Zechariah 13:1 “On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”

This verse is the source of such dearly loved hymns as “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s Veins.” The Japanese, which normally is relatively indifferent to singular and plural, specifies that this is a single fountain. That’s in keeping with Jesus’ statement that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) There is nothing else in the universe that can cleanse us. The image of a fountain of blood seems very gruesome to our modern sensibilities, but that is our loss. Leviticus 17:11 specifies that “the life is in the blood,” which is why blood sacrifice was called for to atone for sins. Hebrews 9:22 specifies that there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. When Jesus talked about this reality before His crucifixion, it sounded so much like cannibalism that many people stopped following Him! (John 6:53-58) However in the Last Supper He clarified the image, and we rejoice to celebrate Communion even today. I do think, however, that most people who receive the Communion elements don’t really think about the body and blood of Jesus as they do so. It becomes a familiar ritual, comforting perhaps, but not of great impact. What a waste! Setting aside arguments over transubstantiation and the like, every believer in Jesus Christ needs to be reminded regularly of what Jesus Christ went through so that they could be cleansed of their sins and given access to the Father. That’s what Communion is all about, and we take it lightly to our great loss.

I try to make this point clear every time I lead in Communion, but I could probably do a better job. Since my wife bakes unleavened bread for our Communion services, I have the privilege of eating what is left over, celebrating Communion each morning as I start my devotions. It is a sweet privilege indeed, renewing the commitment of my body and life to Christ because of His giving His body and life for me. That’s not possible while I’m traveling, but I still try to take my first bite of the morning as His body, and the first drink as His blood. Symbolic things aren’t so important in themselves, but rather in what they symbolize. I am to live all day each day as someone who has been bought at the price of the body and blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23) I am to be a carrier of His blood – His life and His Spirit – to everyone I encounter. When that happens, and it does with fair regularity, people tend to think I’m special. I’m not! God wants each of His children to be carriers of His grace and love wherever they go and whatever they are doing.

Father, thank You for continuing to clarify and strengthen this message in my heart. It’s one that is going to take time to get through to the believers, just as it has taken time for it really to sink into me. Help me be patient, as You have been with me, so that all Your purposes, for each of us individually and for all of us as a body, may be fulfilled, for Your great glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!