Participating in Communion, or the Lord's Supper, has always been an element of Christian worship that I have eagerly anticipated.
My eagerness began early. I remember vividly as my dad and I walked alongside Lake Killarney and he explained to me what Communion was and why it was so special. Out of all the times that we have talked about Christianity and the church this conversation stands out in my memory even though I was only seven or eight years old. He taught me that Communion was meant for us to remember the death, resurrection, and future coming of Jesus. The juice was a reminder of the blood of Jesus that takes away our sins, and the bread a picture of Jesus' body that was given up so we could receive eternal life. He stressed the importance of entering Communion with a pure heart. I was excited for my first opportunity to share in this great illustration with my parents and the rest of the church. I can still taste the lemon sweetness of the Communion bread that my mom used to cook for our baptist church in Bonney Lake.
About twenty years later, I felt the jitters in my body language, nervousness in my brain, but the power of God's Word on my tongue as I led the church in Communion for the first time as a pastor. I planned profusely and poured over each description of the Lord's Supper in preparation of residing over this precious sacrament. I made sure to prepare and examine my own heart, and I remember reflecting on how it was necessary for Communion to express the unity of the body of Christ. The words flowed from my mouth, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. 11:25)
Yesterday was no different than any other time that I have celebrated Jesus' death, resurrection, and second coming; I was eager. Eager to reflect on the curtain being ripped in two, and how Jesus "entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood" to "cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Hebrews 9) I was eager to celebrate our unity in Christ and how we would celebrate again with Him at the wedding supper of the Lamb. I pray that I will never lose the wonder of Communion.
After the service, God reinforced the purpose and passion of Communion in my heart through a conversation with a young boy who took the Lord's Supper for the first time. He is about the same age as I was when my father first talked to me about the bread and the juice that I was so curious about. Although it was a fairly one-sided conversation (he is only six years old and shy!), I was able to see in him a desire to express trust in Jesus. I saw and heard a boy who confessed that Jesus is Lord. I saw a brother in Christ who, with me and the rest of the believers, proclaimed "the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Cor. 11:26) What a beautiful picture of God's faithfulness! Who knows if twenty years will pass and Logan will be leading the church in Communion?
I cannot wait for the day that my son, Brock, and I have this conversation--which is coming soon. I cannot wait to partake in the bread and juice with him and to call him brother. And honestly, I cannot wait until the next Sunday that we as a church participate in Communion.
