Worth Repeating - May 23, 2017

Matthew 26: 69, 70 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Human limitations need not only be sources of shame; they can also be avenues for grace.*

Perhaps you have never denied Jesus in such a blatant manner as Peter did that night. We have probably never come right out and said the words, “I’m not with him.” We know, though, that our actions speak for themselves. I am sure that we have felt shame, repented, and prayed for strength to avoid a repeat performance.

There is another way that we can proactively proclaim that we are with Jesus. In I Corinthians chapter 11, Paul tells us that when we partake of the emblems of the Lord’s Supper, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death. In other words, we are announcing our allegiance to him. We are with him - the opposite of Peter’s actions.

In my church, we offer the Lord’s Supper every Sunday. Some denominations offer it less often, claiming concern that it could become routine; they wish to keep it fresh and special. And it should always be treated with respect – as Paul goes on to say: if we aren’t recognizing it as the body and blood of the Lord, we are bringing judgment on ourselves. It is a matter between me and God as to whether I participate each week, but I am thankful that I am presented with the weekly opportunity to show that I am with Jesus. Even if in the past six days I have not been so obviously with him, on Sunday I can take a moment to reflect and repent before refreshing my commitment to live for him in the week ahead.

As someone has observed about Peter’s failure that night, he “went out and wept bitterly, but then he came back and lived differently.”* That’s not a bad example for his fellow-deniers to follow.

Some people say it’s possible to have the Lord’s Supper too often. They say it will become meaningless and ritualistic if we overdo it. Doesn’t that sound suspiciously like something the one who hates Communion would want us to believe?*