My communion this Thursday I wish to share.

Jane Isley
Apr 15
3 min read

Updated: May 8

To many see it as “just a death,” not realizing the gravity of the situation He faced for us.

person holding bread and a chalice for the last supper. — **Rey Proenza**

I am preparing to lead communion on Thursday for my Bible study group. I always feel this pull in my heart when it is time, and with that pull, there is always a specific topic that is weighing on my heart that I want to share before communion.

I decided to share what I have prepared to say for communion.

Trust me when I say, yes, I know I don’t do it “traditionally,” but then again, I’m definitely NOT your “traditional” person either, and this is written with the vocal inflection I talk with.

Here it is:

“The leather thongs and sheep bones cut into Jesus’ skin and tissues, into his underlying skeletal muscles, and produced quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Among the Jews, it was customary to limit the strokes of the lash to thirty-nine for fear of infringing by mistake upon the letter of the law fixing the maximum at forty, 114 Such caution was unknown to the Roman law which prescribed no maximum number of strokes. 115 The whip was made up of thongs of hardened leather studded with small pieces of bone and lead, sometimes with sharp points called “scorpions.” The sufferer was bound by the hands to a low column and was kept from moving out of the bending position so that all the strokes might reach their mark. At first, the skin became livid and bloody and soon it was torn to shreds, with the flesh coming off in strips. We read in the passion stories of certain martyrs that the bloody anatomy of a body was exposed to the horror stricken gaze of the onlookers, and it was not infrequent that the condemned man succumbed during the torture. 116 Josephus records that he himself had some of his opponents scourged until their entrails were visible. 117 The soldiers tore off the robe of Jesus which reopened the scourging wounds. 118" (1)

My Part:

Jesus sat that night, celebrating the Passover with His disciples. He sat with them, knowing Judas would betray Him just a few hours later.

Why, you might ask. Why sit with the man who would betray Him?

The answer is simple: because we are all, despite our sins, loved and invited to His table. It is up to us whether we accept the invitation or not.

Jesus knew what He was about to go through, and it should be remembered this was not as a mere act of simple martyrdom.

To many see it as “just a death,” not realizing the gravity of the situation He faced for us.

He was carrying the weight of every single sin for all mankind, past, present, and future, with Him to the cross, He was feeling the darkness and pain of every single sin ever committed. He did this so we could live again.

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

You see, it wasn’t just His body that was crucified that day; it was also His heart, mind, and soul that were beaten, bloodied, and shredded.

Jesus gave us a loving remembrance that night, despite who sat next to Him and despite what was coming for Him. We are to remember what He did for us, and that was to free us from sin and death so that one day we would be sitting with Him, in a new kingdom, raising a toast to God.

Let us never forget the hell He went through for us.

Now, I will be reading from Mark 14:22–25 before we take communion. When we do each, I will remain silent for a moment so you can have time with God.

Bread-

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.

Juice-

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

“Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Now, let us go out in this world, shine brightly for God, and remember Jesus’s sacrifice, which is the truest gift of love anyone could receive.