“Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
An interesting account is recorded in Luke chapter 2. God led a governor to make a decree that would bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. As they were obedient to go, we like to think that God surely would have made room for them on their arrival. And for our sake, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He could have turned stones into bread in the wilderness to avoid His suffering. Jesus could have called 10,000 angels to His aid during His temptation. And while outside of the city Jerusalem at Golgotha hill, Jesus could have come down from the cross.
The question is not what God could have done, but what He willed to do for us. The road to calvary began with “no room” in Bethlehem and ended with “no body” in the grave. He is not here! (Matthew 28:6 “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”) God willed that there was no room in Bethlehem and there was also no body in the grave for our sake! “
God’s will was that though Christ was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.) That meant that no room for them in Bethlehem was for our sake, and that He would voluntarily die on the cross and not free Himself was also for our sake. The point is that God emptied Himself and suffered an extensive cost so we could enjoy eternity with Him. God gave of Himself so that we have eternal life not so much that we could have “the good life” on earth. Life is good as a believer, but not in the way that the world expects.
God’s purpose for our life may not be an easy journey while we are here. But our future is that we have eternal life and like obedient Mary and Joseph, we need to make it possible that this news is heard by others. We celebrate communion to remind us that Jesus suffered for us and when we take this cup and eat of the bread, we proclaim that He did this for all who believe to have eternal life with Him, and victory over sin while we are here.
God rules over all. Our part is to trust God’s will while we are here. Participating in communion demonstrates our faith in Him and helps us to remember that this life has its challenges, and even though 2020 has been difficult for many, Christ’s sacrifice secures our future and gives us the spiritual life and vitality we need to face any situation while we are here.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Our tradition is to take a special offering following our participation in the Lord’s Supper. This offering supplies for the needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a voluntary offering and we ask that you give as you are led. We base our giving on the Scriptural text:
I John 3:17-18; 23 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in Him?
…let us not love with word or with tongue, but in-deed and truth. Now this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. “