This week’s post is about being set free from communion drama. If you see the monthly communion setup at church and think, “Oh great, it’s that time of the month.” Then you have come to the right post!
Years ago, as a teenager, I dreaded communion Sunday. Not only would I have to quickly choose a stale rice wafer that I could be reasonably sure that no one else touched, but I would also have to find a clean, untouched cup that was surrounded by other cups. I sat in the very back of the church, and there were well-known nose pickers in the pews in front of me. But it wasn’t just that. No, there was more! The church’s “Communion Sunday Drama” was about to begin. Being an ill-mannered teenager with ADHD, in my bored head, I did sports-style commentating and post-game interviews of the body-and-blood prayers. One of those post-communion interviews is still in my head to this day. “Congratulations on your win, Jeff! Tell us, did you feel pressure going against Randy for best communion drama?” “The pastor turned in a great performance last month. He sniffled, cried, and used his suit jacket sleeve to wipe his eyes and nose. Were you nervous going into this?” “Tell us, did that massive wedgie help you cry? That looked painful!” “Did you pack that in there yourself, or did it happen naturally on that tiny piano stool?” “Nice work, Jeff! Because it’s so high up there, I can see your ankles under your pant legs.” It’s still one of the worst wedgies I have ever seen! Had he just wiggled or pulled out the fabric, I wouldn’t even remember it, and along with it, my awful behavior. Being an adult, I realize that I had no understanding of communion because I was never taught anything about it other than crying about how Jesus died, and how unworthy I am to receive it. That turned me away from truly understanding the truth of communion. The first thing I had to learn is that Jesus made us worthy before God. If I’ve asked for forgiveness for my sins and checked my heart for offense and unforgiveness towards people, then I’m worthy! After we’re washed by the blood of Jesus, God doesn’t want any of us to cry about being unworthy as if Jesus’ blood doesn’t restore us. “Never forget that you are worthy to take communion,” words from a minister that took a while to sink into my heart, even though my head already knew it, but I needed to hear it more than that, after so many years of only ever hearing that I’m unworthy! *Boo-hoo-hoo!*
Basic revelations from Scripture helped me understand it a little better. I saw that communion was first ordained by Jesus with 3 rough-mouthed fishermen (two named Sons of Thunder) and Judas already holding Satan within himself, and then after it all happened the remaining 11 disciples promptly had a prideful discussion where Jesus had to intervene and correct them. That’s right, Jesus didn’t even turn Judas away from spiritually partaking of His body and His blood. Luke makes this point very clear!
Luke 22 NKJV
v3: Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve.
v17: Then He took the cup…
v19: And He took bread…
v21: But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
Religion doesn’t want to talk about Judas still being at the table, but we should! Jesus was still lovingly offering Judas salvation until the last moment. What I learned from this is that we are so much more worthy to receive this blessed meal than 12 men still under the Old Covenant, with one being full of Satan. It’s not an arrogant statement to say that we are more worthy. We’re made new creatures, washed in the blood, and seated with Christ in Heaven places. We have been positionally restored to favor with God. You can read more about this in the righteousness post.
John tells us more details of the surrounding circumstance in John 13:27 NKJV
Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”
Reading Luke 22 and John 13 together, we can see a more detailed list of events:
– Jesus called Judas’ betrayal out
– John questions Jesus who the betrayer is
– Jesus answers John, by giving Judas bread
– Satan entered Judas
– Communion
– Jesus sends Judas off
– Disputed as to who was the greatest
Slightly amusing fact, Matthew and John don’t mention the dispute. Jesus told Judas to do what he was going to do, because he didn’t let go of his plan to betray Him, even after he was offered communion (salvation) by Jesus one last time, and Jesus didn’t want everyone to unknowingly hang out with Satan. He wasn’t chasing Judas away from the Passover meal, communion, or salvation. Jesus lovingly did what was best for the group. Don’t forget, no Christian, including Jesus, can cast an evil spirit off someone that wants it.
Never even think for the slightest moment that you are unworthy to receive communion and should be sorrowful and crying before you take it, and if don’t you’re not holy. Let’s take a quick look at the prodigal son, because that’s a depiction of the Father.
Luke 15:21-22 NKJV
21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet
This is a great story to think about if you’re still feeling like you should be crying unworthy to take communion. The son says, “No longer worthy,” and the Father IGNORES HIM! If He doesn’t acknowledge a son crying unworthy that has been living an unrighteous lifestyle, much less is He going to listen to us cry unworthy!
