hardened it because He had a better plan. When His people left, they were ready to leave, but even then they were soon lamenting that their lot in life and insisting things would have been better had they stayed.

Such describes the human heart. Obeying God is hard. It meets with resistance, not only from those who do not want to obey God, but from our own sinfulness. Sin makes us quick to want to be the greatest, have it all, live according to those old desires even though we know that sinful living does not please God and instead leads to death.

For me, these days often find me battle weary. Fighting sin and praying for others to win that battle can be physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. In today’s reading, I felt the sorrow and passion of Jesus as He sweat blood for us, for me. Lord Jesus, how badly we Your people need revival. Hear our prayers and grant us what we need to stop falling back into the life You saved us from. Enable us to be bold and joyful in the life You died to give us.

 

Beware of Legalism

Today’s Scripture reading focuses on the Lord’s Supper, a symbolic remembrance of Christ. The devotional points out something I’d not given thought to before — just as the Jewish Passover symbolically portrayed the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the Lord’s Supper symbolically reminds Christians of our salvation and redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just before His death, the Lord told the disciples to make ready, “And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.” (Matthew 26:19–20)

Later as they met together:

“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’” (Matthew 26:26–29)

Much later, Paul wrote again of this remembrance. His words are often repeated in many congregations as they gather around the Lord’s Table. There are no rules given about this observance except that it is for those who believe in Christ (who “discern the Lord’s body), that we do it often, and that we realize its significance:

“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23–26)

The devotional writer says the elements “must be” unleavened bread and wine because the bread represents Jesus’ spotless humanity and the wine was crushed just as Jesus was crushed in death. However, many of today’s congregations do not adhere to those ‘rules’ because they want everyone who follows Christ to participate. Some Christians have been redeemed from a background of alcoholism. For a few (not all), drinking wine could tip them into a sinful binge.

Also, even unleavened bread in our world is usually made with wheat flour, and those who suffer from celiac disease cannot have so much as a small piece of it. One woman I know says even a tiny taste of gluten will put her in the hospital and could be fatal. Our church accommodates this problem by using gluten-free bread.

The point is that symbolism is wonderful, but if too much focus is put on the symbols, the message they bring becomes lost, or in some cases, confusing, even legalistic. The Lord’s Table separates Christians from those who do not believe, but was never intended to separate Christians from one another. That is, Jesus didn’t intend that believers who cannot eat wheat flour, or who cannot have any real wine, be excluded from this ordinance. What would that say to them? Or to the rest of us?

As it is, I often struggle with giving Christians a rating system. My sinfulness puts up some and puts down others basted on their behavior, appearance, mannerisms, clothing, and so on. I know that is totally silly, never mind completely unlike God. I don’t need any rules or excuses that encourage me to categorize my brothers and sisters. If some cannot participate in the Lord’s supper because of a need to get right with God or with others, that is one thing, but quite another to leave them out because they are not free to drink alcohol or consume the same bread as most of us can eat. This might not be a big deal for many, but it is for those who could not participate.

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, You said, “Whosoever will may come.” You told the disciples to let the children come to You, and also spent time with those who the religious people called “sinners.” You invite the ‘best’ and the worst of us to share Your life and share around the table in this special way of remembering You. May we never exclude anyone because they ‘can’t do it right’ or because our ‘rules’ keep them away.