“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Cor 11:26, NKJ)
There are three important aspects of communion contained in this single verse.
Firstly: contrary to many church traditions, communion is not something that is done at a scheduled time by ordained ministers. The Word states clearly that it must be used “often”. For this reason, communion was regularly celebrated in the time of Acts as part of meals or love feasts (Acts 2:46; 20:7 & 11; 27:35) – this is where the expression “breaking bread” comes from. As John 6:53 becomes a reality in your life, the use of communion is a wonderful way to release the Christ-life in you. Thus you can pray: “Give us this day our daily bread …” (Matt 6:11) or, as the disciples said: “Give us this bread always” (John 6:34) and receive it over and over again!
Secondly: the use of communion proclaims the death of Christ. The death of Christ means one thing in particular: the life that He died for. In comparison to Adam, through whom we received the gift of death, Rom 5:17 contrasts it with the life that the death of Christ brings (in this vivid translation in the Message): “If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?” Every use of communion is a reinforcement of this life!
Thirdly: communion is a continual proclamation (literally: showing) of Christ’s second coming. If you read Matt 26:29 along with this, where Christ said: “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it with you in My Father’s kingdom,” then communion is also a (possible) reference to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev 19:9)
- Sela: As far as possible, make communion a daily practice.
- Read: Judg 6; Ps 96; Acts 6
- Memorise: Acts 6:2
- Going deeper: Study Keith Intrater’s book Covenant relationships to see how all facets of being the Body come together through covenant relationships.
