This comes from the late Richard Wurmbrand and calls us to a deeper commitment to our Lord and His church.
"Take, eat; this is My body" (Matt. 26:26).
During World War I almost two million Armenians were martyred for their faith and nationality by the Turks.
At Der es Zor a group of Armenians stood before the firing squad. One of them, Mavy, told the soldiers, "It is written in your Koran that you should not kill anybody without allowing him first to worship his god." Mavy was granted his request.
He gave a short message from Revelation 2:10: "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." They sang together and took Holy Communion. They had no bread but distributed some of the glowing sand from the ground, saying, "Take and eat. This is My body." Everyone swallowed some sand. Then they were shot. Those who did not die instantly dipped their fingers in their blood. While dying, Mavy told them, "Take and drink this. This is My blood given for you."
Christ is a being with two natures: a human and a divine one. He also has two bodies. He has the body of a Jewish carpenter which, after death, was glorified and ascended to heaven, as well as the church, which is also His body. When at Communion the words are said, "Eat; this is My body," both bodies are meant. Jesus suffered and bled 2000 years ago in Palestine in His limited body. It is He Himself who suffers and bleeds also in all those who bleed for Him. They took Communion with their own blood, which was also His blood.
You are a member of His body. Behave as such.
