Christ’s sacrifice

A healthy baby was born in the hospital down the street.  Ho-hum.  God provided for your basic needs again this week.  Yawn.  You shared the gospel with someone this week and he trusted Christ.  Of course.  Your spouse/child/parent/friend loves you.  Okay.

The extraordinary has become ordinary.  It happens in life.  And it happens in the spiritual life as well, even in this most sacred of spiritual disciplines — communion.  The regularity of remembrance has resulted in a familiarity that has removed its wonder.  Here are five things to remember that will help elevate the common to communion.

• In communion we remember Christ’s sacrifice.  Salvation is given freely, but it is not free.  It cost Christ His life.  But it was a price he willingly gave for us (Lk. 22:19). What was the cost to the God-Man who endured separation from His Father?  What would it feel to bear the weight of sinners when sin has never been entertained?  What is it to feel the infinite wrath of God against you?  This is Christ’s sacrifice.
• In communion we partake of the benefits of Christ’s sacrifice.  There is forgiveness, spiritual healing, unity with God, fellowship and joy (1 Cor. 10:16).  Better yet, there is restoration to God — our great enemy has become our friend and Father; His Son has become at once our brother and Groom.
• In communion we proclaim His sacrifice (1 Cor. 11:26).  His death is a reminder to us and a sign to the world that God has reconciled us to Him and that He has given us the privilege of being ministers of reconciliation on the world’s behalf (2 Cor. 5:18-20).  We have a message of hope to offer to a hopeless world.
• In communion we recognize that we are not only unified with God, but that we are unified with every other believer (1 Cor. 11:20).  One of the marvels of salvation is that God not only has secured our eternal future, but that He sanctifies us now so that we are “livable” (Titus 2:14).  And we are family and friend and co-laborer for Christ with one another.
• In communion we give thanks for His sacrifice.  How can we adequately express gratitude for an indescribable gift?  Anything that is done or said seems to be insufficient.  Yet in communion we demonstrate a thankful heart that is pleasing to God.

John Stott offers a good summary:

The Lord’s Supper, which was instituted by Jesus, and which is the only regular commemorative act authorized by him, dramatizes neither his birth nor his life, neither his words nor his works, but only his death.  Nothing could indicate more clearly the central significance which Jesus attached to his death.  It was by his death that he wished above all else to be remembered. [The Cross of Christ.]