Communion or Memorial is a very sacred event for the truly dedicated. There is no magical prayer or change that happens at this time. The whole purpose of Communion is to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of the world of mankind. He instructs his dedicated followers to “do this in remembrance of me.” It is his sacrifice that is pictured in the bread and the wine of Communion. We are also warned that we not take it unworthily. It is a very serious matter and everyone needs to examine his own heart and standing before the Lord.

An appropriate prayer at this time would be one of thankfulness for all that Jesus has done for us.

Consider these verses before we continue:

1 Corinthians 11:24-29, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

The Bread

Jesus himself explains what the bread and wine mean. The bread used the night of the Memorial was without leaven—that is no yeast (which is a picture of sin). That bread pictures Jesus’ sinlessness and his sacrifice of his fleshly body.

 John 6:51 I am the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give IS MY FLESH, which I will give for the life of the world.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

The Cup of Sorrows

While the bread pictures Jesus’ sinless flesh and life, the wine— his blood goes a bit deeper.

Hebrews 9:22, “Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.”

During our Lord’s ministry it was obvious that he understood that his life would be one of great difficulty and suffering—even unto death. His life would be bittersweet as is the taste of wine; Bitter through suffering—sweet because he overcame the world. In talking with his disciples—he asks a question that hints at what he himself would have to endure:

Matthew 20:22, “Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

That baptism would be a baptism into death—not just an ordinary death—but an extraordinary death! He would be abused, beaten, humiliated, mocked, scorned, spit upon, stripped naked, crucified and declared a blasphemer. All these abuses would come from his own people—even from those who claimed to be the representatives of his Father (like modern day priests or ministers).

It was not enough that our Lord lay down his perfect human life as a ransom, or corresponding price, for father Adam; but that he also experienced the suffering, ignominy, and shame that was associated with the sin of Adam. Nakedness, thorns upon the brow, and most difficult, the turning away of his Father’s face of favor:

Mark 15:34 “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

So, our Lord’s flesh was broken in death by his persecutors —a death that was designed to be slow and painful—crucifixion.

Our Lord walked the path to the cross…The way of sacrifice —it was he who” trod the winepress alone.” It was his shed blood that is pictured by the cup set before us. It was a cup of sorrows for our Savior.

“…despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…” (Isaiah 53:3)

 It is recorded that Jesus:

“took the cup and gave thanks.” (Luke 22:17)

“And said, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.'”

John 6:53, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

Matthew 26:29, “But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 

Let us not forget the gift that God has given us:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Additional Resources:
(PDF) “Notes on the Passover and the Memorial” Written by Anton Frey, this 37-page treatise compares Israel’s ancient Passover observance with the Memorial of Jesus’ death. Discover how Israel’s freedom from Egyptian slavery illustrates the greater deliverance of mankind from the bondage to sin and death. The Memorial symbols of the bread and the cup are dealt with extensively with lovely personal applications for the consecrated believer.

(PDF) “Heart Communion with Jesus: The Last Week of Jesus” This 43-page booklet traces the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry. It pieces together the four Gospel accounts endeavoring to offer a sequential order for each day. Also included is the record of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances.

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