SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
1. And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’ [Luke 22:19-20] Those offering this fellowship offering were invited to take and eat, to remember and believe that the flesh of the Lamb restored them to God. Jesus encouraged His followers to “eat His flesh” [John 6:53], i.e. to put their complete confidence in Him for life and health and wholeness and peace.
2. The word for “fellowship” implies such things as health, wholeness, welfare and peace. It describes a restored relationship with God, and all that entails.
3. Our restored relationship is only possible through the lamb without defect, namely Jesus. Jesus fulfills all the symbols here: High Priest and sacrificial lamb, altar and temple. Our sins were laid on His head, and He was burned (the forsakenness of hell) for our sin. His sprinkled blood is the way that we are cleansed and may now approach God [Hebrews 10:19-22].
4. Interesting, the Jews were forbidden from consuming blood, but Jesus tells His followers they can (Leviticus 3:17, John 6:53]. Later on we learn that the blood represents the life of a creature [Leviticus 17:11-14], and the sacrifices symbolically point forward to the life of Jesus being shed so that we might receive life. We do not literally drink Jesus’ blood, rather we by faith take His life into our dead souls, and thus are made whole.
5. Communion is the perfect symbol of our restored fellowship with God through the sacrificial lamb. Today I am going to place some wine on my desk, and through the day I will take some, to remind me of His life in me.
PRAYER:
Lord, today I choose to taste and experience Your goodness and grace. May the taste of wine remind me of my fellowship with You.