Communion - What do you visualize?

[reverbbb]

Luke 22:

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

This past Sunday, we were sharing in communion as we do every Sunday before we present Praise & Worship. Suddenly, it occurred to me that every time this passage is mentioned during a communion prayer, I realized that I am focusing on Jesus hanging on the cross. It suddenly struck me odd that I use this visualization for each communion time.

Think about it. Jesus was ALIVE and telling his deciples to "remember me". At that moment, Jesus had not yet been arrested or executed. Jesus was saying remember me for my good works - not think about me dying on the cross.

From now on during communion, I will be visualizing Jesus as he lived and taught. I want to picture Him as he would have wanted us to see him.

If I am killed in a car wreck, will everyone remember my bloodied body and not my works here on earth?

I do not intend to diminish the image of Jesus greatest sacrific of dying on the cross. But I would rather follow His wishes and remember His good works as an inspiration.

I invite anyone to set me straight on this point if I am not properly understanding the purpose of communion (in a Protastant sense).

[kewlpack]

You are right Rev.

While there is a sort of somber memorial-ish component. The Lord's Supper is largely a celebration and proclamation of our firm hope. I have a few exhortations I wrote (somewhere around here) along the lines of "The Significance of the Resurrection" and "Celebration of the Lord's Death".

FYI: In all of my studying the early Christian writings (80-300AD), their testimony on Communion is fascinating. In fact, they actually referred to it as the Eucharist - e.g. the thanksgiving, or celebration. This celebration was the central focal point of pretty much every gathering, and where the Love Feast really started (cf Acts 2:42-47; 1Cor 11:20-32). Anyway it is a really neat study and opens your eyes to what a wonderful thing the Eucharist actually is (or can be).

NOTE: After lots of meditation on it - I often wonder if our weekly chip of crusty cracker and thimble of grape juice insults the Lord more than honors or proclaims him. I know it's mainly the spirit of the act and that the meal doesn't have to be grand. However, we minimize the physical substance in order to keep things "quick", "efficient", "convenient", and "clean". Is that what a celebration entails?? I do not think so. It is not the evidence of history either.

I'm more inclined to shout in the same spirit of the apostle Peter "Lord let me have a gallon and a loaf - these tiny portions barely begin to honor you!"

The next time you guys come to the Table of Thanksgiving - rejoice in hope, leap in faith, applaud in honor, cry in the joy of an everlasting hope - as you participate with Christ - in Christ.

God bless ya - real good!
~A~

[TheViking]

I think communion was meant to be a celebration of what Jesus done, not necessarily with focus on how he accomplished it. When I read the passages in Luke there are several things that strikes me.
1. The disciples and Jesus was gathered for a meal, but not just any meal, it was Passover. The Passover or “Pesach" is the Jewish celebration in memory of God passing over the house of the Jews when slaying the first born Egyptians. Yet this is the time God will not spare his own son, his first born. “Pesach” is also the Jewish name for the sacrificial offering (the lamb) that was prepared in the Temple during these days. Jesus is the Lamb of God.
2. Bread and wine were common food in the Jewish kitchen. I think the fact that Jesus chooses “every day” food, is another interesting thing to notice. Bread and wine would always be close at hand.
3. In verse 19, after breaking the bread, Jesus says “do this in remembrance of me”. Jesus did not say “do this and remember how I died” Remembering a person means remembering what they did, who they were, what they accomplished and yes it also contains how they went out in the life, but a memory of a person contains so much more.
4. The fourth and last thing I want to point out is the word diatheke, translated with covenant. The word can be translated with — a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will a compact, a covenant, a testament.—The Blood of Jesus contains the new pact, the covenant, his will. It was shed for our sins. His earthly “possession”, his body was killed so we could live.

I just have to say God is great, the more I read the Bible, the more I realize what total control he has got. How every little detail is figured out, how what may look hazy to us is crystal clear for the Lord. Sometimes when I invited brothers and sisters over for a meal, we break a loaf of bread, share the wine and remember who Jesus by sharing how he blesses our lives richly every day even when we do not see it. We can come before the Lord and remember, take a time out from our hectic days and just rejoice for what he has done for us all. To me that is what communion is about,

[Crunchyriff]

I would not only agree with reverbbb, but also agree with the more traditional mindset as well. WHY? Though I am very happy, no, ECSTATIC over the fact that Jesus is the reason I can go to heaven; I also realize the stark reality of what depth of love, courage, humility; and selfless, loving, sinless determination that our Lord mustered... to redeem the likes of me.

It is no light thing when Paul implores us to 'examine ourselves' before taking communion. It is a multi-faceted challenge, IMO.

Now then, let's consider the dynamics of the last supper: the questions in the apostles' minds, the new covenant Jesus announced, the betrayal, the revelation of His having to leave, etc; not to correct you- any of you my brothers; but in light of the situation, I believe the general feeling at the table that night was 'tense', at best; not to mention unrest in 'greater Jerusalem', and so forth.

