We find in the book of John that while Jesus was teaching, He talked about His body and His blood. He was trying to tell them that He was the manna that God sent when the people were in the desert. He was saying that He would save His people. But his audience the Jewish people got upset. They knew that eating flesh and drinking blood was an abomination. But here, Jesus was talking about being one with Him. This was a spiritual eating. And as we take bread, we are reminded that He was the one who saved us. And as we take the wine we are reminded that it was His blood shed that made us free.
John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (NIV)
John 6:53-58 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (NIV)
Today we celebrate that we will live forever because of Him. Because of His body given and his blood shed.
Prayer for the bread: Father as we take this bread we join the saints of all times to thank you for your willingness to send your only son to die for our sins. Bless us as we take this together.
Prayer for the wine: Jesus, it was you who was willing to shed your blood so that we could be free from our sin. We are thankful to you, and today we remember your sacrifice. Bless us as we take this together.
Pastor Bernie lead communion in August 2018 at Cornerstone.