REMEMBER WITH FOOD
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it.” Mark 14:22-23, ESV
Theme: Jesus served, celebrated, and gave us the Lord’s Supper, to help us remember that He gave His body and blood.
FAMILY MEAL
Our family loves to prepare and taste good food. We cook together, make boxed meals (like Hello Fresh or Blue Apron), and bounce menu ideas for meal planning. We cook together naturally, and food and gathering around the table is an integral part of our family life. Yet, sometimes we rush through meals and on to the next thing. Rushing doesn’t have a place at the Lord’s table. He reclined at the Passover table with His closest friends naturally.
Sabbath rest is difficult to put into practice (probably because of my personality). I can be restless. I feel most comfortable moving and producing. However, obeying God in this area of rest has transformed our family. Each week we have been working to have a “down” day. This is a day where we don’t have anything planned other than worship and we can do things like sleep in, cook meals, nap, write, read, play games, and even stay in pjs until past noon if we want. On those days, we will often celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
We bake good bread (or toast some from a bakery), pour grape juice into fancy glasses, and celebrate together. One of us will read or paraphrase the scriptures in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or 1 Corinthians on the subject. We experience Communion—the Lord’s Supper—together. This tradition brings meaning and depth to our family meal. It also sets apart our sabbath. Already, after only a year or so of instating this practice, everyone is excited to celebrate Communion with each other. Eating, deep conversation, family time, laughter, and a tasty meal continues after we finish our bread and juice. We break off another piece of bread and bring it to our plates or dip it into olive oil and vinegar. Crackling bread fresh from the oven now reminds me of Jesus’ body, especially if it is ripped apart, not sliced. Grape juice makes me immediately recall His blood, especially if served in a fancy goblet.
REGULAR AND FAMILIAR
Celebrating Communion at church used to be occasional in the tradition I grew up with. We didn’t have it every week or even every month. I remember having a little party and celebration after my “First Communion” because my mom had Catholic roots and remembered her first Communion. The day when I took a tiny juice cup and cracker for the first time is burned in my memory. I really did think about Jesus’ death, body, and blood, given to all humanity, even me. Over time, Communion became less personal, and more religious, until I took it in a different way while on a trip to Mexico.
Our youth group was tent camping on a remote hillside and driving into the city to serve during the day. One evening while sitting in the dirt around a campfire, our youth pastor broke a toasted tortilla and served some red punch in dixie cups – he served Communion. Some of us balked at the tortilla, but he held his ground, saying, “Tortillas surely are a good representation of unleavened bread!” He made us laugh and reconsider.
That was the day I started to imagine the Lord’s Supper as something that, although holy, could be personal and regular and anywhere we were together. Later, as a Life Group leader, I was encouraged to serve Communion in our host home, outside the church building. When I realized Communion wasn’t about religion, location, or even the kind of bread and wine served, I began to try to celebrate it more regularly with my community of fellow believers. Jesus said to His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b, ESV).
Make It Personal: What traditions or Communion practices are part of your tradition? In what way do you understand Jesus better because of the Lord’s Supper? Is there a special memory you have of Communion with someone you love or in a place that affected you profoundly? Why do you think Jesus asked us to remember Him in this way?
Pray: Dear God, thank You for permission to remember, celebrate, eat, and rest. You have created a beautiful symbol to help us understand and remember. Thank You for Jesus’ body. Thank you for actual bread! Thank You for Jesus’ cleansing blood, spilled for all of my brothers and sisters around the world. Thank You for fruit and juice. Oh, that we would share this precious gift. Oh, that we could remember well and often the tremendous sacrifice given freely, knowingly. Help me to remember, follow, and appreciate the cross, grave, and Resurrection. In Jesus’ Name, which is the only way I can come to You, Amen.
Read: Luke 22:14-20; Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Weekly Memory Verse: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4, ESV