I experienced a Lord's Supper a little differently recently and it made an impact on me compared to the normal grape-juice-and-crackers that I've usually had.
Many of you have participated in Lord's Suppers this way before, but I'd never taken the elements as a piece of bread dipped in the juice. I was shocked by what I felt...
First, it's yucky. There was a psychological aversion to eating grape juice-soaked bread.
Second, it's bitter. I'm not sure if it's the juice, the bread, or the combination of the two - maybe it was even the type of bread used, but beyond a simple "texture thing", it just had a poor bitter taste.
Those physical responses gave me cause to stop and think about how I was reacting to this Lord's Supper as I'd not reacted to any previous events. For that reason alone, I appreciated the difference.
But that wasn't all. Beyond the physical, I was drawn to how appropriate it was for the elements of the Lord's Supper to be unpalatable. It's entirely appropriate for us to be a little discomforted when we reflect on Christ's sacrifice and what He endured for us. Certainly, an unpleasant mouth-feel and something NOT sugary sweet is a strong contrast to our pampered lives we usually lead. Tasting the mushy, bitter taste representing Christ's substitutive death helps us understand that it was no stroll in the park for Christ that next day.
I pray for every Lord's Supper, while done with bland elements or not, is always an uncomfortable time for us. I pray that we never are able to swallow it easily. I pray that it always leaves us upset and a little disgusted as we thank God for our blessings and the sacrifice of His Perfect Son, Jesus Christ.
Later.