That Was A Great Meal! (1 Corinthians 11:26)

I was doing 60 in a 35 mile per hour zone, but I was running late for my 11 AM blind date and I could not make a poor first impression. The rendezvous was a delightful French bistro, known for its cozy romantic ambiance and eclectic weekend brunches-a perfect spot! Now, all I needed to do was show up on time. Sprinting through the entrance at 11:02 AM, I spied a beautiful woman sitting alone by the hostess. That must be her! Frantically attempting to compose myself, I slowed my pace and calmly walked up to her and introduced myself.

We did not leave the restaurant until 3:30 PM. So many details of that meal are emblazoned upon my memory-the dishes we ate, the jokes we shared, the awkward and clumsy moments, the dress she wore, the scents of the afternoon. Fifteen months later, we were married. Yes, that was a great meal, the day I met my future wife! We have returned to that restaurant several times after being married and it is impossible to dine there without being reminded of that magical day. In fact, we usually share our story with our servers, understandably leading to a warm reception.  On one Valentine’s day, after hearing of our story, the chef-owner returned to our table and presented a glass of champagne to both us, elated to have been a part of our revelry and history.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (ESV)

Jesus Christ earnestly desired to share one last meal with His disciples before He was arrested, tortured, and crucified on the Cross. He broke and shared bread, stating that it represented His body that was broken for many and distributed a cup of wine, stating it was the blood of the New Covenant. He then instructed all of them that whenever they ate this bread and drank of this cup, they would proclaim the glory of Jesus’ death and look forward to His eventual return to earth.

Christian denominations have differed in their frequency of taking communion, varying with nearly every imaginable temporal permutation. The Bible does not give a definite answer on this topic, which can sometimes be a divisive issue amongst Christians, but is very clear what our attitude should be when we partake of the elements of communion. Only those who have confessed and repented of their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are invited to partake. Without this understanding, taking the elements would be a hollow and empty gesture. For all believers, a communion is a solemn event, one that looks back to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and looks ahead to His return. It almost begs the question. shouldn’t we celebrate communion as often as possible?

I will always remember every detail of my first meal with my wife. The disciples of Jesus Christ always remembered their last meal with their Lord and Savior. It was recorded in all four Gospels and the early Church adopted it as a foundational tenet. That was a great meal, and it will be even greater when all believers someday celebrate it with Jesus Christ in Heaven.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

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