Communion Message
Standing in Awe
July 4, 2004
Pastor Donald Sheley

We have in our Bible of the instructions that Paul gave to the Corinthian church 2000 years ago as to how the communion service is to be conducted, and this is what he writes: For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

Paul tells us that each time we share in this wonderful, sacred moment of communion, we're proclaiming again the story of the cross all over. And that story is recorded for us in Mark's gospel: In the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" He answered and said to him, "It is as you say."

And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, "Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!" But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.

Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomsoever they requested. And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion. Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them. But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!" So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. And the inscription of His accusation was written above: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

We as Christians stand here today in this very sacred and wonderful moment and the Scriptures tell us that when we can do this we do it in memorial, in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us. We understand that 2000 years ago God resolved the problem of sin because in the ancient past and in the early moments of man's history, because of man's failure, God had laid down a divine decree; that without the shedding of blood there would be no covering, there would be no remission, there would be no forgiveness of sins. And throughout all the Old Testament you have the folks who came time and time and over and over again, millions of sacrifices.

And in order to fulfill that requirement of Almighty God they brought a substitute, they brought an animal, and the animal was slain and its blood shed, and man went free. But the Bible tells us that in the fullness of time God sent His only Son, and He came to be the final sacrifice for all mankind. Paul tells us that He became sin for us, He who knew no sin, so that we might be made the righteousness of God. And there on that cross 2000 years ago Jesus fulfilled the requirement in death as the price, the penalty for sin. And He by His death provides for us life eternal.

And thus, as we place our trust in Christ as our substitute, as our Savior, His act at Calvary 2000 years ago becomes that moment in history when our sin has been taken care of, and we turn to Christ and say; Christ, I trust in You as my Savior and as my Lord. So what we do Sunday after Sunday in memorial and in remembrance of that marvelous act of God's wonderful love in sending Jesus to us, we commemorate that moment now as we stand in His presents. Would you bow your heads as we prepare for the communion.

Lord Jesus, we do what Your word tells us to do; we take the bread and we take the cup, simple items yet profound with eternal significance. For You told us, Jesus, that this bread bespeaks of Your body which was the substitute for us. In Your body You died. And this cup bespeaks something so deep for us to understand. We try but we don't thoroughly understand it all. We just know that it was Your divine law that blood should be shed for the forgiveness and the covering of sin. And Jesus, You fulfilled that requirement at Calvary for all of us. We stand in Your presence and we worship You our wonderful Savior, our blessed Redeemer, and our glorious God. And what we do now, we do in thanksgiving and in praise, in awe, and in wonder for all that You've done for us. Let's take the bread together...and then the cup.

And with deep gratitude, dear Jesus, we thank You...and everybody said...amen.