I learned something in church today. How about you? I love learning new things. But before I tell you about what I learned, let me tell you about something that perhaps you've never thought of before. Open your Bibles to Mark, chapter 14. We'll start reading in with verse 17.
"When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. ¹⁸While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me - one who is eating with me.” - Mark 14:17-18
Jesus was there with all 12 of His disciples, including Judas, who would betray Him.
Verses 22-25 should sound very familiar. It's what many churches recite before taking communion.
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to His disciples saying, "Take it; this is my body." - Mark 14:22
What I would like to remind you of is that Judas took communion with Jesus on the night he betrayed our Lord. Wow.
On to the new thing I learned in church yesterday. The word eucharist.
If you look this verse up in an interlinear Bible, you will find the Greek word for "giving thanks" is eucharistEsos. It is where we get the word eucharist from.
Now, if we go to Catholic.com (the Catholic Church's website), we find this:
"Holy Communion is the practice of receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist."
Question: How can someone receive the eucharist if they are supposed to be "giving thanks?"
Our pastor grew up in the Catholic Church and he said that this "tradition" is a little concerning, this "receiving," when we should be giving. "Giving thanks."
The Catholic Church is not alone in their mis-definition of the word eucharist. The Lutheran church does this very same thing, and several others do too. This is from the Lutheran church.
"The body and blood of Christ are truly and substantially (vere et substantialiter) present, offered, and received with the bread and wine."
What they say we "receive" is the actual flesh and blood of Jesus. Transubstantiation. The bread and wine actually physically transform into Christ's boby and blood. I don't even want to talk about that. Jesus died "once for all."
"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all." - Romans 6:10
These churches, and others as well, believe that the communion taker actually receives something, when their members should be GIVING something. THANKS!
This is an error that needs correction. But they never will. May the Lord forgive.
What Is Communion? - Catholic.com
