If it’s always been somewhat of a mystery to you what you are supposed to think about and pray about when you are taking Communion, this may clear things up.   We are told in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29, to “let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks JUDGMENT to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (have died).”

This has been a source of worry for many Christians, who have read this to mean that we must all do extreme self-introspection during Communion, judging our inward man and confessing our sins before we partake of the grape juice and the bread, OR ELSE!    But what if I miss a sin, or my mind is cluttered with other things that day?   Should I not take communion?

First off, as a side note, we need to discuss that our judgment for SIN has been PAID!  For our sins are washed away by Jesus’ sacrificial death, and our acceptance of his payment for these sins on our behalf.  All sins are forgiven; past, present and future.  If we abide in Him, then God now sees us as righteous. For, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin our on behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Cor. 5:21

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But let’s look at the first verse again, about the judgment that occurs…   It does say that judgment occurs, but it doesn’t say GOD judges us, only that we bring judgment on OURSELVES.   And let’s look at the little word “if”.    “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, IF he does not judge the body rightly”.  So we must come into line with the Word of God, in order for blessings to flow.     It does not say that we must search our hearts for undisclosed sin… it says we must judge the body rightly.    Our body?   No - Christ’s body.

After all, we are partaking of the bread – Christ’s body given for us. 

Do you know, that Jesus didn’t have to undergo all those beatings when He gave Himself up for us?  Tradition tells us that he was probably whipped with a “cat-o-nine-tails” whip with nails on the end of each letter strap, each digging into his flesh 39 times.   Forty times was considered the number of lashes at which a normal man would die.   And the Roman practice was to bring a man just short of that, when the order for a beating was given.    

ALL that Jesus needed to do, in order to pay for our sins - - was to die, and exchange His life for ours. 

So why did He LET Himself go through all that horrible suffering beforehand?!?!    He could have stopped it at any time, for He said to Pilate, the governor who had ordered the beating, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11)

The one reason WHY He let Himself be tortured, was for US.   “The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging (or some versions say – by his stripes) we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:5)

Judging the body rightly, means we accept His sacrifice of His body, SO THAT WE WILL BE HEALED!  That is why people are weak and sick, and some even die…. Because they are not accepting the healing that is rightly ours!!!  Some doubt that the Lord even wants to heal them, thinking it is “His will” that they go through the horrible sufferings they endure.   (When it is the “devil that comes to steal, kill and destroy.   But Jesus said, “I have come to give you life and that more abundantly!” -John 10:10)

Jesus wants His body – meaning all of us --- to be healthy, and not diseased.  He wants all the parts to work together, in unison, and not have weak, sickly members.   If we really understood that we are REALLY His BODY, then we would understand how powerful this message is.

Psalm 103:1-5 says:

Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name

And forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities;

Who heals ALL YOUR DISEASES;

Who redeems your life from the pit;

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good thing,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

So, when we take the cup (the wine or juice) we are identifying and accepting the Lord’s death for us.  His blood spilled paid for our sins.

When we take the bread, we are identifying and accepting the Lord’s beatings for us.

His body broken so that we may be healed of ALL our illnesses.

So, judge the body rightly, and no one will be weak or sick, or die early deaths.