Day # 163 - Participation

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 10:14-16 NIV

Photo by Geda Žyvatkauskaitė on Unsplash

What do you think happens when we take communion?

There is a great debate between different parts of the church of Jesus about what happens during communion. The Catholics teach that bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Jesus, known as transubstantiation. The Lutherans believe that the body and blood are present with the elements of the bread and wine somehow through what is known as consubstantiation. Baptists and most evangelical denominations believe the bread and wine are only symbols. The Eastern Orthodox believe the bread and wine are the body and blood of Jesus in a way that is a mystery and not quite like the Catholics.

I don’t believe the bread and wine are the literal body and blood of Jesus, but I do believe that us evangelicals and Pentecostals often miss the power of what the Bible teaches on communion. I think some evangelicals are so bent on not being Catholics that we have overlooked “the Presence” at communion.

Paul believes that something happens at communion. He says to the Corinthians in the context of talking about idolatry, “is not the cup of thanksgiving… a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread… a participation in the body of Christ?” This word “participation” is the word for fellowship. The word we use for communion. It means a shared union and relationship. He is saying when we take this bread and drink this cup, we are somehow participating in the body and blood of Jesus.

The significance of this context about idolatry is that Paul is warning the Corinthians that if they feast at the table of idols, they are fellowshipping with demons. Most Christians are freaked out to (at least knowingly) participate with demons so we avoid activities that cause us to be influenced by evil spirits. So why do we think there is a power at the table of idols that causes us to participate with demons, but we don’t regard the communion table as a place of power where we can participate with Christ?

Paul affirms this later in 1 Corinthians 11 when he rebukes the Corinthians for taking communion in an unworthy manner and warns them that some of died early or remained sick because they did not properly discern communion. Paul certainly believed that the presence of Christ was available to work miracles and healing when we honor the sacredness of communion.

Next time you take communion expect to participate in the body and blood for forgiveness, cleansing, healing and fellowship with the slain and risen Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus, thank You for holy communion. Thank you for Your body broken and Your blood poured out for me. Thank you for the participation I have with you through the bread and the wine. Let me experience the fullness of the fellowship You paid for when I come to Your table. Thank You that You commune with me as I commune with You. In Your name, amen.