The Holy Communion

1 Cor 11:31 “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”

The Lord’s Table is an important procedure every Christian has to follow throughout his life. It is always advised that we need to be sinless when we take part in this table and examine if we are worthy enough.

Being worthy for anything is an impossible task for every true Christian. We always need to remember that the perfection God has and expects from us is far above our capabilities. Paul himself says that he hasn’t attained perfection, but is working hard towards that (Phil 3:12).

But, here if we are expected to judge ourselves it is necessary that we need a standard to compare ourselves with. For this, we have the verse 2 Cor 13:5 where we need to judge if Jesus is in us. This condition is what we need to judge ourselves during the Lord’s Table and other situations. This is the only qualification that we have. The presence of Jesus in us and the love that we have towards our savior makes us worthier candidates to take part in the Holy Communion.

When Paul explains the Lord’s Table to the Corinthian church, the reason for this advice on Judgement is that they did not respect the table. (1 Cor 11:17-22) There were people who were drunk, some were hungry or greedy and eat more, some people wanted to show off their positions in the Church and they were divided also. All these problems show the negligence they had on the table and not that they were sinners.

As per verses 24,25 and 26, it is important that we proclaim the death of Jesus Christ and acknowledge that the reason for every goodness in us is because of His blood shedding. We have gained everything we have now because He lost everything including his physical body. Jesus did not ask us to be pure or holy and come take part, but do that in His remembrance. He expects us to be grateful and that love will produce holiness. We are expected to proclaim to everybody in the church and outside that it is because of Jesus’ sacrifice that we are living.

As per verse 27, if somebody unworthily takes part in the communion, he would be guilty of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This means they are guilty of murder. The reason is understood when we look at the cross where there would be only two categories of people. Who really loved Jesus and stood by Him during the hardest time and those who murdered Him. We are not playing with any other simple event here but we are honoring the salvation we have received through His death. It needs complete submission.

So, to honor the communion, Paul advises that we should judge ourselves before taking part here. This judgement would be that are we hosting Christ properly in us. If we are hosting Jesus, we would do as Mary did by sitting at His feet and listening to Him rather than trying to please with our own ideas. Also we are expected to be changed with His presence. If there are no changes, then we are not hosting Him, but doing something of our own will.

In Mathew 5:29 and all the other three gospels it is recorded with Jesus saying that He’ll not drink the fruit of the vine till He meets us in the Father’s kingdom. The fruit of the vine is mentioned when we read Matthew 21:34 in the parable of the wicked tenants. This fruit is the purpose of Jesus’s coming and the existence of this world. We are the fruit if we are saved and changed like Jesus Christ. This is the reason Jesus says that He’ll not drink the fruit until we meet in heaven. We are not good results yet when we are saved but when we finish our race properly, we become good fruits of His vine.

We also see the fact that Jesus is thirstily waiting for his vine for 2000 plus years. He is eager to meet us, but we are not getting ready to meet Him. This is in line with the word on the cross “I am thirsty”. Now, the blood of Jesus is shed for two millenniums and He is still thirsty for the returns.

The gospel of John does not record the details of the Lord’s Table but he records another important incident which is washing of the feet. (John 13:4-17). We have been taught that this washing is a symbol of humility of God. That is completely true and there is an even higher message in this incident. Jesus told Peter that he does not have any part with Jesus unless he allows Jesus to wash. This washing is an ongoing ritual which symbolizes our daily cleansing by Jesus. We can see the emphasis here when Jesus says that “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet”.

Also when we wash each other’s feet, it symbolizes that we need to embrace suffering for others to be cleansed. This is shown in forgiving seven times seventy. Also we remember the sacrifices of martyrs who had given up their lives for our salvation. This is far higher than just humility. There should be burden for souls in all Christians.

At last, we read in 1 Cor 11:33 that we need to wait for one another. This waiting when compared with v19 where people wanted to show off their approval, we can see that there was a practice where they thought if they took part first or earlier, they are looked up as highly anointed. This happens even at our times. There should absolutely be no selfishness.

It is important that we all should grow up together. We need to wait for others to follow while we are progressing. While we are given opportunities to perform at Church, we should ensure that others get too. And there should be absolutely no showing off in anything in the Church including talents, blessings or gifts.

Thus if we honor the Lord’s Table we are gratefully remembering that it is only because of the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are living now. We are proclaiming to the world that Jesus died for them also. Let us do this with reverence.