“… For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7b (NKJV)
Communion, as commonly practised among Christian denominations, involves eating unleavened bread and drinking wine, following Jesus’ actions during the Last Supper on the night of the Passover.
However, as potent and significant as this communion is, it is not the truest form of communion.
What then is true communion?
The Greek word “Koinonia” was translated into Latin as “Communio” and into English as “Communion.” It signifies “fellowship, participation, or sharing.”
As we delve into the interpretation of the Scriptures, one crucial point to note is that Christ is the central theme of the Bible and the very reason for its existence (John 5:39, Luke 24:25-27).
What transpired between Jesus and His disciples at the Passover feast, commonly known as the “Last Supper,” was more than just the breaking of bread and drinking of wine. The true communion was the fellowship between Christ and His disciples.
This brings us to the true essence of the Passover and what it is about. The first mention of the word “Passover” is in Exodus 12:11. The Israelites were instructed to slay a lamb without blemish and eat it with unleavened bread. Moreover, they were to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doorposts before consuming its flesh (Exodus 12:3-10).
This ordinance was given to the Israelites by the Lord just before their deliverance from slavery. It was a sign of their identification with Him as His people and a covenant of protection against the angel of death (Exodus 12:12-14). This event foreshadowed Christ and what He would do for humanity.
In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul refers to Jesus as our Passover. This signifies that the Passover is truly about Christ, not just the lamb. Jesus is the spotless Lamb of God who was sacrificed for the sins of the world! (John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19).
The Israelites didn’t have to do anything to be preserved from the angel of death except to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts. This symbolises that complete trust in the blood of Jesus is all that is required for deliverance from death, just as any Egyptian with the blood of a lamb on their lintel would have been spared (Exodus 12:13, 23).
In John 6:53-57, Jesus made a bold statement, declaring that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life. He spoke figuratively of His death, burial, and resurrection, emphasising that anyone who believes in Him will receive eternal life.
This is why the Last Supper had to occur on the day of the Passover feast. Christ was revealing Himself to His disciples as the Passover.
For us as believers today, this implies our identification with Christ. We are under His covering and associated with Him.
Our communion is through the blood of Christ. When we gather together, we affirm the essence of the Passover and glorify Christ. Hallelujah!
Bible Reading Plan: Luke 13: 18-35