Your church may call it the Lord’s Supper, Communion, or the Eucharist. What do you think about during these times? Are you ready to move on to the next thing in the service? Are you busy watching some special music during this time? Are you simply going through the motions as one more routine on a Sunday morning? Or are you doing what Christ told us to do—remember.

I like it when the plate gets to me to early. It gives me more time to pray. I like it when there isn’t much distraction with singers and such, just quiet music playing. That’s just me. I’d even be glad for absolute silence because that’s my time to practice what Jesus said:

“…do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

These days, most of our churches do not use real bread, the kind where we pinch off a piece and pass it, but the representation is still there. We see bread as life-sustaining and supplying a basic need of nourishment. Jesus said:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

As I held the tiny piece of representative bread in my fingers this past Sunday, I thought about Him as the one who sustains of my life. I thanked the one who gives spiritual nourishment for my soul.

I mulled over the fact that so many tried to beat down the Life-Giver; the Pharisees with their incessant trick questions, the Sadducees claiming blasphemy to cover their need to be in control. I thought about their demeaning treatment of Jesus before they handed Him over to the Romans. 

Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?” Matt. 26:67

Then we have Pilate with his questions and failure to be decisive, the crowd clamoring for crucifixion, the soldiers with their flogging whips and crown of thorns, but worse yet, the absence of His frightened disciples. Physical abuse and emotional trauma. Words of ridicule. Loneliness. 

“Take and eat; this is my body.” Matt. 26:26

Remember.

I held the cup of juice between my thumb and finger.

For centuries, the people had been taught that sin had a price—separation from God. To be atoned, to be taken care of, sacrifice was necessary. Not a sacrifice of grain or incense, no, a sacrifice for sin required blood—the liquid of life. It is where we find our DNA—the essence of who we are. His blood would replace the lamb sacrifice. He became the sacrificial lamb, the new covenant.

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,

“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matt. 26:27

Remember. Remember.

We each remember in our own ways. I simply urge you to be intentional as you use that quiet time to “Be still and know that I am God.”

~ Joyce ~