Proclaiming the Sacrifice
Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Today is Sunday, and if you attend a worship service today, you might celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. Many churches around the world will gather and focus on the bread and cup and hear these powerful words: “This is my body, given for you. . . . This is my blood, shed for you.”
In a way, the tangible elements of bread and grape juice (or wine) bear witness to the love of Jesus shown in his sacrifice on the cross. We are invited to take and eat so that we may remember and believe that in Jesus’ death and resurrection we find forgiveness and new life. We are also reminded that when we participate in communion, we “proclaim the Lord’s death” until he returns. Communion itself is a witness to Jesus and all he has done for us.
I remember an unusual experience of communion many years ago. It was the week after our young family was involved in a serious car accident. No one had been hurt, but it could have been so much worse. As I held those symbols of Jesus' death in my hands, I saw with fresh eyes how his sacrifice brings life. We had experienced a close brush with death ourselves, but God had decided that our purpose here wasn’t finished. In life and in death, we belong to him—the one who gave his all for us (Q&A 1, Heidelberg Catechism).
Jesus, you are the bread of life. As we worship you, may we experience close communion with you and our brothers and sisters in faith. Thank you for the gift of your life. Amen.
About the author — Kevin DeRaaf
Kevin DeRaaf is the director of Resonate Global Mission, the Christian Reformed mission agency working in more than 40 countries around the world. With a focus on encouraging others to join in God’s mission where they are, Kevin believes that God’s purpose for the local church is to shine as a community of love and grace, showing in tangible ways that Jesus is the hope of the world. He and his wife, Jacquie, have three children and four grandchildren and live in Burlington, Ontario.
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