Communion, Part I

Communion is one of the single most important rituals that we, as Christians, perform. It is a ritual of symbols that represent salvation. It brings Christ's redemption into focus so that we remember Him and His suffering upon the cross for the very salvation of mankind. Symbolism is very important in a Christian's life as it was in the life of a Jew. These symbols are the physical elements that affect the spiritual realm.

It is fitting that Christ choose the Passover meal with His disciples to introduce the ritual of communion. The Passover ritual was a meal that was to be eaten to remind the Israelites of the time that the Israelites dwelt in the land of Egypt. When God sent out the angel of death upon Pharoah's kingdom to kill all the first born of Egypt as punishment for Pharoah's insistence on continuing to hold the people of Israel hostage, God instructed His people to kill a lamb and place the blood of the lamb upon their doorposts. This blood protected the Israelites from the death that swept through the land of Egypt killing all the firstborn. There are many symbols in communion that connect communion with that fateful night in Egypt.

First, the blood of the lamb. This blood put upon the doorpost of the house, protected the house from death. Just as Christ's own blood (the blood of the lamb of God) protects us from death. It is fitting that Jesus chose the Passover as the time to introduce this ritual of communion because it was a time to remember the suffering of those days. The bread was unleavened during this ritual and bitter herbs were used. This was to remind the Jews of the suffering of that time (as they came out of Egypt) as the communion is a reminder of Christ's suffering on the cross.

God said He would "passover" or spare the Israelites with the lambs blood on their doorposts. This was done at night. Fitting that Jesus performed communion at night with His disciples just before He was arrested. This is symbolic of the blood being placed on the doorposts just before death came to Egypt that night. Just as God passed over the children of the Israelites who did as they were commanded by putting lamb's blood on their doorposts, so God will passover us and not allow us to see the second death for we are covered by the blood of His lamb (Jesus Christ). In the next posts, we will talk about the doorpost symbol, the redemption symbol, and the faith symbol.

John 6:54
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.