Today is Holy Thursday when the Church celebrates the Jesus Last Supper with his disciples. When Christians celebrate communion, Jesus taught us to eat of the bread and drink of the cup in remembrance of him.

Roman Catholics and Protestants divide over the issue of the Lord’s Supper. Catholics hold to the doctrine of transubstantiation and Protests consider Communion as symbolic. In the disagreement, I fear both groups miss a crucial point.

Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you (John 6:53). This verse is often associated with the Lord’s Supper. To eat of his flesh and drink of his blood means we are to partake of his sufferings by boldly standing for Truth and Righteousness, when we do so persecution will come our way. We will come to know him in the fellowship of his suffering.

The ceremonial supper represents our willingness to actually partake of his suffering. Unless, we are entering into his passion, we are not completing his work.

The concept of Christian sacrifice is not essentially ritual or liturgical, but it is practical and ethical. We may eat the Lord’s Supper and yet not eat and drink Christ’s body and blood; we may eat and drink Christ’s body and blood and yet not eat the Lord’s Supper.

During Holy Week let us boldly stand for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ without the gates of our sanctuary buildings.