Who Did Jesus Die For?

This past Sunday as we gathered together around the communion table we explored the question “Who did Jesus for?” Normally I’d post the sermon, but as it was as much visual as spoken, there was no transcript. However one of the verses we focused upon was from Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”

This is an amazing verse to focus upon as we come to the communion table. Upon that table we place visible signs of the broken life of Jesus. His body that was shattered upon the cross. The wine representing His blood that was shed for the sake of love.

Who did Jesus die for? For sinners. For all those who are prepared to admit they are broken and lack the strength in themselves to live in the way God calls them to live. To those who are prepared to receive Him, through faith, there is the experience of life being transformed by the same God who raised Christ from death.

We rightly call the sacrament a mystery. I really cannot properly explain how sharing bread and wine together nurtures our life with the love of God. It just does. The Holy Spirit has a way of interpreting the common actions of taking, tasting and sharing in a way that touches our hearts.

As with so many other things in Christian life it is all about grace. It is not our own actions, but our response to what God has done that changes us. ‘While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’. I love the words of Horatius Bonar’s communion hymn, written in 1855.

‘Here, O our Lord, we see Thee face to face,
Here would we touch and handle things unseen,
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
And all our weariness upon Thee lean.

We have no help but Thine, nor do we need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon.
It is enough, O Lord, enough indeed;
Our strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.’

Prayer: Lord, you nurture our lives in many different ways. We confess our great need of Your love to forgive us, renew us, change us and guide us. We place our lives into Your hands this day. Amen.