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Last week a friend of mine, Byron Kephart posted on his facebook page a story about a priest who would not serve communion to a lesbian during her mother’s funeral. There is much to say about this story which in not what this blog is about… but it got me thinking about communion. I stated I would not have served the communion to the lesbian either because I know the Bible says in 1 Cor 11:27-31
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
And I wouldn't want to be a partaker in that judgment.
From this point on this has NOTHING to do with the article or the priest or the lesbian!
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As I considered my position before the Lord, the Lord revealed something to me – Let’s look at the very first communion:
Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, are You washing my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this." 8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" 10 Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, "You are not all clean." 12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 "For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
18 "I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ 19 "Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." 21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25 Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" 26 Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it." And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, "What you do, do quickly." 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. 30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
I would not have given communion to someone who was not in right standing with the Lord before God showed this to me however this isn’t what Jesus did and I’ve had to readjust my position. Jesus did give Judas the communion and it was at that point satan entered Judas - right there at communion when Jesus handed him the bread!! Judas drank judgment upon himself and Jesus not only let him Jesus offered it to him.
It’s interesting to note that at the very first communion satan was present, waiting for an opportunity – satan knew what he’d sown into the heart of Judas – now at communion, the very first one, Judas eating and drinking in an unworthy manner, ate and drank judgment upon himself and flung wide open the door which satan had prepared earlier in Judas’ heart.
Communion is not just a ritual we go through it is a spiritual experience we have with the Lord whether we feel like it is or not; much more than eating a wafer and drinking something made from grapes is happening.
Leaders need to warn people when communion is being served then follow Jesus’ example and let everyone choose for themselves.
More about Judas:
· He was a thief yet Jesus let him carry the money bag – I wonder if it was to give him every opportunity to repent (John 13:29)
· Judas was called a devil by Jesus (John 6:70)
· Judas was an Apostle - ponder that one!
· Jesus let this tare grow with the wheat (Mt 13:29)
· Not one of the Apostles knew Jesus spoke about Judas being the betrayer; he must have looked and acted just like they did (John 13:25)
· Judas went to hell (Mark 14:21)
Let me know what you think...
