Dear Friends and Family,

As the pastor of En-Joy Ministries, I recently came across a post on X that stirred my heart: “Communion was never meant to be casual. It is rooted in the colossal, staggering reality of Passover, where the blood of the lamb saved families and judged the gods of Egypt. Today, that same Lamb—Jesus—has triumphed over sin and death, yet we reduce it to a 5-minute ritual.” These words resonate deeply with me, and I feel compelled to share why Communion is far more than a fleeting moment in a church service. It’s a sacred act that connects us to the heart of God’s redemptive plan—a truth I’ve come to cherish in our times of Communion together, not just in church but in the warmth of our homes.

The Passover Foundation: A Life-and-Death Reality

Communion finds its roots in the Passover, a defining moment in Israel’s history. In Exodus 12, God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a spotless lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. That night, the angel of death passed over every home bearing the blood, sparing the firstborn sons while bringing judgment on Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12-13). This was no mere ritual—it was a matter of life and death, a vivid display of God’s power to save and deliver.

The blood of the lamb was a sign of covenant, a tangible reminder that God’s people were set apart, protected, and redeemed. Families gathered in their homes, sharing a meal steeped in the reality of God’s presence and promise. As we read in Exodus 12:14, God declared, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” The Passover wasn’t a casual event; it was a holy, intentional act of remembrance and worship.

Jesus, the Lamb of God: The Fulfillment of Passover

Fast forward to the New Testament, where Jesus, the Lamb of God, fulfills the Passover in a way that transforms history. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus gathered His disciples for the Passover meal and instituted what we now call Communion or the Lord’s Supper. He took bread, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Then He took the cup, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19-20, ESV).

Jesus wasn’t introducing a new ritual to be rushed through; He was revealing Himself as the ultimate Passover Lamb, whose blood would save not just from physical death but from the eternal consequences of sin. As 1 Corinthians 5:7 proclaims, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” His death on the cross and resurrection defeated sin, death, and the powers of darkness, just as the Passover lamb’s blood judged the gods of Egypt. Every time we take Communion, we proclaim this victory: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV).

Communion at Home: A Sacred Act of Family and Faith

For me, Communion isn’t confined to the walls of a church. In our home, we gather as a family and with dear friends to share the bread and the cup, just as the Israelites gathered in their homes for Passover. There’s something profoundly intimate about breaking bread together in the place where we live, laugh, and love. It mirrors the early church, where believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42, NIV). They met in homes, sharing meals and remembering Jesus’ sacrifice with reverence and joy.

When we take Communion at home, we’re not just checking a box; we’re inviting Jesus into our midst, remembering His colossal sacrifice, and renewing our covenant with Him. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and realign our hearts with the One who gave everything for us. As Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them” (John 6:56, NIV). This is a promise of intimacy, of abiding in Christ, whether we’re in a sanctuary or around our dining room table.

A Call to Revere the Table

The X post I read rightly challenges us: too often, we reduce Communion to a five-minute ritual, a quick pause in a busy service. But Communion is meant to be so much more. It’s a sacred act that connects us to the Passover, to the cross, and to the promise of Christ’s return. It’s a moment to stand in awe of the Lamb who was slain, to confess our sins, and to celebrate our redemption. As Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29, we must approach the Lord’s Table with discernment, examining ourselves so we don’t partake “in an unworthy manner.”

So, my dear friends and family, I invite you to join me in reapproaching Communion with the reverence it deserves. Whether we’re gathered in church or in our homes, let’s remember the staggering reality of what Jesus has done. Let’s break the bread and share the cup with hearts full of gratitude, proclaiming His death and victory until He comes again. Let’s make Communion a holy moment, a family moment, a moment where we encounter the living God.

With love and prayers,
Barron Greenwalt
Pastor, En-Joy Ministries