On the Night He was Betrayed

At all the churches I had attended in the past, communion was always observed once a month on the first Sunday of the month. I grew so accustomed to it that I never even questioned it, and perhaps have allowed it to become more of a ritual than anything. When we first attended Berean last year, one thing that stood out to us was that communion was observed on the second and fourth Sundays. Before we could even find out the rationale behind it, the elders announced a couple months later with their unanimous recommendation for the church to observe communion every single Sunday. It was their conviction that communion is a Christian meal to be enjoyed within the Body and with Christ as often as is possible. It is a means of grace through which we come empty-handed to recognize Christ as the giver.

The other Sunday, the elder that was leading us in communion reminded us from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 that it was on the night Jesus was betrayed that He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." We come not as anyone worthy, not as anyone with anything good, for our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), or, even more explicitly as Andy put it, like feminine pads (Ezekiel 36:17). We come as someone who has betrayed the Lord Jesus. The Table is not a place where we bring anything, it is a place where Christ has given everything.

I've enjoyed celebrating this meal with my brothers and sisters on a weekly basis as part of worship. It brings me back to the cross, to the night He was betrayed, to be in awe of His wonderful love for me--the worst sinner and betrayer. Blessed be the name of the Lord! Who is like Him?!