The Moment of Recognition

Communion Meditation

May 3, 1992 PM

Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?" [Jesus had just upset the tables of the money-changers, and upset the usual flow of things in the temple area.]

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture, and the words that Jesus had spoken. - John 2:18,19;22

[The skeptics said "Show us a miracle so that we may believe." Jesus replied, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days time." He was speaking of His body; the disciples understood this after the Resurrection, and it was only then that they understood and believed.]

We receive Communion this evening still in the afterglow of Easter. We should never get out from the afterglow of Easter, for it is the power of the Resurrection of Jesus that energizes our faith and makes the work of God's kingdom go forward.

People get frustrated in their faith on the 'lesser miracles' of the Bible. Did Samson really kill 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey? How about Joshua praying for the sun to stand still for the best portion of a day?

But there are two or three fundamental miracles in the Bible which boil down to one, really: Was God Almighty truly in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world unto Himself? If God was incarnate in Jesus Christ, and if Jesus died on the Cross for the sins of the world, and if Jesus truly rose again from the dead with victory over sin and death and hell, then all the other questions of faith can stand in line for their explanations.

I truly believe that Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, was Almighty God, and came to be our Immanuel. I truly believe that He died on the Cross for the sins of the world, that He is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. I truly believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth rose the third day from the grave and lives forevermore, seated at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty. This faith is exceedingly precious!

Do you believe? Can you believe? Will you believe? Will you confess that belief? Romans 10:9,10. Such faith is the gift of God. It must be received with great reverence and joy and gratitude. It must be confessed openly. This time of Holy Communion is an opportunity to confess our faith, and to receive of God's hand His grace anew. ...

This is the Lord's table.

All who will partake in simple faith, and with submission to His Lordship, let them draw near.

1 Corinthians 11:23-30

Admonition to eat and drink reverently.