Communion from a different perspective this weekend <3
This is a post that your eyes may never see, but I feel compelled to write. We shall see if I hit publish when it is all finished and spell-checked.
Our church has, over the years, tweaked the way we take communion. Sometimes we take it all together after the traditional reading of the familiar passage that begins with….On the night He was betrayed…
Sometimes we sit and a leader gives some thoughts about what communion is and then we are invited to listen to the music and when ready take the communion and then join in worship.
The last few Sundays we don’t sit. We are standing and between songs someone from the worship team or a pastor talks about communion and then the invitation to join in the worship and take the bread and cup when led.
I am kind of old school and prefer option A where we have the Scripture and then eat and drink together as prompted.
With the other options, I struggle with wondering when the right time would be, when is my heart ready, should I wait until the part of the song where He is headed to the cross, on the cross or risen from the cross.
It’s a lot of opportunity for losing the forest for the trees for an over thinker.
So I try to close my eyes and pray for some kind of image that resonates with me so that I can put my heart and mind in the right place to remember Him and what He did for me.
Sometimes I envision the crucifixion with the aid of visuals from movies like Passion of Christ.
Sometimes I picture myself at His feet receiving forgiveness and acceptance when I don’t deserve it.
Yesterday as I prayed for an image, this scene came to mind.
I pictured a kind of prisoner exchange like you see in movies.
We are on a bridge and I am handcuffed on one side in the hands of an enemy company. It is dark night and cold, of course, because that’s how prisoner exchanges are handled.
On the other side of the bridge is not someone who is one of their own, but a bigger catch than me. I am just a pawn. I am of no value to them but I am to the rescuers on the other side.
Jesus starts from the side of heaven as I start from the side of hell and somewhere in the middle, I see His face…set and serene as He passes me into the hands of the enemy and I continue to walk towards freedom.
It seems to pointless. They only wanted Him and now I am free even though I don’t deserve it. I am weeping and broken and feel so unworthy of the cost of this trade.
As I near the other side a bright light comes from behind. The light emanates from the place where the enemy now has disappeared completely. The light spreads brighter and higher and bigger.
It is no longer a cold, dark bridge but a huge open country bathed in light and warmth. All is green and growing. I am at peace with joy in my heart because I realize He was not captured, but was the conqueror.
I wish I were an artist and could paint the pictures I saw.
But I am limited to painting them with my words.
As I type it out this morning, the same gratitude and joy fills my heart as it did yesterday. I hope it gave you a fresh glimpse of your salvation and the gift of mercy and grace that has been given to all who will receive the great exchange.
His life for ours.
Now we live for Him <3