Communion is based solely upon what Jesus has accomplished for us on the cross and a remembrance of His worthiness. It is not based on our works, deeds, or overall worthiness. Yet like so many other things, this most sacred portion of church gatherings has been corrupted and rendered meaningless to many. To many it is merely a ritual done in rote fashion indicating the end of the church service. Jesus spoke this Parable in Luke 18:10-14, "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." If this were a church rather than a temple, and if communion were taking place which one do you believe would immediately stand up and partake, yet which one do you believe Jesus felt was truly prepared to partake.

Jesus initiated communion in Matthew 26:26-28 at the Last Supper. Paul then described this in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, "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." We have all heard this portion so many times that it is easy to tune it out and simply go through the motions. To this point, notice what Paul says next in 11:27-28, "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup." But are we doing this? In the Parable above, the tax collector did and would have been worthy to partake, for he realized the depth of his sins, and his desperate need for a savior. David said in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting."

When we partake in communion we hold in our hands the representations of the price that Jesus paid to atone for our sins. Currently in most churches around the world it is performed in a ritualistic manner devoid of any real emotion. Joining the procession of pious and somber faces, each takes his turn. Yet I feel if we were to truly realize the fullness of what He accomplished when partaking in communion, only extremes of emotion would seem to make sense. Either we should be celebrating His victory over our sins or we should be flat out on our faces after examining ourselves in comparison to Him. This examination and the obvious disparity between our sinful selves and His perfect Self should render us speechless and broken before Him. We read in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." When we examine ourselves and reflect on this truth, all we should say is, Hallelujah, what a Savior." Thank you, Jesus.