As I was putting my 11-year-old son to bed one night, we finally got around to talking about what had happened at church that morning. When we went forward to take communion, he used only one hand to break off the bread. As a result, he ended up with an exceptionally large piece—causing me and the administering elder to break into smiles.
“I didn’t want to touch someone else’s bread by using two hands, I just used my right hand,” my son explained. “And the bread just kept coming and coming.”
After reflecting a minute, he looked at me and said, “Mom, do you think God wants me to partake (yes, he said “partake”!) in a big portion of the body? Maybe that’s why that happened.”
Let’s consider what God desires for us to experience as we take the bread in communion. When Jesus gathered His disciples for the “Last Supper” prior to His crucifixion, “He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me’ ” (Luke 22:19).
Earlier in His ministry, Jesus proclaimed, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh” (John 6:51).
When we prepare to take communion, may we also meditate on 1 Corinthians 11:24, which states that Jesus’ body was “given for [us].” And as we take the bread, let’s reflect on what Christ has done for us. Our relationship with God is healed by means of His body being broken.
It’s not about the size of the piece of bread; it’s that we remember Jesus as we take it.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 23:1-39
More:
Based on 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, consider what Paul presented about the importance of taking communion with other believers in Jesus.
Next:
What does taking communion mean to you? Why is it important for us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us?
Gary Shultz on September 6, 2015 at 6:54 am
I love the story and the humble astonishment of your son. If taking communion was meaningless we would not be invited (asked) to do it. We often place great emphasis on the cross and there were many who died there, many crosses, but only one Jesus the Son of God who gave His body and blood for us. The word it self is even telling, communion, the sacrifice that brought us to just terms with God. I’m sure you and your son will remember that communion for some time. Thanks
Roxanne Robbins on September 6, 2015 at 10:54 am
Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful insights, Gary!