I believe it was a gut-wrenching time. One of fear, sadness, anger, and apprehension for his disciples; and one of emotional pain, and bittersweet resolve for our Master.

Jesus' whole "point of being" at that very moment in time, was to offer Himself a sacrifice for OUR sins; a perfect, blameless lamb. His singular, solitary goal was the cross, and His triumph over death, hell and the grave.

Not the miracles, signs, and wonderful sermons.

I don't think any of us can adequately imagine just how high the cost really was. We acknowledge it- talk about it, preach it, write about it; but none of US experienced that magnitude of loss, sacrifice, (and that willingly) for such a wretched lump of human flesh as fallen mankind is; as Jesus did. Quite frankly, thinking about it with any degree of depth and consideration makes my head hurt, and my eyes well with tears.

Can one really imagine what the Son of God willingly and obediently gave up... to walk among evil men, (as a man); and without fight, whimper, or resistance- peacefully lay his life down for the most hideous execution imaginable?

The New Covenant was written in blood- His blood. Nothing else could have made it possible, nor would we have communion AT ALL (much less salvation) if Christ did not willingly lay down His sinless life, to redeem the human race.

I do think that 'somber reflection' upon these matters during Communion keeps us in right perspective with the Creator and His Son.

At the same time, knowing that Christ laughed, cried, and was NOT an unemotional, somber, stoic when He walked with His apostles; and who is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Champion Above all (and accepts us as we are!), is 'light enough' for me.

Praise BE TO GOD!!

[reverbbb]

I do think that 'somber reflection' upon these matters during Communion keeps us in right perspective with the Creator and His Son.


This particular statement makes a lot of sense to me. It has been the justification for my communion thoughts for many years. It is very true that the image of Christ hanging on the cross was the reality. And the fact that he died for all of humanity, yet came back to life, is crucial point for Christ's message. How odd it would seem in modern times, if Jesus were just getting His ministry off the ground, only to follow the will of God and be scacrificed.

Now I need to meditate and pray about these two ways to "remember". I want to establish a balance of these two visuals in my mind. I want to acknowledge His sacrific in the traditional way, but never forget that he was a person that lived and breathed the many lessons directly from God.

Thanks for all the input thus far. It helps me to keep my perspective.

Ain't this place great?!!!!!!!

[stephen]

This is a "deep-well" conversation for me.

I remember going to church when I was a young, and communion was passed around, I was admonished, "This should not be taken in vain. If you are not worthy, you should not partake." If I'm not worthy. That messed with my mind at times, cause man, I was definitely not worthy at all!

But then I realized: None of us are worthy! Worthy means there is an asignment of value. The only value I bring to the table, is sin, because "all have sinned, and fallen short". I cant tout my good works, cause it is all vanity, and pride, and is not righteous before the Living God. It is because, I am not worthy, that Christ died for me, and that every thing He did during His Ministry, lead up to His laying down His Perfect Life, for my flawed imperfect life. BUT, through His blood, I am made worthy, not of anything I can boast, but by His Sacrifice alone.

I picture Jesus at the Last Supper with the 12. He knows: One is going to betray Him. One is going to run away, in so much fear, he is running away naked. One is going to hide in the shadows and not speak up during His flogging and crusifixion. One is going to deny Him 3 times. All are going to abandon Him. Yet, He said "For a long time, I have desired to have this supper with you". He looked beyond their coming sin throughout His crucifixion, and Loved them still. The same way He is with us, with me.

[ptrallan01]

Remember me.

My father died 20 years ago and I remember him for his jokes, teaching me to play coon-can and checkers and bid whist, for beating me when I was bad, for cheating on my mother, for coming home drunk and embarrasing all of my family in different ways at different times good and bad. And that is the point, I remember everything about him.

In the celebration of the Lord' Supper/Eucharist we find or establish communion with the Lord and each other. The Body of Christ that Paul speaks of so eloquently is each of us communally worshipping God and remembering ALL the things that Jesus said, did, and experienced. I can celebrate His life right up to the part that I have to break the bread in my mouth and then I fight back tears because all I can see is how he suffered for me.

It is and should be a bittersweet experience of joy tinged with sorrow that causes us to examine our own behavior, status, standing and belief. We should remember that we eat and drink the memory of His life and death and joyously awaiting His return for us. He will not eat this bread of drink this cup of the fruit of the vine until He drinks it with us new in His Father's kingdom. This is His promise that we will be united again.

The early church got itself in trouble surrounding this celebration because some over ate and some over drank and some excluded others based on worldly criteria so the feasting and sharing were reduced to symbolic status. We should carefully examine how we can more fully share the fellowship that was intended by our Savior to be brought to fullness in this celebration.

Love

Peter