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CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – In church last Sunday, I was asked to speak about communion.
At the last supper, Jesus took bread, broke it, and told his disciples that this is his body – given for you. And after the meal, He took a cup of wine, and said this is his blood, representing the forgiveness of sin and a new covenant between God and his people.
There are two things that we don’t talk about from the first last supper. The apostles must have thought Jesus was talking metaphorically. Certainly they must has thought, “but Master… your body is not broke. You are not bloodied.” I’m sure their understanding would have been different at the second communion, after Jesus was crucified. Jesus told them to “do this in remembrance of me.” Fully human Christ would only have said that if he was worried that his sacrifice at the cross might not be remembered. Yet, indeed it was. Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth tells about the Last Supper years after Christ’s death. Indeed communion would have been widely practiced by then.
There is also a long-running debate over whether communion is intended only for confirmed church members or if communion should be open to anyone who wishes to partake. I’m not going to wade into that debate today. But I am reminded of this: In Luke’s telling of the last supper, Jesus says his blood is poured out for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sin. I think you and I are the “for many”. That tells me that you don’t have to be perfect to take communion. Who is? Even the disciples on that first night did not have full understanding of Christ’s meal. I think the requirements for taking the bread and the wine are this: that you identify with Jesus, you want to follow him, and you are showing obedience to him by partaking of his divine feast.
If you agree, I hope that you will partake of the bread and the wine the next time it is offered. I believe it’s a good and right thing for us to commune together.
Chris Conley
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