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Now that we have come through the festival of Purim, Passover is being celebrated. Let’s look briefly at the above Jewish victory declaration.

This adage is often quoted by the Jewish people on their annual feast celebrations. It contains a framework that Christians can contemplate on and use to celebrate the victory of Communion/The Lord’s Table.

The backdrop is this: In the Book of Esther, we read that a seemingly impossible deadly situation was overcome. The king had decreed that all the Jews in Persia be annihilated on a certain date. This plan was thwarted by a brave Queen and her wise uncle Mordecai.

The Jews in Persia fought their enemies and won.

Verse 17 of Esther 9 records, “they rested, celebrating their victory with a day of feasting and gladness.” (NLT)

Holy Communion

Many churches today celebrate Holy Communion weekly. They remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin.

One aspect of this remembrance that is not always considered is the fact that Jesus won a great victory on the cross.

Paul records it this way in Colossians 2:15 – “He (Jesus) stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the cross and marched them naked through the streets.” (MSG)

Paul probably had in mind the victory procession by Roman generals when they returned from battle. They paraded their vanquished enemies through the city streets for all to see.

Paul instructed us to “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26) – and to do this often. This is a victory shout!

That proclaimed death was horrendous for Jesus – the weight of the sin of the world upon him – the pain of the nails, the whip, the thorns – and above all, becoming sin for us all.

This burden was so great that he cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” – Mark 15:34 (NKJV)

The Father said of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17.

Did God now abandon him?

I don’t think so.

What I believe is that in his 100% humanity, Jesus felt forsaken and abandoned.

However, this was only momentary, because he said to his Father at the end of his six hours on the cross, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” – Luke 23:46 (NKJV)

I like to think that at this moment, the Father received his Son with such love and admiration, that he would have burst forth with words like those written in Song of Songs 2:10-13 –

“My lover said to me, ‘Rise up my darling! Come away with me my fair one!
Look, the winter is passed, and the rains are over and gone.
The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come,
and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
Come away with me, aye fair one!”

So, Jesus gives up his life. He lays it down. He chooses when to die.

“No one takes it from me,” he said in John 10:18. (NKJV)

Now, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” – 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NKJV)

Considering the Purim Framework Again

The Jews said, “They tried to kill us!”

At Communion, we can say, “They tried to kill Jesus, but he chose when to surrender his life.”

The Jews said, “We won!”

We can say “Yes! Jesus, your crown of thorns has become a diadem of many crowns! You are Royalty, our soon and coming King!”

The Jews said, “Let’s eat!”

We say “Amen!” and add “Let’s drink!” as we celebrate Christ’s victory when we take communion.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.