I recently was asked to lead communion at a Women’s Retreat. As I was preparing for it, I noticed a pattern. In multiple Scriptures, people were either reclining or sitting to eat the bread. Even more so, Jesus commanded them to do so. (Note: the Bold in scripture text is my emphasis)
Mat 26:20 & 26
When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Mat 15:35-36
So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.

Jhn 6:10-11
Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Mark 6:39
Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.

So the word to sit, especially since Jesus commanded it, caught my eye! In looking it up in the Greek it is Strong’s: G377 anapiptō and occurs 11 times in the NT. It means – to lie back, lie down, recline at a table, to sit back.

So I went digging a little deeper into this practice of sitting …. and what it means. It’s original form and meaning appears in the Passover meal. When eating the Passover meal and drinking the wine, the Jews were instructed to recline – WHY? Because that is how NOBILITY ate and because this was symbolic of their FREEDOM from SLAVERY!!

Maimonides writes: One is required to see himself as if he had just now left Egyptian slavery. Hence, when a person eats on this night, he is required to eat and drink while reclining, as a sign of freedom. In the manner that kings and important people eat.

When Jesus commanded the Jewish folk to sit before they ate, it would have spoken to their Jewish psyche in three ways.

1. First, that they were more than Am Ha’aretz. They were more than the commoners, the simple folks as the Rabbis would call them. Instead, it was a mark of honor to be seated and eat! Jesus bestowed Honor on them by this act!
2. Second, it would have spoken to them about their freedom from slavery, as this was the posture they took to eat the Seder.
3. Third it was also the fulfillment of the prophetic act called out in Ezekiel. Eze 34:14-15
   “I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.“I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD.
   

Jesus was performing a very prophetic act as He commanded they recline, and as He shared the last supper with His disciples.

So what does this mean for us? During the last supper, Jesus commands us to do it in remembrance of Him. So sitting during communion symbolizes three key components for us today:
1. That we are NO longer slaves to sin but have been delivered out of slavery into freedom!
2. That we are a royal priesthood in Him and He is the source of our Honor. To learn more about your source of Honor watch this short.

3. When the 4000 and 5000 are being fed, the Bible makes a point to say there was grass there. They sat on much grass (John) / green grass (Mark).

This reminds me of Ps 23:2 “He makes me to lie down in green pastures;” . There is that word again, this time in Hebrew. Strong’s H7257 – rāḇaṣ.

The words of the prophets call out the acts of Jesus towards us His flock in:
Eze 34:14-15
“I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. “I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD.
Zep 3:13
The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness and speak no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid.”

As Jesus fed the multitudes, He was literally fulfilling the prophetic words of Ezekiel and Zephaniah. He continues to fulfill these words with us today.

So next time you take communion, remember Him and His promise to you. He will make you lie down in green pastures and He will feed you. Remember you are His royal priesthood and He honors and values you. Remember you are no longer a slave to sin. You have been rescued by His blood and bought at a price.