Do We Get The Meaning of Jesus’ Words?

How often does Jesus say something that you say you agree with and yet you don’t understand what he meant by what he said ? I want to say this happens more times than we want to admit, yet we gloss over our lack of comprehension. Why do you think we miss so much but don’t dig for more understanding? I hate to say it, but it’s all about how much time and effort we give to the words of God.

When Jesus served the last super with his disciples he explained what he was doing, but the disciples didn’t understand the meaning behind this important event. We in the church, regardless of the denomination, now think and believe we are “Observing” this tradition, but most of the time we do so with little understanding, or worse yet, the wrong understanding of what we are attempting to do.  Most take communion with a little explanation from the gospels as well as some reading of the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11. More often than not people just nod their heads in agreement even though they hardly understand the importance of this tradition.

So let’s look at one of the gospel accounts of the last supper and try to uncover what Jesus was saying and what he wasn’t saying.

Matthew 26:26-28

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” and when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

In this event Jesus is using a metaphor, which is a figure of speech, which is used to illustrate a spiritual truth. The word picture Jesus is trying to render is that to be a true follower of his we need to be connected to him in more than words but in essence, which goes with his priestly prayer in John 17. This prayer was for us to “Know” him and the Father. Remember that the disciples thought they knew him, but Jesus is praying for something more intimate.

John 17:3 

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

In this monumental event Jesus is not presenting something small and insignificant, but the “New Covenant” that he was making as he headed toward the cross. He was replacing the atonement for sin that the Jews had practiced for hundreds of years. He was now becoming what John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus as the “Lamb of God” that takes away the sin of the world. This born-again experience was to be connected to Jesus in a spiritual, supernatural way. Our observance of communion is to remind us that our goal as Christ-followers is to “Connect” to Jesus in a very intimate way.

In the book of Philippians, Paul talked about wanting and desiring that our “Love Would Abound” in real knowledge and discernment. Jesus was hoping and praying that his disciples at the last super and those who would become followers would indeed become intimate with him more than superficially as so many followers are today. This can only happen when we “Understand” the meaning behind God’s words and not just recite scripture and take some bread and wine.

Philippians 1:9-10

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Back to the “Last Super” and what Jesus was saying, but the disciples didn’t understand at the time. We know the disciples acted just like we do in so many ways. They would look serious at Jesus and nod their heads in agreement but when the temple guards came to arrest Jesus they ran away leaving Jesus to be alone and without his friends. Jesus wanted them, and us, to understand how important “Abiding” in him is. Taking communion at our church services should motivate us to move closer.

Jesus talked about his body and the bread symbolizing not only what was going to happen on the cross, but how Christ-followers should relate to taking the bread and cup in this remembrance. He wanted us to not just do a ritual, but to engage in letting Jesus become a literal part of our life. If you can receive it to “Ingest” the Son of God into your very souls and not just your mind. To become a part of our whole being. Jesus wants more than disciples that can call themselves “Christians” he wants us to let him become part of our very being in which our mind heart and soul are given over to him completely .

So much of the church today rushes through the tradition of the Lord’s Super as if it has little to no meaning. Instead of taking the time to meditate on Jesus’ words we glance at them almost forgetting minutes later what we just participated in.

How is it we have lost so much of what it means to be a follower of Jesus and instead turned our lives into just doing religious ritual with little to no meaning? I have to lay the charge for this neglect on the pastors and so-called shepherds of God’s people who trivialize the important things Jesus said and capitalize on speaking most about how much Jesus will do for us if we let him.

This may sound harsh, but look at the fruit of so many churches today. Are they sending their followers out of their services to share the “Good News” with lost people, or are they content to have their little home groups where they share food and time together neglecting our call to be ambassadors of Christ? I think we know the answer to this question. To be clear, home groups to share and support each other is valuable and important if we are reaching the world for Christ as well.

The shame in that the average church-attender “NEVER” shares the Good News about Jesus. Why? Because we have been taught that we are not responsible for such sharing. We are taught that we are not obligated as Christ- followers to open our mouths because it may make us uncomfortable if lost people ask us questions we don’t have answers for. Security and personal safety are higher priorities than being true ambassadors for the King of Kings.

We have forgotten Paul’s word in the book of Hebrews that tells us who is mature in the body of Christ. They are those who can discern good and evil. Those who are mature have moved on from Christ’s forgiveness and becoming children of God.

Hebrews 5:12-14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

So let me ask this important question: Are you stuck in the elementary teaching of Christ’s forgiveness, or have you understood what Jesus did in establishing the tradition of communion? Have you allowed Jesus to become the center of your life so you have his heart for lost people?

Your answer defines whether you need to go back to the basics of faith or are indeed becoming a mature follower of Jesus.

Questions:

1) When you last took the Lord’s Super did you intentionally go deeper personally with the Lord, or just do the tradition without understanding the implication of Jesus’ words? ( John 15:1)

2) Are you striving to stay intimate with God daily, or are you waiting for a church service to motivate you? (Proverbs 3:5-6)

May God help us to be honest with his word and seek to know him better daily.

Pastor Dale