Who Killed Jesus?
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Jesus established the act of remembrance we call communion when He associated His coming broken body and spilled blood with the bread and the wine that He offered to the disciples in the upper room (Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19-20). This symbolism is clear and easy for us to grasp.
Is this the only symbolic significance of communion? I believe that in addition to the symbolism of the elements themselves, a deep, intimately personal meaning is revealed as the elements are consumed.
Many think that, although the Romans carried out the horrible act of the crucifixion, the Jews were ultimately responsible for Jesus’ death. After all, they were the ones that cried out, “Crucify Him.” But each time I celebrate communion, I am confronted with the sobering fact that the blame belongs to neither the Romans nor the Jews. It lies squarely on me. I killed Jesus!
As I crush the bread representing His body with my teeth, I cannot deny that I am the one responsible for His crushed and broken body, the penalty He paid for my sins. Then, after eating the bread, the crumbs remaining in my mouth are a powerful reminder of how tainted I am by my glaring sin and guilt.
Fortunately, I need not remain at this sobering and desperate place as I am soon able to drink from the cup and wash away the crumbs. I rejoice because, in like manner, Jesus’ shed blood washes away my sin and guilt and leaves me bathed in His righteousness.
Father, I pray that each time I celebrate communion, You will remind me as I crush the bread, that I killed Jesus when He took my place on the cross. Thank You that, as the wine washes away the crumbs in my mouth, so His blood washes away my sin and guilt. Thank You for the pictures You give so that we might understand and glorify You.
Questions: Have you come to terms with the fact that you are one responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross? If so, thank Him for His amazing grace that has given you eternal life and cleansed you from the stains of sin and guilt.
About the Author Doug Emberley
Daily audio podcast: Hear today’s daily devotional, Who Killed Jesus?, read aloud on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: Communion, death, desperate, Doug Emberley, guilt, Jesus, killed, Remembrance, romans, sins, symbolic, symbolism
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Yes, we are each responsible for putting Jesus on that cross! Each one of us, with our wretched sin, caused Jesus to pay the price for our redemption! Until I see myself as putting him on that cross, and acknowledging the hammer of my sin that nailed him there, I won’t experience the fullness of His mercy and grace shown to me. What deep gratitude flows from the revelation of the price He paid for my redemption! Thank you, Doug, for this great reminder of a great Truth!
Doug, thank you, thank you for the wonderful expression of what communion is. I will know have these comforting thoughts when taking communion in the future. (truly opened my heart that much more). (noticed typo-”I now have these….”)
I remember reading for the first time a mentor’s input on this very subject of ‘coming to terms’ and it was an eye opener then and still is; yes, I am responsible for Jesus’ death as much as if I had been there in that time and there isn’t any day that the Lord has given me that I am not grateful and humbled that He still loves me.