Christmas is more than a holiday–something more than decorations. The Holy Spirit shows forth the sacredness of that holy night. As we leave this year we get to enjoy a most sacred time of the Lord's supper. This morning we could feel it, the sweet spirit of it. Many can't be here; some aren't here for whatever reason, but I can't say anything about them until I examine myself.
II Corinthians 11:28-34 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body….For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world….
We cannot reflect upon one year without looking back at what Jesus did. We can read the Bible over and over, but this scripture says to examine, a self-examination. Verse 31 says that at the time of judgment if we judge ourselves then no one else can do so. We are not judged by the world, but chastened by the Lord. Upon examination we come out better people and can properly partake of the Lord's supper.
The approach to the table is to examine the table itself, the profoundness of the elements of the Lord's supper. It is not an ornate table, not even one like in the tabernacle. It is a simple wooden table much as the one used in the upper room. The Lord simply broke the bread and told the disciples to eat and do it in remembrance of him. He broke it for them before handing it out. We must stop here and consider what He gave us, gave to us. Pilate did not kill him, neither did the mob–the world did not crucify him. Jesus gave his permission to the nailed to the cross. Do you sometimes feel like everyone "wants a piece of you?" Jesus allowed the pieces of bread to prompt us to remember that He gave us a piece of him. Thinking of you and me, having us on his mind gave his body. Jesus took the cup; there was one cup to be passed around to all. He gave thanks for it and passing it around said it was the cup of the New Testament of his blood for the remission of sins. He told them to drink all of it.
This is not complicated. There is too much flashiness today, too much "church-anity." It's about having part of him and knowing we are saved by the breaking of his body and the bleeding of his body. He could have rightly asked for our blood and our body but chose to give himself instead. This causes me to think and ask myself if I treat the Lord as I should. What kind of Christian am I..really. The Bible says to examine–examine the table–know how and why He died. Look through the lenses of the bread and the cup and examine yourself. Examine is all honesty; don't hide behind excuses, faults or failures. Thereby we see what we need to talk to God about and ask for help in weakness and correction. He chastens us and we stand uncondemned.
Let God judge us as we judge ourselves. Think about what Jesus did for us as we partake of the bread and the cup; only then can we drink worthily.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 