Hello Church Family,
Tomorrow, we will participate in two significant services: the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, commonly called the Communion Service, and an Anointing Service. I will examine the theological foundations and significance of these two services. The opportunity to participate in such sacred rites is a profound privilege God bestowed upon us. It is a time to reflect on what Jesus has done for us and express this gratitude respectfully as a church family. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, let us explore what the Communion Service means for us. The Lord’s Supper celebrates Jesus’ sacrifice and promise, but its significance is profound. It is a unifying act of worship, joy, and remembrance of our Savior’s unmatchable love.
All believers who claim Jesus as their Lord are welcome to participate in the service. The Lord’s Supper is one of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, belief number 16. The Lord’s Supper is participation in the emblems of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him, our Lord and Savior. As we partake, we joyfully proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes again.
How should we prepare for the Communion Service?
Preparation for the Communion service includes self-examination, repentance, and confession of sin. The Master ordained the service of foot-washing to signify renewed cleansing, to express a willingness to serve one another in Christlike humility, and to unite our hearts in love. The communion service is open to all believing Christians. (Matt. 26:17-30; John 6:48-63; 13:1-17; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-30; Rev. 3:20. The communion service is an opportunity for believers to honor the gift of God in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In doing this, the apostle Paul writes, “You proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, NKJV).
The communion service follows the words of Jesus Christ, as shared during the last Supper with His disciples before His crucifixion, as detailed in the New Testament Gospels. He and His disciples celebrated the Passover meal, remembering Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This time, however, as they partook of the unleavened bread and fruit of the vine, Jesus gave new meaning to these items. The three significant parts of a Seventh-day Adventist communion service involve eating unleavened bread, drinking grape juice (fruit of the vine), and washing one another’s feet. These actions follow Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19, ESV).
Unleavened bread—Jesus’s body
The bread represents Christ’s body, broken for us. Matthew writes, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body’” (Matthew 26:26, NKJV). He stood before His disciples as He said this, communicating that this would symbolize remembrance of what He was about to do. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus said (John 6:48). He went on to explain, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:51). In giving His body for the world, God made a way for us to be saved from the eternal consequences of sin, by believing in and accepting Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The true bread of Heaven is not a sandwich. This “true bread” symbolizes spiritual nourishment that completely satisfies the soul’s hunger. Accepting Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, will fill our hearts with meaning and love and assure us of eternal life in heaven with Him. The fruit of the vine symbolizes Jesus’ blood, which was shed for us. “This is My blood of the new covenant,” said Jesus, “which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22, ESV). As with the bread, Jesus stood before His disciples when He pronounced, “This is my blood.” After partaking of the cup, Jesus said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29).
The “ordinance of humility,” or foot washing
The foot-washing service follows Jesus’ words and actions in John 13. “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (vs. 14, 15, ESV). The disciples were taken aback at Jesus performing this humble service for them, which was typically considered a servant’s job. But in washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus gave us an example of true greatness. The “Ordinance of Humility.” It is a special time of fellowship, where we set aside differences in status or position, serve our brothers and sisters in the faith, and make our hearts right with one another and God.
Friends for a meaningful commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice, let us follow the advice of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 to prepare our hearts with self-examination (vs. 27). He cautions that “whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27, ESV). While this verse may seem stern, all Paul is pointing out is that this is a consecrated time of reflection that should be taken seriously. “But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup,” he continued in verse 28. Communion is the perfect time to reflect on how we can grow in Christ and best honor Him with our lives. If we live in faith of what Jesus did and continues to do for us, He counts us as worthy. He wants us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper joyfully.
It is a privilege to be part of this proclamation. Jesus, our Savior, has given every person the opportunity for salvation. Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection, we are invited to come to His table, experience His love, and be saved for eternity.
Anointing Service
Today, we will also conduct an anointing service following the communion service. Individuals who wish to receive anointing are encouraged to come forward when prompted during the proceedings. James Chapter 5:14-15 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the Elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” The anointing service is a powerful gift from God, but unfortunately, many people hesitate to receive it. They have misunderstood the meaning of the anointing service and have avoided it. Somehow, in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, at least in North America, anointing has come to be viewed as a last rite for the gravely ill rather than the first step in turning to God with our health needs. What should we be anointed for? James says if anyone is sick. “Sick” encompasses many aspects that involve our entire being. It includes terminal diseases, but it can also be for crippling diseases, back problems, depression, and mental handicaps. God intends us to bring our problems to Him in the anointing rite.
God has given me the privilege of being a part of many anointing services in the past, and the power of the Holy Spirit could be felt as prayers are offered for the unique needs of the one being anointed. Anointing cannot make the sick person well. The ritual itself has no power. Putting one’s faith and trust in God is the key. A lack of trust prevents us from thoroughly enjoying God’s mighty blessings. A lack of faith today keeps us from finding relief from illnesses. It keeps us from asking for a simple rite instituted in the Word of God. Are you suffering from an illness that requires anointing? Why wait any longer? Read about anointing in James Chapter 5. Read the special chapter, “Prayer for the Sick,” in The Ministry of Healing, by Ellen G. White. Arrange for an anointing and allow the Lord to work in your life. It is time for us as Christians to experience the power of the Holy Spirit through anointing services. We realize that every minor illness is not cause for anointing, but we read in the book Counsels on Health, page 457: “Why is it that men are so unwilling to trust Him who created man and who can, by a touch, a word, a look, heal all manner of disease?
Through the Apostle James, our Lord has provided us with clear guidance regarding our responsibilities during illness. We must trust in God and His direction, as He understands what is truly best for us. This may involve physical healing, spiritual restoration, or the forgiveness of our sins, all of which can lead us to experience a deeper inner peace with Him.
Have a blessed Sabbath!
Pastor Evadne Henry