Communion: Our Personal Calvary

Communion is not a ritual. At Communion, Jesus brings us to Calvary to personally participate in His sacrifice for us. He died for us on Calvary over 2000 years ago; this sacrifice was done once, for all time. However, when Jesus instituted Communion just before His sacrifice on Calvary, He asked us to repeat it often. Paul tells us “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Cor 11:26 NIV).

Jesus did two major things when He instituted Communion:

1. He separated the offering of His body from that of His blood, to highlight additional benefits of His sacrifice;

a. His sacrifice links His New Testament Communion to the Old Testament Passover, in which the lamb’s blood was used to mark the houses for salvation, and then the flesh was eaten (Exod 12). This is discussed further in Chapter 7 of this book – Communion and the Passover.

b. It helps us to focus on His suffering. This opens to us other important benefits of His sacrifice for us, such as restitution. This is discussed further in Chapter 4 of this book: “This Is My Body”.

c. It enables us to consider other benefits of His death. His crucified body sets us free from the curse of the Law, and other curses, and grants us eligibility for the blessings of Abraham (Gal 3:13-14). This is discussed further in Chapter 4 of this book: “This Is My Body”.

2. He enabled our personal participation in all aspects of His sacrifice, by having us share personally in His flesh and blood. The Israelites, the chosen people of God, had to share individually in eating the Passover Lamb (Exod 12:3-8).

These concepts are discussed in greater detail in the following pages. We will also examine the following issues:

• Jesus’ sacrifice was completed once and for all time at Calvary. Why did Jesus ask us to commemorate His death frequently through Communion?

• Our sins are forgiven only through the blood of Jesus. Why did Jesus give us His body separate from His blood in Communion? What is the purpose of the body?

• Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for our sins. The Last Supper was a Passover supper, and Passover was focused on the sacrifice of a lamb. Why did Jesus use bread, rather than lamb, to depict His body at the Last Supper?

Benefits of Communion

Jesus has provided a wealth of benefits for us in Communion. The Lord laments in Hosea 4:6 that His people perish for lack of knowledge, and He warns us against refusing knowledge. Hos 4:6 KJV:“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee….” Jesus encourages us to seek the knowledge that we need; to ask, and we shall receive; seek, and we shall find; knock, and the door will be opened (Matt 7:7 KJV: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”).

Here is a list of the benefits of Communion available to us, with scriptural foundation (Note: These scriptures will be presented as each of these topics are discussed):

1. It strengthens us spiritually (John 6:55).

2. It enables us to dwell in Jesus, and to benefit from Jesus dwelling in us (John 6:56).

a. If we abide in Jesus, we are safe from physical harm, and we are fully cared for (Matt 6:33).

b. If Jesus abides in us, others can see Him in us. Through us, they can get to know Him and what He can do for them (Matt 28:18-20).

3. It strengthens our ability to live according to Jesus’ instructions (John 6:57).

4. It enables us to access Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary as a perfect offering of thanksgiving, praise and/or worship. Such an offering is a “sweet-smelling savour,” that pleases the Father on our behalf (Eph 5:2).

5. It enables us to access deliverance from every type of curse that might be burdening our lives. This is because Jesus redeemed us from curses by dying on the cross (Gal 3:13-14). (See “Cancellation of Curses” in Chapter 4).

6. It enables us to offer Jesus' beaten body to the Father, to redeem us from the spiritual consequences of the harm that we may have caused to others. This is the “chastisement of our peace” referred to in Isaiah 53:5. (See “Restitution” in Chapter 4).

7. It enables us to apply the Blood of the New Covenant to break the hold of demons in our lives (See “Cancellation of Demonic Covenants” in Chapter 5).

8. It provides us with an excellent way to access His mercies afresh every morning (Lam 3:22-23).

How does any of this actually affect our everyday lives?

In my personal ministry, we have had several testimonies of the power of the Lord channeled to us through Communion. There have been instances of healing, deliverance of

from unclean spirits, breaking of curses and cancellation of demonic covenants. Examples are given in Chapter 4 – “This Is My Body,” Chapter 5 – “This Is My Blood,” and Chapter 8 – Receiving Communion.

In this book, we examine a range of aspects of Communion, with their scriptural foundations. Because many of the concepts presented are new revelations from the Holy Spirit, we will rely heavily on Scriptures to support every one of them. As you read, we pray that the Holy Spirit guides you into His truth, according to John 16:13 KJV - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.