If I were you, I would not trust me – at least, in matters of communion.  You see I have been doing ministry for a long time, and in the course of my work I have been privileged to lead many communion services. 

Unfortunately, I have the sad reputation for messing them up. 

I had shared a brief devotional with my congregation, called the servers up, prayed and then handed them the communion trays.  And as they walked away from me, I realized, “Oh no, I just handed them the juice trays, but the biblical order is bread first.”

My smile hid the panic I felt inside.  What should I do?  “Hey guys I need a do over.  Get those trays back here please!”

Well, I decided to let it ride and continued with the service, following up the juice tray with the bread.  But I braced myself for some post service criticism.

Sure enough, a woman made a beeline for me after we dismissed.  She said, “What a wonderful communion service.  It was so meaningful.”  I said, “Uh, well, uh thank you.”

I vowed to never make that mistake again, and yet several months later using a cheat sheet – I got the order wrong again.

Recently I was asked to fill the pulpit for a pastor friend.  His secretary sent me the order of service and it had me down for doing the welcome, and several prayers and – oh no – leading communion. 

When I arrived, I found that someone had thoughtfully provided the communion elements for me.  They sat on the outside ledge of the pulpit.   Two minutes later I clumsily knocked them over.  Fortunately, all this was before the service.

A servant hearted man cleaned up the sticky mess and replaced the elements.  Once the service began, I greeted the visitors and as I did, my hand accidentally grazed the second cup.  The communion service became a baptismal service as the congregation was sprinkled. 

After that I sat on the platform with my eyes closed while a trio did a special number.  I think it had something to do with, “a wretch like me.” 

But then I sensed someone near, so I opened my eyes to see a man holding more replacement elements just inches from my face.  He scared me and I jerked in surprise nearly sending the elements to the moon. The congregation laughed.

Wow – I sure know how to mess up a communion service.  But then the Holy Spirit felt sorry for me and reminded me that spilling the juice actually captured the spirit of communion quite well.

When Jesus gave us the rite, He took a cup of wine and said, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”  –  Luke 22:20

The blood of Christ was unique.  Peter described it as being “precious” and “unblemished.” – 1 Peter 1:19.  But its practical value to us is that it was “poured out.”  It was shed for us.

Hebrews 9:22 says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  The animal sacrifices were given to Moses and his people, to help them understand that sin is detestable to God, deserving of death.   The blood of a lamb was poured out on the altar as a token of the life given. 

In the same way, our perfect Savior stepped up and absorbed the wrath of God by surrendering His life on the cross.  The crimson flow that came from His side was the evidence. 

The word “pour” that Jesus used at that first communion service, is elsewhere translated as, “spilled.”  (Luke 5:37). Christ’s blood was spilled as was the juice on the pulpit, to remove the stain of sin.

I shared this insight with the congregation prior to taking communion.  As they left that day, they were probably thinking, “What a wonderful communion service.  It was so meaningful.”

A PRAYER: Lord I am so glad that you redeemed that communion service, and grateful that you redeemed us.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Jesus be with you.

Scripture references are from the NETBible®