The Event or the Sign?

[From the November 2, 2019 SSB Worship Service (set up for Communion), which can be viewed on the SSB Facebook page]

I Corinthians 11:23-32 gives reasons and instructions for Communion.  There is one little piece about the resurrection tucked into this passage – “until He comes” (He is alive after His death!), otherwise Communion is about death.  It is about being broken and about blood – the bread and the cup.  Broken is about pain, suffering, loss, rejection, soured and severed relationships, bad health, and death.  Jesus stepped into this brokenness and allowed men to break Him.  The Blood is about life terminated for life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11).  Blood is the life-stream created and empowered by God, so the talk of blood spilt is talking about the sinless Jesus’ suffering death for the sins of others.

Because Communion is gloom and death, we most often prefer the resurrection part of the gospel story.  It is rich with joy, victories (soldiers KO’d and graves emptied), angels throwing boulders, Jesus saying “Rejoice!”, Jesus tender and peaceful encounter with Mary, the two to Emmaus (teachings that caused their hearts to burn), and Jesus coming among fearful ones and asking for food.  FOOD!  We prefer the resurrection!

I’m going to use two terms I don’t really like, but it will help with the lesson – “Good Friday” and “Easter”.  We put a lot of effort into Easter by going to sunrise services, eating egg casseroles, dressing up in new and “springy” clothes, attending happy services, and sitting with family and friends at big meals.

And Good Friday?  What do we do?  Little!  Very little.  My point – we much prefer the sign!

Now Scripture marks both His death and resurrection as very important for they make up the good news – I Corinthians 15:3-4.  Yet, it was at the cross that my salvation and my ticket to Heaven was paid.  It was at the cross where my debt and God’s wrath was handled.  The resurrection was the proof that what Jesus said was happening on the cross indeed happened and God was indeed satisfied with the payment.  Yet, which do we emphasize during Passion Week?  The sign – Easter!  Good Friday is mostly just another day.

It is often that we celebrate the sign over the event.  Take Christmas:  gifts over the Gift, our tree over the cross tree, family over Him, foods over the “Bread of Life”, and lights over the “Light of the World”.

What about a Wedding?  We prefer the reception – joy, hope, throwing bouquets, the couple rejoicing, tender moments, kissing, moving toasts by the best man and maid of honor, and FOOD!!  But the Wedding ceremony is what really matters!  Before God and men are words uttered that make glue and give the couple freedom to be open without fear and guilt.  And the vows uttered are noted by Almighty God causing Him to declare the two as one which is an amazing and powerful thing!  Also, the ceremony is about death – death to the old family, gang, haunts, best friend, and death to me – to my way, my money, and my schedule.  Too often people attend the reception over the ceremony as we prefer the sign.

Take Baptism.  Baptism does not save.  Faith in Jesus’ words (I am the way!) and work (taking God’s wrath for sinners) is what saves.  What did Jesus say?  Repent!  Die to self, take up a cross, and follow.  And His work?  His substitutionary place and payment for me and my sin at Calvary.  Baptism is a sign for others that I have embraced Jesus as Savior and Master.  Most often the sign gets the attention, the attendance, the gifts, and a special meal, but it is but the sign!

What about church?  We like fellowship, children programs, food, and singing, but we need to be confronted with Scriptures.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  Critical to salvation and victory are doctrines, most often hard and harsh – God’s wrath, Hell, dying to self, sacrifice, etc.  The church activities are but signs of faith in the One who saves from damnation, dread, and a dreary existence.

So Communion is about death – which is about life!

God saw and was satisfied (Isaiah 53) and Jesus declared, “It is finished!”

Communion remembers His death and thanks Him for His death that satisfied and appeased God, identified, and substituted for me.  So death and the grave, while real issues, have lost their grip and their sting.  For these reasons we humbly, joyfully, and solemnly remember the event.