Windows to the Word:
Communion *
Dear Friends in Christ,
I can only speak for myself, but over the course of this series on “Windows to the Word” I have come to a renewed appreciation of the part visual images play in the life of both the church and the individual Christian. Maybe you have as well. It’s also become very easy to understand the historic and original role behind stained glass windows. Far from merely being nice touches to add some color or splash to a building, they are powerful teaching tools which week in and week out remind us of and confirm us in basic Christian truths. Sermons can be hit or miss in their delivery and application of God’s truth, but the message from the windows remains constant…
What have we learned thus far? We have followed somewhat of a logical progression which brings us to where we are today.
During the first month of this series we moved through four windows devoted to the four evangelists and considered the unique light they cast on the person and work of Jesus Christ. The next couple of Sundays we considered two windows which essentially provided us with an overview of the entire Bible. The Law Window reminded us of our inability to enter heaven through keeping the Ten Commandments, while the Gospel window assured us that eternal life is ours through the work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Last week we considered the Atonement window and were reminded that Jesus Christ as our substitute put us in a position of “at-one-ment” with God. The perfect life demanded by God that we needed to live but can’t, He did. For us. The penalty for disobedience that we ought to have paid but didn’t, He did. For us. The result? Our sins have been completely atoned for.
Practically speaking, this means we are redeemed, restored, forgiven and at peace with God. Because of Jesus, we have a crown of life awaiting us. Because of Jesus, we know God to be our loving, caring Heavenly Father, as opposed to a grumpy old man in the sky who demands that we please him – and threatens to make life miserable for us if we don’t (which, unfortunately, is a concept of God held by many who don’t take time to seriously investigate the Bible)…
The theme of Christ’s forgiveness for sinners like us is again the subject of the next two windows on our tour. However, today a shift takes place. This week and next our windows focus on the two sacraments. Today we’ll be looking at
THE COMMUNION WINDOW
Some of the past windows have needed a little explanation on how all three panels fit together. This one is pretty self-explanatory and easily understandable.
The center panel is a picture of a communion cup – referred to as a “chalice” – with a wafer of bread prominently placed over it. The accompanying panels that flank it tell us more specifically about what’s pictured there. One panel is a picture of a sheaf of wheat, which would symbolize bread. The other panel is a picture of a cluster of grapes, which would symbolize wine.
Bread and wine are the external elements. But we know that the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion, is far more than just bread and wine. This fact is symbolized by the letters transcribed on the wafer: INRI.
You may remember these as being the first letters of the sign Pontius Pilate hung over Jesus while He was on the cross. The Gospels tell us that Pilate had the sign written in three languages: Latin, Aramaic, and Greek. INRI is Latin and stands for “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The message we can derive from this center panel, then, is that Jesus Christ Himself is also present in Holy Communion.
Let’s talk about that word I just used, “communion.” Like “redemption” or “salvation,” this is one of those church expressions we’ve become so familiar with that its full impact may – and probably does – escape us. It will be worth our while to define the term.
The word “communion” in its original language stresses an association, a close relationship, or a participation that involves more than one person or thing. Another way we could translate the word communion is a “coming together.” And that is exactly what Holy Communion is. It is a “coming together.” We’ll devote the rest of our time this morning examining what exactly “comes together” in Holy Communion, because there are actually three separate and distinct “communions;” and each one has great meaning and comfort us.
The first “coming together” would be the elements. The bread
and wine come together with the body and blood of Christ. Listen again to the words of our Gospel
lesson: While they were eating, Jesus
took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
“Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he
took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all
of you. This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins…”
The key to properly understanding this first “coming together” is found in the little word, “is,” and specifically in the fact that “is” means “is.” It doesn’t mean “symbolize” or “represent” as many branches of the Protestant church contend; “is” means “is.” What is the Lord’s Supper, then? It is the very body and blood of Christ which, in the words of the Reformation fathers, is “in, with and under” the bread and wine. In other words, Jesus Christ, in a supernatural yet very real way, is present in the Lord’s Supper. We call this teaching the doctrine of the “Real Presence.”
