1^st Corinthians 11:23-26

(23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: (24) And when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood:  this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till He come.

Introduction

Humans have a need to ritualize significant events. We come together and ritualize birthdays, weddings, graduations, ordinations, baby dedications, various anniversaries, and even funerals. The feast days in the Bible, such a Passover, were obviously to celebrate and ritualize significant milestones in Hebraic history.  Ritualization is part of human nature. It is encoded in our genes.

Many of the students who did not have a public graduation ceremony during the pandemic often said they felt as if they had not graduated. Their diplomas and degrees were either picked up on campus or mailed to them. So, what was missing? The ritualization of the accomplishment! This proves the point, anecdotally, that we crave for ritualization of special occasions.   Christianity’s most important function is to provide a way to eternal life, but it also serves the function of allowing us to ritualize important spiritual events.

As one studies church history, one will find that some of the past debates now seem so trivial. One of these debates was whether communion is a commemoration or a celebration. We commemorate 911, but we do not celebrate it. We commemorate the bombing of Pearl Harbor, but we do not celebrate it. We commemorate 1619, but we do not celebrate it. We celebrate July 4^th. We celebrate Christmas and Easter.

The debate may have been one of semantics, but I believe communion is both a commemoration and a celebration. Jesus did die on the cross - that was horrible. Yet, His death was not permanent.  He rose early on Sunday morning.  Let’s look a little deeper

Exposition

Point 1. Communion Is A Commemoration.

(A Commemoration Is A Reminder Of A Significant Past Event.)

(Communion Reminds Us Of God’s Sacrificial Love For Us.)

(Jesus Went To The Cross For Us.)

(Communion Reminds Us Of How Horrible Sin Is.)

(All Sins Are Horrible.)

(Sins Cause Pain And Suffering.)

(Personal Sins Are Horrible.)

(Systemic Sins Are Horrible.)

(Sins Of Omission Are Horrible.)

(It Took The Horror Of Crucifixion To Provide A Remedy.)

(The Harsher The Illness, The Stronger The Medicine.)

Point 2. Communion Is a Celebration.

(Communion Celebrates The Benefits Of His Death And Resurrection.)

(Communion Celebrates His Grace And Mercy Bestowed Upon Us.)

(Communion Celebrates His Unconditional Love For Us.)

(Communion Celebrates His Imminent Return.)

(Communion Celebrates The Blessing We Prayed For.)

(Communion Celebrates The Blessing We Did Not Pray For.)

(We Did Not Pray For Them Because They Were Beyond Our Imagination and Thinking - Ephesians 3:20.)

(Communion Celebrates That The Blood Still Works.)

Closing Thoughts

It’s time to talk about Siegfried again. I do it about once every year. Please remember, this is Germanic mythology and legend. Martin Luther, the reformer, was the first to include it in his lectures and sermons on communion. It is part of the Nibelungenlied, which is the Germanic equivalent to our English epic poem, Beowulf. Many of Richard Wagner’s operas are all about Seigfried. Siegfried was a knight in shining armor. He was always available to rescue damsels in distress. He was also a dragon killer. If a knight bathed himself in dragon blood, he would be invincible. No arrow or spear could pierce his body.  There was only one problem: killing the first dragon. Siegfried did kill his first dragon, drug the dragon under a tree and bathed himself in the dragon’s blood. There was only one problem: a leaf from the tree stuck to his back and that spot was not covered. That spot was his only vulnerability. His wife got mad with him because he was saving too many damsels in distress and told his arch enemy, Hagan, about his vulnerability. Hagan stabbed him in the back to his demise. Everybody was devastated because of the death of their hero. (If this were a music appreciation class, I would play excerpts from Wagner’s operatic portrayal of his funeral and you would hear the violins cry along with the people.)

Even though this is myth and legend, there are great truths to be extracted. Seigfried was not totally covered by blood. We are totally covered by the sinless blood of Jesus.  Seigfried tried to make himself invincible.  It is only through the blood of Jesus and His protection that “the devil can’t do us no harm.” No weapon formed against us shall prosper.

Give God Glory! Give God All The Glory!

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