Context: A short one today! Paul is criticizing the Corinthians for the way they operate their churches. This particular passage is his instruction for effective communion.
Text:
23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In 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." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.(NIV)
Taken from www.biblegateway.com
The tradition of communion offers more circumstantial evidence that Jesus was more than a man. Can you think of any other person in all of history whose death is celebrated instead of the great things he did when he was alive? On Monday, America celebrated Martin Luther King day. We were reminded, as we should be, of the things this minister did to change America's perspective on racism. Unfortunately his dream has yet to be fulfilled, but in general our country has come a long way from separatism as a direct result of Dr. King's efforts -- actions which resulted in an undeserved and untimely death.
When we get together to remember Jesus, we are actually celebrating the fact that he gave his body and shed his blood so that we may have life. We don't remember the many miracles he did, the way he changed history, or the amazing speeches he delivered. In our society that is actually pretty morbid, yet it is the greatest thing Jesus ever did. By dying, he opened the door to eternal life. That is worth celebrating!
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