Jesus Christ – The Bread (Easter Series 2019, pt. 4)

There are many differences between the various denominations of the Christian faith. One of the big differences has to do with the observance of communion. Some of the disagreements come in the form of:

• • How to take communion
  • How often to take communion
  • What kind of bread to use
  • What kind of drink (juice or wine)

Yet, most churches tend to agree on one thing:

You must be a believer in order to take communion!

I have attended some churches where statements have been made just prior to communion being served:

“You don’t have to be a member of our church to take communion; we just ask that you are a member of God’s church.”

I have often wondered why we exclude people from taking communion.

Jesus was sharing the Passover meal with His disciples. Since He was about to become the sacrificial lamb, then the meal has been referred to as the Lord’s Supper, and sometimes the Last Supper. This is detailed in Matthew 26:26-30, Mark 14:22-26, and Luke 22:19-20. Then, Paul details it in his letter to the Corinthians. It is this account that is commonly used for communion services:

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way, after supper He also took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant established by 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 Cor. 11:23-26 HCSB)

These instructions, given by Paul, tell us exactly what the bread and the cup are symbolic of. Jesus is telling us that He died on the cross to save us from our sins, and He was establishing an eternal method to remember that. Yet, we tell unbelievers that they cannot participate. It was for all of us that He died, so all of us have been invited to sit at the table of the Lord.

But then, so many people are quick to point out what follows in this Corinthian letter:

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (1 Cor. 1:27 KJV)

Because of this verse, I have seen many churches tell people that they need to “examine themselves” prior to taking communion. The problem is, that no one is worthy, nor can they make themselves worthy. It is not the state of the person that the scripture is referring to. Look at this scripture again from the Holman Christian Standard Bible:

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. So a man should examine himself; in this way he should eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. (1 Cor. 11:27-29 HCSB)

What is an unworthy way? Not recognizing why we are taking communion; not valuing the sacrifice made by Jesus.

I think that a time of communion ought to take a different format. Just like Paul, I think that the bread and cup need to be explained so that everyone in the service will know what is going on. That is a normal part of communion services. However, often times, this is where the unbeliever, or unsaved person is disinvited from participation. I would love to see a service take on a different tone:

After explaining the bread and the cup, invite all people to spend a few moments remembering the sacrifice that Jesus made for them. For those that may not have given their hearts to the Lord, this would be a great time to do so, as we celebrate communion with Him.

Concerning Communion, Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Yet, we ask people to look at themselves, and decide if they are worthy to participate in communion. Instead, we ought to make it all about Jesus. We do not have to be the watch dogs making sure that nobody takes communion who shouldn’t – let the Holy Spirit take care of that!

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“Come To The Table”
By Sidewalk Prophets

We all start on the outside, the outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry, we were thirsty, with nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
And just when all hope seemed lost, love opened the door for us, He said

Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table

Come meet this motley crew of misfits, these liars and these thieves
There’s no one unwelcome here
And that sin and shame that you’ve brought with you, you can leave it at the door
And let mercy draw you near

Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table

To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger, all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who’ve failed you’ve been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who’ve loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow, all who lead
Anyone who’s been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who’ve been labeled right or wrong
To everyone who hears this song

Come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
Oh, sit down and be set free
Come to the table,
Come to the table
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table