Jesus tells
us to love one another just as He loves us.
What we must keep in mind that this was said in the context of the last
supper (communion). Jesus had just
finished washing the disciple’s feet (vs. 4-7) Jesus is making it clear that as we partake together
of the same bread we are washing each other's feet (serving each other) we
are wiping away (forgiving) the dirt and filth of sin in the lives of our
brothers and sisters and cleansing them with living water. That is loving others
as Jesus loves us. But it doesn’t stop
there.
Communion is also a tool that we have been given for empowerment to receive the broken
bread into our bodies for healing and restoration. Not only does communion represent our love
for one another, it represents our love for Jesus. As we partake of the bread we remember the
broken body of Jesus as He suffered on our behalf to bear the sins of the
entire world upon His shoulders. (Isaiah 53:5) Jesus’ broken body was provided to us for our
healing and wholeness. Jesus made a way
for us to enter into a position of divine health through His broken body. When we receive the broken bread as a remembrance
of His sacrifice, we receive the completeness of the finished work on the cross
into our bodies that we may be restored and renewed. In this we can pray for our own healing as
well as for others, this is another example of loving others as Jesus loves us.
Then there
is the cup, the cup represents the new covenant sealed in Jesus’ blood. God’s promises from time-immemorial are ours
because of the death of Jesus. When a will is offered it is only put into effect when the
testator dies and we receive that benefit of the will (or promise)
When we take
the cup we can declare that “JESUS DIED” and we are the beneficiaries or inheritors
of the promises of the Kingdom because of His death. What that means for our brothers and sisters
in Christ is we are co-heirs with them and we all become part of body of Christ.
This is incredibly good news, not only do we
benefit from the bread which represents His broken body which suffered for our
healing and restoration in every area of our lives, we are all brought into the
very near presence of God as Sons and Daughters through inheritance by the
death of Jesus.
We are now
partakers of a heavenly kingdom along with the body of believers in Christ, and
we are told by Jesus to: “love each other the same way I have loved you”
if we realize who we are in Christs’ body for each other (and serve each other)
that we may manifest or demonstrate in a greater measure of what we have been
given, then the outside world will take notice and see the love we have for one
another and will want to receive that love too.
Be Blessed;
Stephen Barnett
No comments:
Post a Comment