We will share Communion this Sunday at The Dwelling Place.
As I was thinking about it, I remembered something I posted a couple of years ago on my blog and thought I’d share it here as a meditation before this Sunday’s gathering. I look forward to sharing the Lord’s Supper with you.
Born to die…
By johnhobbs – December 17, 2008
Posted in: Church, Mission, Missions & Missional, The Dwelling Place CC
We always share communion on Christmas Sunday in our worship gathering. I was pondering this in light of the celebration of Christ’s birth. Why do we combine the crucifixion with the birth of Jesus? What is its significance and implication? As many of you will share the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) this Sunday let me give you something to meditate on.
There is something wrapped in the mystery and miracle of Christ’s birth. We are overwhelmed by the beauty of His birth and celebrate His coming, but His coming was for what or whom? Like a seed potent with life and full of a greater destiny, Jesus birth is only the beginning of a journey to the cross. And like a seed He must die to fulfill His mission.
“…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, nd whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me, and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves me, the father will honor him. Now My soul is troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” John 12:24-27
I am reminded that as Jesus shared the Eucharist with His disciples, He told them to “share it with each other”. (Luke 22:17) As it was His mission to be sent into the world to die, we too are to follow Him and be Broken Bread and Poured Out Wine to a hungry and thirsty world looking for life in a wasteland. Within us is the incredible fragrance of Christ waiting to be sacrificed, broken and poured out like the bottle of perfume’ that Mary broke open and poured out on Jesus feet and hair. (John 12:3)
This Christmas, when you receive the Eucharist, which is not only Jesus Himself but also His Mission, find yourself in Him and your mission to be broken and poured out. Take it and share it among yourselves. We are not His unless we follow Him in like manner.
Let Christ be poured out into your hearts and go this Christmas giving your life to someone who needs Jesus.