Eventually, after studying the scriptures, the obvious revelation hit me. Communion supper should be a happy time with (hopefully) good food, fellowship, and singing (if I’m in the mood), as opposed to a regrettable rice wafer to pick off my teeth while trying to feel horrible so that I can be holy. I realized that I really should be eating the bread and drinking the cup with a meal and fellowship with family, and it’s OK if we use a dip, because Jesus did! But somehow, I still felt guilty for taking communion in a happy way, though I kept trying, because it wasn’t anything acceptable in church. A few weeks passed since my revelation, and I visited a new church to hear a special speaker. The pastor said, “Let’s take our communion as medicine.” What? He was SMILING! He was HAPPY! What?!? The congregation was happy! WHAT!?!? Several people raised their hand and stood up to announce they were healed. WHAT IN WORLD WAS HAPPENING?!?!? My sacred religious cows moo-ed their last and immediately died. Everyone was respectful and thankful, but no drama and tears! I kept waiting for drama, but it never took place. I knew the Lord was showing me that I’m free to be happy and thankful!
Oftentimes, the grim tone for communion is set according to these scriptures in Matthew 26:30, 40 NKJV
30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 40Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping
The tone at church growing up was they sung a sad depressing hymn, and the disciples couldn’t be bothered to help pray with Jesus, because they were more concerned about sleeping. That isn’t entirely accurate.
Luke 22:45 NKJV
When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
The disciples heard with their ears what Jesus said, but they didn’t understand in their heart what was happening. They were depressed for a reason! After Jesus died, they went fishing. That right there tells us, they didn’t understand. They thought it was all over. They thought they lost so they went back to work, and picked up where they left off in life. There is no reason why we, being born again, should be sorrowful like 11 men under the Law of Moses who didn’t understand.
When I went back and looked at the scriptures without feeling condemned by religion, I realized Jesus wasn’t ordaining a doom and gloom meal to the world for 2000 plus years. Jesus was obviously trying to warn the disciples, so they weren’t surprised by the events to come. There’s no reason we, 2000 years later, should force sadness on ourselves.
What do we say to Christians who are grieving over Christians that relocated to Heaven? They wouldn’t want you to sit here depressed and crying. They’re alive! They’re in Heaven! The joy of the Lord is our strength! We try to cheer them up! So, why do certain churches teach us to GRIEVE over Jesus? No! We don’t have to! He’s alive! We can be happy! Celebrating with sorrow doesn’t glorify God. Let me say that again, celebrating with sorrow doesn’t glorify God.
After learning the truth, communion has become so enjoyable I take it almost every day as part of my evening meal, and now I understand that there might be times where I cry and feel thankful for Jesus’ sacrifice, rejoice with tears, or rejoice with praise and laughter that we are victorious in Christ. Sometimes I’m expressive and sometimes I’m quiet. Sometimes I feel like a lump, sometimes I don’t. Whatever is in my heart that day is what comes out, and that’s truly what the Lord wants from us.
I put together a printable NKJV PDF for you to print out and keep with you at dinner. When you start doing communion almost every day and invite the Holy Spirit at the table with you, you’ll start to notice God being more tangible and real in your life. That is my ultimate goal with any writing, to bring you closer to a God, Who loves you, and to make Him feel more real to you. We shouldn’t feel like our first meeting with our Father will be when we die.
I memorized this passaged and timed myself saying it, 12:36 seconds. It’s not that taxing before dinner. You don’t have to make a massive speech so that the kids are bored, involve them! Once you get a flow, it can all be done in well under a min.
(After sending to printer, choose BORDERLESS PRINTING)
I hope you feel encouraged to take communion often and with thanksgiving for whatever is in your heart that day. Take communion over healing, life, financial blessings, ending a fast, waiting on an answer, blessings, or just whatever.
Next week, we are going to take a Holy Spirit revelational look at communion. In this series, I’ll answer the tough questions, with no confusing yammering outside of scripture, such as yeast or no yeast, symbolic or not symbolic, and also how communion ties into your armor. I promise you’ll have a better understanding of why communion is so important. Until next post, Holy Spirit, please bring a strong tangible presence of the Glory upon everyone as they spend time on their own taking communion.
Christi
My Prayer Notebook 
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