Understanding Communion

newbornBooks™ has been affiliated with Great South Land Ministries in Australia since September 2005. During that time, we have enjoyed wonderful fellowship with Cheryl McGrath, founder of the ministry. Her insight and sincerity are solid. Cheryl has written our featured website interview for April but, as Easter approaches, we have also asked her to share her teaching on communion. You will enjoy her insight.

Understanding Communion
(Taken from: Letter to a Reluctant Bride)

No study on spiritual intimacy is complete until we take a look at the ordinance of communion, which so many of us misunderstand and consequently undervalue. Most of us are familiar with the account of the Last Supper as we commonly call it, but which was in fact a traditional celebration of the Jewish Passover feast. The gospel of Luke records the events:

"When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, 'With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.' Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said 'Take this and divide it among yourselves, for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.' And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' Likewise, He also took the cup after supper saying 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you' " (Luke 22:14-20).

Matthew adds "Then He took the cup, and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying 'Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom' " (Matt. 26:27-29).

Note it was the cup that was drunk after the meal, known in Jewish tradition as the "cup of blessing", that Jesus said signified the Covenant of His Blood. This is confirmed in Paul's letter to the Corinthians "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?..." (1 Cor.10:16). There was one other time in Jewish custom when the Cup of Blessing was used, and that was at a marriage betrothal. When a young Jewish man wished to propose marriage to His chosen bride, if she agreed, they would seal their covenant by drinking wine from the same cup, which was called the "cup of blessing." From that moment on they were considered man and wife. Following this proposal, the groom would return to his father's house to make preparation for the coming of his bride, and the wedding feast. He would not return for his bride until his father gave permission. On departure from the bride's home it was customary for the groom to leave her with these words: "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also." I have related this true story many times to Christians from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds, and without exception the Holy Spirit never fails to move them as the true nature of the communion celebration is revealed. How much we have lost in failing to understand our Jewish roots. When we understand that Jesus was in effect betrothing to Himself a Bride at that first celebration of communion, we also begin to understand the deep covenantal symbolism of the bread and the wine. The celebration of communion is the celebration of intimacy with our spiritual Bridegroom. Each time we partake of the bread and wine we are accepting His proposal and pledging our faithfulness to Him. God takes covenant seriously; so should we. Not very much longer after that intimate Passover meal, the church was born as the blood and water gushed from the side of Christ, the last Adam. Just as the very first bride, Eve, had been brought forth from the side of the first Adam (John 19:34).

Jesus "fervently desired" to partake of that first communion with His followers. One day He will drink of that cup once again with His Bride as we celebrate together at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The Bridegroom is returning for a Bride without blemish - let's make ourselves ready!

Cheryl McGrath
Great South Land Ministries

Copyright Cheryl McGrath, Great South Land Ministries, 2003 This article may be distributed freely with copyright intact. Permission is needed for reproducing this article or any part of it on a website: www.greatsouthland.org; southland@greatsouthland.org