Holy Communion

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The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” – 1 Corinthians 11:23-25

Often we have a hard time believing that we are loved. Men and women who have a keen awareness of their flaws will wonder if anyone can really love them. So we have a need to not only hear that we are loved, but also to receive tangible assurance of that love.

If we need that assurance from our fellow human beings, how much more do we need that assurance in our relationship to God?

God knows us so well. He knows how we feel. He knows what we need. Not only does he tell us in his Word that he loves us, he also gives us personal assurance of that love.

How does he do that? He does so in what Christians call Holy Communion or The Lord’s Supper. In this special meal Jesus gives us bread that isn’t just bread. He tells us, “This is my body.” He also gives us wine to drink that isn’t just wine. He says, “This is my blood.”

Now before anyone gets grossed out, this isn’t some kind of weird cannibalism. It’s bread and wine that looks, smells, and tastes like bread and wine. Yet, in a way that we can’t perceive or comprehend, Jesus tells us that with the bread and wine, his body and blood are really present in this Supper.

Here’s why this is such a great gift. You may think, “I know that Jesus forgives all those other people out there, but I’m not really sure that he can forgive me.” In Holy Communion, Jesus comes to you personally and says, “I love you. Your sins are all forgiven. You want proof? Here’s the price I paid for you on the cross. This is my body which was sacrificed for you. This is my blood which I shed for you.”

Whenever we receive the Lord’s Supper, we remember Jesus’ saving, self-sacrificing love for us, and we personally receive not only assurance of that love, but we also receive his forgiveness.

Know the Truth

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“Your word is truth.” – John 17:17

Human beings have never stopped desiring to search for the truth. And who can blame us?

As we swim our way through life, so often we find ourselves in deep water over our heads, water that has a muddy bottom which is sometimes slimy and threatens to trap our feet. What could feel better than to finally touch a smooth, solid, rock bottom where we can plant our feet and rest, keep our heads above water, catch our breath?

God’s word is rock-solid truth. That’s how Jesus described it. He was speaking to his heavenly Father in prayer when he said, “Your word is truth.” Though such a simple statement, it is a profound reality. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, testifies that the word of God the heavenly Father is truth!

It’s hard sometimes to hear the truth. It can cause us to hang our head in shame and even cringe with fear. Truth that God tells us is every bit as difficult to hear. He tells us the truth that we are sinful. The sin that swirls around in our heads and floods our hearts is devastating. Sin brings death—every kind of isolating, slimy, feet-trapping death, including the eternal kind.

God tells us the truth about sin so that we are willing to listen to a more important truth. The truth that his Son, Jesus Christ, came and lived the perfect life required of those who want God to care about them in this life and save them for the life to come. The truth that he died the perfect death on the cross that completely paid for sin. The truth that he rose again to prove he had done everything that is necessary for our salvation. The truth that he did this for every sinful human being. He did it to give us a firm foundation for life—a blessed life with God now and forever.

And do you know how God gives us everything Jesus earned for us by his life, death, and resurrection? Through his rock-solid word.

And that’s the truth!

Begins his ministry

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What if Thomas Edison had invented the light bulb and then had not told anyone about it? How foolish that would have been! Great things need to be shared!

The greatest “thing” this world has ever received is God’s gift of a Savior—and God wanted people to know it. So, when Jesus was thirty years old, he began to make himself known in a public, attention-getting manner, so all could share the benefits!

It started when Jesus went to John the Baptist. John was ministering at the Jordan River when Jesus arrived. John baptized Jesus, and as he did, God the Father spoke from heaven, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love” (Matthew 3:17). At the same time God the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove. This was the Father’s and Holy Spirit’s way of officially, dramatically pointing to Jesus and saying, “This is the one. This is the Savior.”

Then Jesus began to gather a group of followers. But how were they to know that he was really the true God, that he really was the Savior? Jesus would have to make it known to them, with words and actions. He did it by doing things that only God can do. He performed real miracles.

His first miracle took place at a wedding in a town called Cana. Weddings were major events, sometimes lasting for days, and the host family was expected to provide everything for their guests, sometimes even changes of clothing! Unfortunately, this wedding was running out of wine—what an embarrassment! That’s when Jesus stepped in. He told the servants to fill six large jars with water (each held 20–30 gallons). Then, Jesus ordered them to draw some out and take it to the person who was overseeing the banquet. When he tasted it, the water had been changed into wine! Not only so, but the master of the banquet called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine … but you have saved the best till now” (John 2:10).

What a powerful effect this first miracle had on Jesus’ disciples! How did this affect those people whom Jesus had called to follow him? We’re told that “His disciples put their faith in him” (John 2:11). Wouldn’t you have done so as well? But maybe we wonder—was this a one-time thing? A fluke? Keep reading!