The Lord's Supper

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month, and as is customary we celebrated Holy Communion in our church, Bethesda Cathedral. This is a love feast instituted by our Lord before His sacrifice on the cross. God knows that we're frail in our knowledge and understanding. That's why He gave us vivid symbols to remember Him by; where memory fails, the emblems of the bread and wine are there to remind us. The bread symbolises the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for humanity. Indeed, by His wounds (39 lashes on His back) we've been healed (made whole). The wine represents the blood of holy Lamb of God that was shed for the forgiveness of sins. As a church, when we partake of the bread from a common loaf it speaks powerfully of a meal that unites us together, inasmuch as the waters of baptism divides. In the latter, the division speaks of separating the old life (which should be buried) from the new life (symbolised through resurrection).

In partaking of the Lord's Supper, the Bible tells us that as often as we eat the bread and drink of the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death till He comes (1 Cor 11:26). And this we shall do, since the efficacy of the blood of Jesus will never wane. As long as humanity exists, they need to know the love of Christ. When Christ returns, a new world order begins and there is no longer a need to celebrate the Lord's Supper as we would be invited to a greater feast in heaven, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This was probably what Jesus alluded to when He told His disciples that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine until He drinks it anew with them in His Father's kingdom (Mt 26:29).

Some church members are not able to come to church for one reason or another on Sundays. These are usually people who are sick or immobile. Because of this, I had the privilege of ministering holy communion to three members of our church yesterday. This isn't the first time I've broken bread with them; it started a few months back. One was warded in the hospital while the other was at home. They were grateful for the gesture I had taken. I took the opportunity to pray for them, claiming the healing stripes of the Jesus as symbolised by the bread. One sister wanted the Lord to take her home as she was exasperated with living, having suffered so much physically. I told her that our times are in the hands of the good Lord (Ps 31:15). As long as He gives us breath and life, we continue to praise Him (Ps 150). I also told her that we'd all be receiving new bodies (even though we may not be healed on this side of heaven) and that our redemption and ultimate healing has been fully paid for by Christ. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!