Without a
doubt, this is hard to fathom. In fact
it can’t be logically understood. The
“Real Presence” of Christ in the sacrament of Holy Communion falls into that
category we call the “mysteries of faith.”
Nevertheless, this is the clear statement of Jesus. All we can do is echo the words of one of our
old communion hymns: “An awe-full mystery is here to challenge
faith and waken fear; the Savior comes as food divine, concealed in earthly
bread and wine.”
The first “communion” leads to the second. As the body and blood of our Lord “come together” with the bread and wine, so Jesus Christ “comes together” with the individual Christian who attends Lord’s Supper. Which means that every time we commune we have a very meaningful, personal encounter with Jesus through which He assures us of His love.
Let me try to illustrate this point with a personal story I only learned of recently.
A few years ago my grandmother died at the age of 102. In her latter years she had been involved in a number of moves. Each time she moved she gave more stuff away, so she didn’t leave too many earthly possessions behind. But one thing she didn’t throw away and was ultimately passed on to her family was something they’d never really known about. It was a box full of letters.
They were
written by my grandfather when he was living in
I tell this story for only one reason, which is to make this point: That’s kind of what the Lord’s Supper is to us. It is a love letter from Jesus where He comes to us personally, individually, tenderly, lovingly. He essentially calls us by name and says to each of us, “Are you down or troubled? Are you burdened by your sins? Are you feeling that life is becoming overwhelming? Are you about ready to throw in the towel? Then come. Look to the cross. Take and eat. Take and drink. This is my body, which I sacrificed for you there. This is my blood that I shed for you there. I love you, and want you to be assured of my love and my forgiveness and my power for your life in this very tangible way.”
And so we come to His table, sometimes, in the words of the hymn, “weary, worn and sad.” But we leave assured of His love, assured of our forgiveness and with the resolve to live our lives to His glory and honor. Because at the Lord’s Table a very special “coming together” has taken place in a love letter we call Holy Communion.
But there’s a third “coming together” that takes place. And that is the “coming together” of like minded believers who are brothers and sisters in Christ; a “coming together” of those who share a common belief not just in most things that God has to say, but in all things. And we celebrate our intimate spiritual oneness with each other by sharing this special meal together.
In our
second lesson, the Apostle Paul talked about this oneness when he wrote: “Because there is one loaf, we, who are
many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” All who
receive that one bread are united with each other because all share a common
meal. It is that sharing and partaking
that marks us as one spiritual body.
What unites us as a body is our common understanding of God’s Word and
teachings.
We call this practice of only partaking in Lord’s Supper with those who are united in the same faith “close communion.” To commune with each other is indeed a wonderful blessing. But as wonderful and intimate as that is, let’s not deceive ourselves.
Sometimes this practice is misunderstood as spiritual arrogance, or we are accused of being exclusionary or judgmental or unloving. This saddens us, because we are only seeking to follow God’s Word. Sometimes the fact that we cannot in good conscience commune with others – maybe even others in our own families or extended families – also makes us sad. And we pray and work for the day when we can be united in, in the words of Jesus’ Great Commission, “everything I have commanded.”
The sad reality is that while we are on this earth and out of love for the truth there are divisions within the outward church that must be sustained. That being noted, the truth is that nothing can diminish the joy of this meal. Because when we take Lord’s Supper we are powerfully united not only with Jesus Christ as individuals, but also with each other as members of the same Christian family. At the Lord’s Table we celebrate “the tie that binds” by this third and final “coming together” in Holy Communion…
Depicted in our window as bread and wine in which Christ is truly present.
Each week we have a different picture but always a unified message. The forgiveness of sins and our place in God’s heart radiates from each window we’ve looked at thus far. The Communion Window we have considered today is no exception. Through Word and Sacrament – and the visual reminders we’ve been given this and every week – we’ve been consoled and confirmed in the grace that is ours. Glory be to Jesus. Amen.