Some maintain that people have to be properly instructed about Communion so they understand exactly what they are doing. Others insist you have to prepare carefully for communion. I see the value in those notions, but I would hesitate to turn them into rules given the disciples at then Last Supper. They seem to have had little understanding what was going on, and they certainly weren’t ready for it. They were at a Passover meal that took a very strange turn.

“Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:26-28).

Surprise, confusion, puzzlement. I don’t think they quite made sense out of it at the moment. It must have only been after the next few days passed, and they had seen Jesus crucified and then raised from the dead that the pieces began to fall into place.

Today the Lord still comes to us in this holy meal. What can we do when we are confronted by such a mystery? Nothing but what the Lord command. Take eat. Take drink. Do this in remembrance of me. We receive what our Savior gives in thanks. Whatever is beyond that, we leave to him.

May Christ’s Body and Blood strengthen you unto eternal life.

Read Matthew 26:26-30 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne