Communion
Communion is a practice that the Christian Church performs to keep with the scriptures where Jesus says that we should remember Him whenever we eat or drink. For some time, I wondered why He said to take the bread and the juice and remember Him whenever we ate or drank. I realized that it is just another opportunity to meditate on Jesus and the sacrifice He endured. Why remember Him every time we eat and drink, as we do it at least 3 times a day. This is just a little side note to give you another moment throughout your day where you can pray and think on the Lord; but the Communion that we are talking about here is that which is taken in a church setting. Keep in mind though, taking Communion is not performed the same way in all churches and denominations, but its meaning is still incredible. Some churches do Communion every Sunday usually starting with a meditation and then the elders and the deacons pass the Communion plates of bread and juice across the pews. Most of the members partake in the Communion Service and then meditate in the Lord.
So, what is Communion? Why is it important to the Christian faith and to the individual Christian? Is it a ritual that should be completed every time it is offered? Should it be offered every Sunday? There are many questions about Communion that can be asked and should you have any questions that are not answered here, feel free to send us a question through the Contact Us section of the website and we will be glad to answer it for you. To answer the questions posed at this time, we need to look at New Testament scripture and then conclude with some further remarks.
Communion According to Scripture
The following scripture tells the story of the last supper and the origination of Communion.
The Last Supper:
Matthew 26:17-27: 17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.
20When evening came; Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, He said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."
22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"
23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with Me will betray Me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."[a]
26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."
Significance of Communion:
Luke 22:17-20: Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.
Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
In Luke, Jesus tells us to remember him every time we break bread.
Why the Early Church Observed It:
Acts 2:42: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Taking it in an unworthy manner:
1 Corinthians 11:27-34: Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
In other words, take it respectfully and do not take it lightly.
What is Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Note: Here I would recommend reading the whole book of Exodus in the Old Testament. It will give you the story of Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egypt.
Exodus 12:17: So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance.
Exodus 12:23: For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.
When Jesus and His 12 disciples entered the upper room on that feast of Passover (the same night he was betrayed), He knew that this would be the last time that He would partake in the Passover feast with His friends in the flesh. Jesus knew that the bread represented His body and when He held it up and then He broke it, He knew that it represented His broken body. Then, when He held up the cup of wine, He said that this was His blood which would be shed for all mankind. It was the perfect sacrifice for the remission of sin.
Remember this: Communion is an important event in a Christians life as it is used to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for all mankind. He knew of his impending death upon the Cross and He wanted to make sure that His disciples knew that it was coming. Jesus knew that His disciples would abandon him but He also knew that they would return. They would follow the things He had taught them because they believed in Him and because they were faithful. So, those who partake in Communion must do so fully aware that it is done because Jesus went to the Cross for us and took our sins and our transgressions with Him. Do it in remembrance of HIM.
©Mission Lighthouse Ministry. All Rights Reserved. 2010.
