As our nation observes this Memorial Day holiday, I am very appreciative of the freedom I have and I realize it came at a tremendous cost. Many lives were lost on the battle field to secure and insure the continuation of our freedom. To this end, this is one holiday we do not celebrate, we simply observe and remember.
My thoughts today are drawn to another memorial. There is a freedom that is even more precious than what my country offers. I am talking about the freedom from sin. This freedom also came at a tremendous price as my Savior, Jesus Christ, gave his life on Calvary 2,000 years ago. We observe a weekly memorial to commemorate this.
As we observe this weekly memorial, sometimes referred to as the Lord’s Supper, have you ever considered the colors of the emblems used in the Communion? Colors, just as numbers, are usually highly symbolic in Scripture. Think about the colors white and red.
The color of the unleavened bread is white. White represents purity, holiness, and innocence. The saints are given white robes to wear in the Revelation letter. The color white is found in the Revelation letter 15 times, second in number of occurrences only to the book of Leviticus.
The fruit of the vine and its color red symbolizes the blood of Christ and with it represents redemption from sin, sacrifice, and salvation. In Ephesians 1:7 we are told, “In Him, we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…”
In establishing the Communion, 1 Corinthians 11 notes that Christ said “Take and eat, this is My body” and “This cup is the new covenant in My blood.” During Communion we recall His body (being sinless was represented by white) and His shed blood. And this is appropriately represented by the colors white and red.
The colors white and red have very deep spiritual meanings. Taking them both together we see the innocent (white) blood (red) of Christ shed at the cross and we are to be reminded of the death, burial, and resurrection during Communion.
Another passage that reveals symbolic colors is Exodus 26:31. This text is describing the veil which was made to separate the holy place and the Most Holy.
You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.
Note how these three colors represent our LORD. Blue being the color of the sky, represents His heavenly nature. Scarlet is usually associated with immorality and sin. By putting the two colors together, purple is the result. Purple then represents a combination of GOD and man. Jesus’ heavenly nature (blue) and my sin He carried to the cross (scarlet) is combined to make purple. Jesus was both GOD and man. The color purple usually represents royalty. It was no accident then that the soldiers put a purple robe on Him as they mocked Him.
As we consider this combination of colors, we are reminded that Jesus was both GOD and man. And that is what it took for Him to represent the perfect sacrifice for my sins. Anything short of perfection on the cross would not have sufficed.
Hebrews 9:28 reads, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
I’m waiting for Him. How about you? And each time I partake of the communion, let me be reminded of those red and white colors.