The other night we had a discussion about communion. I asked the question, “Can we have a sense of joy when we take communion or must it be a somber event?” I’ve wondered this to myself at times. It often seems that communion is a somber occasion. I understand that, we are after all remembering a death. However, is joy also an emotion to be experienced when we take the Lord’s Supper?
Now, when I say joy I don’t mean a surface level joy that is all giddy, but a deeper joy. The kind of joy that is expressed in Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Obviously, Jesus faced a great deal of stress and turmoil as he approached the cross, however we see here that it was ultimately joy that moved him forward. The joy of knowing that by his sacrifice we could have a restored relationship with the Trinity was enough to carry him through the pain. Joy gives us strength.
So if joy was at the core of Jesus sacrifice, should it also be a part of our remembrance? As we take the bread and cup perhaps we can experience God’s joy – the Joy that comes from His heart in the hope of having relationship with us. The joy of knowing that it was only by the cross that we can experience forgiveness and renewal. Through death comes life.
What do you think? What are the emotions that you feel when you take communion? Have you ever been overwhelmed with joy as you participate in the Lord’s Supper?
