Do you know how to take communion as a joyous celebration? It is intended to be more like a wedding than a memorial service for someone who died. Jesus of course did die, but just as importantly, He rose from the dead. We serve a risen savior. To take communion was birthed as Jesus presided over what is called a Seder meal. It was part of the Passover Celebration. It was a joyous occasion Israel looked forward to all year long. Jesus earnestly looked forward to this last Passover meal with his disciples.

And He said to them, I have earnestly and intensely desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; Luke 22:15

Celebrating Passover is replaced with taking communion

Moses gave specific instructions for observing Passover. It is the initiating blood covenant ceremony for the children of Abraham in Egypt. It is also celebrated every year since then as a way to keep reminding them of their covenant. Jesus introduced the New Blood Covenant at what we often call the Last Supper. It was the last Passover Meal that as Messiah He presided over. The Old Covenant it celebrated is now to be done away with. Jesus is about to sacrifice His blood to usher in a New Covenant. He will teach us to take communion as a joyous celebration to remind us of our new covenant as oft as we do it.

This is my body and blood

         During the Passover meal, they would eat a piece of bread and drink a cup of wine. It represented the body and blood of the coming Messiah. Jesus adds the phrase “This is my body and my blood” revealing that He is the Messiah. To take communion is to bring the New Covenant to our remembrance on a regular basis. We must remain covenant-aware. This short and sweet ceremony is meant to be the way to do it. We are to be enjoying our covenant grace, covenant faith, and covenant favor. To take communion is to remind us of our blood covenant relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

To take communion is to reenact this ceremony Jesus first conducted. He told us to continue to do this on a regular basis. It is celebrating His offering and our accepting the New Blood Covenant. It reminds us of what was accomplished for us by this grace-based covenant’s Sacrifice Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Take Communion properly to remain covenant-aware

          To take communion properly is to celebrate what Jesus did, not to focus on your own shortcomings. Communion was not intended to be avoided because of a guilty conscience making you feel unworthy. The point is not to make us feel guilt and sorrow because of our sins. Communion is to make us rejoice as it reminds us that our sins are completely forgiven.

          Often protestant observances of Communion add in a passage Paul wrote to the Corinthians, a passage only meant for their correction. This passage is not included in other places where Paul speaks of the Communion ceremony.

          The Apostle Paul told us more about the grace-based blood covenant than any other biblical writer. Paul finds the Corinthians to be behaving poorly at the communion feasts. Their behavior reveals that they are not covenant-aware. They are undiscerning of the bread representing the body of Jesus. The New Covenant promises health and healing. He goes on to explain how this is why some of them were sick and dying young. They had lost sight of the covenant promise that by the stripes on His body, we are healed.

Taking Communion is to keep us aware of our blood covenant.

You may never have been told that the Communion ceremony is a blood-covenant ceremony. Taking Communion is our covenant-ceremony meal. It is to remind us of the benefits and blessings that come to us by virtue of our grace-based blood covenant. The bread of communion is taken into us. In this way, the covenant body of Jesus is taken into us. Thus, covenant-promised health and provision for the body are taken into us. The cup of communion is taken into us. In this way, the covenant blood of Jesus is taken into us. Covenant-promised eternal life is taken into us.

Enjoying Covenant-aware Communion

          There is no reason to avoid taking Communion with others, even if some of the text used in their observance leaves the partakers still unaware of its covenant significance. There is a benefit to participating with a local body of believers in prayer, praise, baptisms, and communion.

          The admonition in scripture to remember our covenant was changed from the old covenant observance of once a year. Now it is encouraged to be done often. There is no arbitrary limit to frequency or location, I do it daily. The observance need not be limited to a corporate setting. We can benefit from acting as the priests of our homes in our homes.

Take communion joyously at home

I encourage you to take Communion in a way that will allow you to enjoy it as intended. It is a joyous celebration and remembrance of our grace-based covenant with Jesus. I close with an example of a brief ceremony you can use with your family based on Scripture. It will help you be more aware of the blessings that accompany salvation. You are free by grace to express your love and thanks for our blood covenant in any way you choose, as oft as you do it.

Communion

Thank You, Lord, for reminding us that while it is good to take stock of where we are in our daily walk, it is our being in You that cleanses us even now of every sin and qualifies us to receive the benefits of Your grace by faith. We love You and thank You for cleansing us of all unrighteousness and inviting us to now partake of Communion with You.

Our Father in Heaven, we thank You for Jesus, Who has bid us to come and partake of our New Covenant meal. We thank You for and ask You to place Your blessing upon the bread. Jesus, we proclaim and discern that the bread we now receive is Your body, given for us. We break it and eat it together. We rejoice that by Your covenant body being pierced and broken, our bodies are made in every way whole. We receive the healing provided for our flesh now, in the Name of Jesus.

Father, we now thank You for and ask You to place Your blessing upon the Cup of the New Covenant, the Cup of Blessing. Jesus, we proclaim and discern that this drink is Your blood, shed for us. We drink it together. We rejoice that by Your blood being poured out, our spirit man drinks in all of its benefits. We are redeemed, fully forgiven of sin, made righteous, and in every way that pertains to life and godliness, made whole in the name of Jesus.

Photo by Geda Žyvatkauskaitė on Unsplash