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The Desire of Ages
in the upper chamber makes sacred the provisions for our daily life.
The family board becomes as the table of the Lord, and every meal a
sacrament.
And how much more are Christ’s words true of our spiritual nature.
He declares, “Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath
eternal life.” It is by receiving the life for us poured out on Calvary’s
cross, that we can live the life of holiness. And this life we receive by
receiving His word, by doing those things which He has commanded.
Thus we become one with Him. “He that eateth My flesh,” He says,
“and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living
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Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth Me,
even he shall live by Me.”
John 6:54, 56, 57
. To the holy Communion
this scripture in a special sense applies. As faith contemplates our
Lord’s great sacrifice, the soul assimilates the spiritual life of Christ.
That soul will receive spiritual strength from every Communion. The
service forms a living connection by which the believer is bound up
with Christ, and thus bound up with the Father. In a special sense it
forms a connection between dependent human beings and God.
As we receive the bread and wine symbolizing Christ’s broken
body and spilled blood, we in imagination join in the scene of Com-
munion in the upper chamber. We seem to be passing through the
garden consecrated by the agony of Him who bore the sins of the
world. We witness the struggle by which our reconciliation with God
was obtained. Christ is set forth crucified among us.
Looking upon the crucified Redeemer, we more fully comprehend
the magnitude and meaning of the sacrifice made by the Majesty of
heaven. The plan of salvation is glorified before us, and the thought of
Calvary awakens living and sacred emotions in our hearts. Praise to
God and the Lamb will be in our hearts and on our lips; for pride and
self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the
scenes of Calvary.
He who beholds the Saviour’s matchless love will be elevated in
thought, purified in heart, transformed in character. He will go forth to
be a light to the world, to reflect in some degree this mysterious love.
The more we contemplate the cross of Christ, the more fully shall we
adopt the language of the apostle when he said, “God forbid that I
should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Galatians 6:14
.
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