Why Communion?
I want to answer the question: WHY COMMUNION?
By looking at a 4,000 year old story.
Let’s go back in time to the first meal with God.
It’s Abraham, 4,000 years ago.
1. Abraham Had Dinner With The Trinity
1The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
3He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. 5Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
6So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
7Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. —Genesis 18:1–3, 5-8
Takeaway: If a 100 year old man can run around the farm, and a 90 year old woman can knead four pounds of flour in a snap, what would it take for you to come running to your church for dinner with Jesus?
3,500 years ago with Moses.
2. Moses Had Dinner With God
3Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 7Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
13The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. —Exodus 12:3, 7-8, 13
Takeaway: This world is a battle ground, and your children are at risk, so how long will you risk leaving your children unprotected?
3. Aaron Had Dinner With God
8”This bread is to be set out before the Lord regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant. 9It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is a most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the Lord.” —Leviticus 24:8-9
Takeaway: If priests ate while God was hidden behind a curtain, how can you resist the open door Jesus has made for you to eat with the Father?
2,000 years ago with Jesus.
4. Jesus Had Dinner With God
7Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”
9“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.
10He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”
13They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
14When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19And 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.”
20In 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. —Luke 22:7-20
Takeaway: If Jesus eagerly desires to give you something new, could you risk missing a single meal with Jesus?
5. Jesus Makes Dinner Addictive
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. —Acts 2:42-43
Takeaway: If the first Christians found Sunday addictive, what could you be missing out on today?
6. Jesus Always Comes to Dinner
“Maranatha!” 1 Corinthians 16:22
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? —1 Corinthians 10:16
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” —1 Corinthians 11:23-24
Takeaway: What would happen in your communion if you visualized Jesus holding the other half of the bread and cup?
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. —1 Corinthians 11:27-30
7. Jesus is Present in Each Other
Takeaway: If you looked around the room for Jesus, what healing miracles could happen next?
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