Daily Friendship with God #12 Communion

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)

The Greek word for communion is koinonia and its definition includes the following: Fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation. 

The context of first Corinthians 10:16 is known as the Lords supper and is written about  in the bible in the following passages (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22–26; Luke 22:14–23, John 13) 

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:26-28)

Matthew 26:26 starts out by stating “as they were eating”. That phrase has in it the idea of fellowship which means being associated with others as in friendship. They joined together and participated in a meal together as a community. The idea of being joined together is that of becoming one. When two people eat of the same loaf of bread together the bread that is eaten by both individuals nourishes both of the people at the same time. Thus in one sense they are joined together as one in the nourishment of their bodies in a unique way through the bread they have eaten. 

Another aspect of this is Jesus said to them “take eat this is my body”. When Jesus said this He it was during a meal known as the Passover. I have included some of the key sentences from the Passover story in Exodus 12. As always reading the whole chapter will give you more details and an opportunity to grow deeper in relationship with God as you ask Him questions about what He has said. 

Your lamb shall be without blemish… kill it at twilight… And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts… It is the LORD’s Passover… Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:5,11-13)

The Passover meal of Lamb starts by killing (sacrifice) a lamb without blemish. Then taking the blood of the lamb and applying it to the place door post (entry) to where you live. You were to do this as a sign of faith that you believe God will save your life and have victory over the enemy who was holding you as a slave and keeping you from worshiping God. One thing to keep in mind is the entire sacrificial system of God was designed so you could enter into and have fellowship/communion with God.

Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 peter 1:18-19). 

John the Baptist, Jesus cousin said this:

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jesus broken body, death and His shed blood is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb not from just the external enemy of the world but also as the internal enemy of sin and death. 

When Jesus took the bread He was having a meal of fellowship/communion with His followers. He broke the bread, He gave thanks and told His followers this is my body broken for you as noted in 1Corinthians 11:24. Jesus flesh was broken open on the cross and His blood poured out onto the very ground that man was created out of as noted in Genesis 2:7. The following passage tells us even more details about Jesus broken body. 

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (Isaiah 53:5) 

I.In inviting His followers to drink the cup of the new covenant, Jesus was inviting them into each of the four cups of the Passover. He said that the new covenant was for the remission of sins and the definition of remission is: Forgiveness or pardon of sins letting them go as if they had never been committed so there can be no penalty. 

The apostle Paul has more to say about communion as he writes to the followers in Corinth (a city in Greece). 

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep(die). 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:27-31) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. (1Corinthians 11:26)

There is much to be considered in the above passage. To understand it all you have to read the entire chapter. In context to eating the communion elements, the first thing you should do is spend time with God, to the extent that you love others the way He does . Then you will not eat the communion supper in a way that will bring judgement upon yourself. We as followers of Jesus look to the book of Acts as a view of what the church (those that follow Jesus, as a community of believers) lived like after coming into a personal relationship of communion with Jesus. The Book of Acts used the term “braking of bread” (communion) as one of the themes that characterized the lives of those that were Jesus followers. Please remember that eating the communion elements is done by faith. God set up the communion meal of eating the bread and drinking the wine. He did this in order to have us take an outward action, which is to lead us into the inward communion that God accomplished through His sacrifice. Here is a passage that shows that communion was a fundamental part of the life of those that followed Jesus. 

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:40-47)

As you read Acts chapter two, to talk with God about the communion you have with Him and ask Him about His heart in having communion with you and others.