Communion Elements – a Foretaste of the Future
Holy Communion is looking back to Christ's sacrifice. It's realising His special presence in the present, as we receive the bread and the cup. It is also a looking forward to the end when He comes again.
Jesus said so Himself - we read: "After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, 'Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.'" (Luke 22:17-18)
Jesus was looking ahead. In fact a few verses later He said this: "You are those who have stood by Me in My trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as My Father conferred one on Me, so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:28-30)
He was saying: we'll feast again together one day, in another world.
The Great Heavenly Banquet
I was always baffled by this as a kid. The communion liturgy would usually end by saying "thank you for this foretaste of the great heavenly banquet prepared for us"… I would think to myself "some banquet! A wafer and a mouthful of grape juice?"
But I see now of course that these are just symbols! The great heavenly banquet with Jesus is not going to be anything like what we've dreamed of here.
But still, when we take the elements and get close to Him in this moment, we look back, we think of His presence now, we look forward and think: how good it will be when we are with Him in His glory in heaven.
Hope for Heaven's Feast
Revelation calls it "The marriage supper of the Lamb". Like a great wedding feast when evil has been defeated and Christ and His people (His bride) are brought together for good.
What a celebration that will be! What a hope that is! What a great thought, as we share in the bread and the cup, in moments like these.
Come to the table, friends, and look forward with hope to the day you feast with Jesus in another dimension.
Jesus doesn't wait for Lazarus to come to Him - He inquires, He seeks, and He weeps. This is prevenient grace.