On the night Jesus was betrayed, He gathered with His disciples to celebrate a last meal during the Passover celebration. This celebration was a time to remember and thank God for His provision for the people of Israel, to reflect on when faith-filled Jewish families who had been held in slavery marked their doorways with blood from a sacrificial lamb. Those who took this step of faith were spared from the judgment and wrath that came from the Lord onto the people of Egypt. After this miraculous act, the faith-filled people of Israel were freed from their captivity and found the one, true God to follow and live for.
It was during this celebratory last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples a new promise that God was offering to all people. After centuries of the people of Israel not holding onto and breaking God’s commands, Jesus was offering a new way, a new covenant for the people of Israel and for all people.
A New Way Because of Jesus
As Jesus held up and broke the bread, He told His followers, “this is my body;” a symbol now for the believer to remember how Jesus willingly laid down His own life for us on the cross, when He became the ultimate sacrificial lamb on our behalf.
Holding up the cup of wine, Jesus stated, “this is my blood.” The drink is a picture of the blood that Jesus shed for us when He took God’s wrath, for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for our sin.
Jesus went on to instruct His disciples to eat the bread and drink from the cup as a reminder of what He was offering to us by His willingness to lay down His life. Jesus knew that by sharing this message with His disciples, He was explaining a new covenant. In this covenant, His sacrifice is what made the payment for our sins and now enables His followers to be saved by grace, through faith.
Participating in Communion
Jesus instructed His followers to participate in communion, and they have been for 2,000 years. Following this example, Candlewood Church regularly participates in the Lord’s Supper (Communion). Communion is an opportunity for the family of believers to collectively pause and remember what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. Though you don’t need to be a member of Candlewood Church to participate in Communion when we celebrate, it is something that should only be done by followers of Jesus. If you have questions about this, or beginning a relationship with God, feel free to reach out to one of the Candlewood Church pastors.
Participating in Communion is a time:
- For each individual believer to reflect on and remember what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross
- To discern and deal with any unconfessed sin that may be hindering your relationship with the Lord
- To allow the Lord to lead and strengthen you in your walk with Him as you experience fellowship (communion) with Him now and as you look forward to the fellowship you will enjoy with Him for eternity in Heaven.
Additional Information
For further reading and study, turn to: Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, & 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. If you have any questions on Communion, connect with Candlewood Church today.
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