A Time of Celebration and Remembrance
ICS Daily Devotions
Matthew 26:26-27 (NKJV) And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
The Holy Communion was instituted by Jesus on Passover, the night before the crucifixion. The bread represents His body and the wine His blood. It is a powerful reminder of the work of Christ and a celebration of God’s salvation plan for the world. To appreciate the Holy Communion, we must be a believer of Jesus Christ, whether we have been baptised or not.
The Holy Communion is such a central focus of the church because it speaks of Jesus’ presence, His victory, what He’s done and can do, His ministry, His suffering, His work of atonement, His resurrection, His ascension to heaven, the new covenant in His blood, His body, and the church. We always approach the table with praise and thanksgiving because it reminds us of His perfect work for us.
During the Holy Communion, we remember and celebrate:
The Lord’s presence in our midst.
(Matthew 18:20 NKJV For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”)
The reason Jesus came for the work of atonement or redemption.
(1 Corinthians 11:24-25 NKJV 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.”)
God honoured His covenant and He established a new covenant through the blood of Jesus.
(Matthew 26:28 NKJV For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.)
The grace of God, because it is all done by Christ, and we have no part in the work of salvation.
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast)
To bring us to intimacy with Christ.
(John 6:53,58b NKJV Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you…He who eats this bread will live forever.”)
The Unity and Oneness of the Body of Believers.
(1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NKJV The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread.)
Sermon Series: The Holy Communion
