Resurrection

The bread and fruit of the vine are more than what they picture. They represent something that leads to what comes back on us to empower us for whatever lies between now and the coming joy. We can run steadfastly the race that is set before us because we are looking here to “Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2a). “For the joy that was set before him at the right hand of the Father, he endured the cross and disregarded the shame” (12:2b).

We who wear his name likewise deal with hardships. Even more, we are sometimes rejected by society in general and friends in particular because we wear the name Christian. But in observing these tokens of tribute, we not only identify with his name, we receive through hope the power he experienced and we likewise need.

This loaf and this grape juice end up meaning more and enabling us more than we can see by looking at the simple elements themselves.