As promised couple of weeks ago, here is a chapter excerpt from Meditations on the Lord’s Supper. This chapter is about what it means to break bread with one another and experience revelations from God. The book is a devotional resource for pastors. It gives pastors devotional thoughts to share with their congregations during communion.
“Strange events this whole weekend,” I said as I walked with Cleopas. We had known one another for a while and especially took a liking to one another once we began to follow Jesus from Nazareth.
“Yes. The event certainly have been out of the ordinary,” he replied. “If only we could understand what has happened. I know Jesus fulfilled some of our scriptures but there must be more than Him dying on the cross and that being the end of it.”
It was a hot day as we traveled on the road to Emmaus about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem. We were headed toward a small town to take a break from our travels in the evening. The road isn’t too busy with travelers but a certain man caught up with us. There was something different about Him, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
We began talking as we walked on the road together. Cleopas continue the conversation we were having before we met this man. “Perhaps someone can explain to us the significance of what’s has happened in Jerusalem. He could not have died for nothing. It just doesn’t make sense.”
The Stranger spoke up, “This conversation sounds interesting, but what are you two talking about as you walk this road?”
Cleopas was surprised as he replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who has not heard or seen what has happened in the last couple of days?”
The Stranger stopped and looked at him, “Please tell Me what has happened so I can be caught up on the news of these happenings.”
Cleopas was happy to catch Him up on the latest happenings. “We’ve been talking about Jesus of Nazareth. We were drawn to Him because He did mighty deeds and spoke words from God. He was a prophet but our leaders and religious rulers arrested Him and crucified Him. We thought He was the Messiah but now He is dead.”
“So, you do not believe He was the Messiah because He is dead?”
“Well, that’s where it gets very interesting. Some of the women in our group told us something amazing. They said that when they visited His tomb, they did not find His body. They said they had in the vision of angels who told them He had risen from the dead! This is the third day from His crucifixion and death and we are trying to understand all these things.”
The man placed His hand on Cleopas’ shoulder and one on mine, “Why do you not believe what the prophets have written about the Messiah? Your hearts are slow to believe! Can you not see that it was necessary for the Messiah must suffer these things and enter into His glory?”
I piped up, “Please tell us how You interpret these Scriptures.”
He started in the beginning but one of the most fascinating Scriptures He shared was from prophet Isaiah, “Listen. Isaiah himself described the perils the Messiah would suffer as a servant to Israel. He said, ‘He was in for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. By His wounds you were healed.’ This Jesus of Nazareth died without being recognized by so many. He perfectly fulfills this prophecy.”
The Stranger continued to talk about the Scriptures with us and shows things we had never seen before. No matter how familiar I was with the prophets, every word from His mouth surprised me and made complete sense after He explained them to us.
Our hearts burn within us as He put all the pieces in place. The time went by so fast and we did not get tired as we walked. We were fueled by our discussion. We almost didn’t realize we had reached our destination. The Stranger began walking away to continue farther down the road.
Cleopas called to Him, “Would You like to stay with us for the night? It is getting late and much harder to travel in the darkness. We would enjoy Your company longer, Sir.” I was glad he offered the Stranger our place to stay. I couldn’t get enough of His explanations of the Scriptures and such a new light.
I was so glad He agreed to come with us and stay the night. Once we got settled into our room for the night, we decided to take a meal for dinner together. The Stranger took the bread, blasted it, and broke it before us.
Suddenly we can see clearly the Man before us as the one we followed four years. There He was, Jesus our Rabbi! How could we do not have recognized Him before? All our questions answered, we saw our risen Savior clearly before us.
The most recognized it was Jesus with whom we walked the road, He disappeared right in front of our eyes. All we could do was worship Him. Cleopas said to me, “We must go to Jerusalem and tell me brothers and sisters about our experience. They have to know the women were not about Jesus’s resurrection from the dead.”
Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus experienced a marvelous event. They saw Jesus as the risen Lord the very day He was raised from the dead, recognizing Jesus when He broke bread with them.
Breaking bread was not only a common occurrence in Israel at every meal but it was the catalyst for these disciples to see Jesus for who He is. When we break the bread together, sharing in the Lord’s Supper, we experience a powerful spiritual event. We see Jesus as our Savior who has taken away our sins.
The early Church regularly broke bread in their house churches when they met. They shared a whole meal, not just a way for a cracker and a bit of juice or wine. The Lord’s Supper was much more than something at the end of their service. I think we lose the fellowship element of the Lord’s Supper as believers today.
We need to reconnect with what it means to commune with Jesus through the Lord’s Supper, to fellowship with Him as we partake of the bread and the cup. It was so important to the early Church that they did it every time I met together. I’m not saying we need to do it that much, but that we need to see it is much more significant than many of us do. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, the cup and bread are fellowship with Him (1 Cor 10:16).
He gave His body in our place and pay the debt we owed. To this day, the followers of Jesus break bread to remember Him and celebrate His sacrifice for them. We are doing that as we share the cup and bread. The bread is the symbol of fellowship among us.
As we break bread and partake of the Lord’s Supper, how do you remember Him? Are you surprised by His presence like the disciples on the road to Emmaus? Do you see Jesus truly as He is in your life? Think back to all the ways Jesus has provided for you, love do you in your weaknesses and sins, and lifted you out of the mire of your darkness and despair and place to in the heavenly realms with Him?
Take a moment as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper to fellowship with Jesus. We call it communion because this is a moment we can commune with Jesus and abide with Him. Listen for His voice.2 Him like you talk to anyone else. This is a great time to grow in friendship and fellowship with Him.
Preaching Outline/Idea
Idea: Fellowship in the Lord’s Supper is an important part of the fellowship of the Church.
Devotional Thought For Communion
Breaking bread reminds us of who Jesus is to us, and the fellowship we have with Him and fellow Christians.
Scripture References for Dramatization
On the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
Breaking bread in fellowship (Acts 42-47)
Seated in heavenly realms with Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)
The cup and bread of fellowship (1 Corinthians 10:16)
