“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” ~ 1 Corinthians 11:26
One of the quickest ways to fire up a debate amongst Christians from different denominations is to bring up Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. To start, we cannot even agree on the name. The one thing all denominations can agree on is that it was a command of Christ, so let’s take a better have a look at what we do know the Bible has to say concerning the subject of Communion.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Holy Communion?
We have a good time Holy Communion because Christ commanded his disciples to do it as a remembrance of him and what he was about to do. It was to be an act of worship. Merriam-Webster defines worship as “reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; an act of expressing such reverence.” When we eat the bread and drink the wine in an attitude of gratitude, we’re worshipping through remembrance and a renewed dedication as we glance toward his return.
The multiple names for communion exist because Christ didn’t name the act; he led by example. It is also known as the Lord’s Supper because Christ performed the primary communion during his last Passover meal, which is often generally known as The Last Supper, made especially popular by Da Vinci’s painting. Some call it the Breaking of the Bread because Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly within the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, within the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The term Eucharist can also be used, which implies giving of thanks, coming from the Greek by means of Latin, which is present in Matthew 26:27: “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you.’” So, each meaning got here from a special biblical reference to the act of worship.
How Did Holy Communion Begin?
In the Old Testament, we read the story of the Israelites as they settled in Egypt throughout the famine once they were rescued by Joseph (Genesis 37-50). They grew into an ideal nation, which frightened the Egyptians, so the Egyptians forced them into slavery. After a few years, God sent Moses to free his people, however the Pharoah was stubborn and refused to release them. So, God told Moses to place blood on the doorposts of all of the Israelites’ houses in order that the angel of death would omit them. All the first-born of the Egyptians, human and animal, died that night, causing Pharoah to release them. Under God’s leadership, Moses instituted the festival of the Passover.
In Matthew 26:26-29 and Luke 22:19-20, the disciples have arrange for the Passover meal, but Jesus does something unusual. He stands up and tells them that the broken bread and the wine represent his body that may be broken and his blood that may be shed. From then on, the Passover would commemorate the Lamb of God who was slain to bring forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
Jesus told the disciples that any further, they’d eat the bread and drink the wine to recollect him and what he was about to do. Jesus’ command to “do that in remembrance of me” is a command to all Christians to take time to recollect what our salvation cost and to worship the One who made it possible.
What Makes Bread and Wine So Significant?
There are two elements involved in Holy Communion: bread and wine. The bread represents Christ’s body. According to Matthew Henry’s Commentary, “he had said formerly (John 6:35), I’m the bread of life, upon which metaphor this sacrament is built; because the lifetime of the body is supported by bread, which is due to this fact put for all bodily nourishment (Matt. 4:4; 6:11), so the lifetime of the soul is supported and maintained by Christ’s mediation.”
The wine completes the meal because wine makes the center glad (Matthew 26:27-28). This wine represented Christ’s blood which was shed for the remission of sins, so we drink giving thanks for all Christ has done for us.
Different Views on Communion inside Christianity
Christ gave us the important thing parts of Holy Communion, but he didn’t give it a reputation, specify the frequency, or specify who should serve and who shouldn’t partake. Since these details are usually not spelled out, there may be room for disagreement. The biggest disagreement, nevertheless, falls in how different traditions interpret what happens during Holy Communion. All denominations consider that bread and wine taste like bread and wine, but the controversy is over what’s completed in taking the weather. There are three basic views:
- Transubstantiation – Roman Catholics consider that the grace of God to do His will and stand just before God is infused in us through the weather as they turn out to be the literal body and blood of Christ.
- Consubstantiation – Certain Protestants consider that the blood and body of Christ coexists within the bread and wine of the Eucharist, but by partaking in communion we’re recognizing what Christ has already done to make us right before God.
- Symbolic – Other Protestant denominations consider that the weather are symbols of what Christ has done for us, and Communion is an act of worship which remembers Christ’s sacrifice.
Are There Restrictions on Who Can Take Communion?
The other big disagreement is over who can take Communion. Most denominations consider that church members are allowed to take communion. Many allow proclaimed believers who’re non-members to affix in as well. However, before Communion, many church services include a moment during which believers are asked to look at themselves to see if there may be unresolved sin of their lives. If so, they need to settle it then or abstain from Communion. Self-examination and approaching Communion with reverence are spelled out in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29. With this explanation comes a warning of judgment for many who don’t show reverence. It doesn’t require partakers to be perfect (because nobody is—and that is the very reason we take Communion), but it surely does require them to be believers who’re of sober mind and in good standing.
Communion causes us to stop and take stock of where we stand with God. It causes us to reflect on what God has done for us and to look at our spiritual lives. Gratitude, remembrance, and examination are all ways we will renew our connection to Christ and His sacrifice. It can also be a time to foster unity amongst all believers as we proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection together.
How Can We Prepare Our Hearts for Communion?
It is important to our spiritual growth to take time to look at ourselves. As long as we live on this fallen world, we shall be subject to temptation. This is why David cried out in Psalm 139:23-24:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there may be any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way in which everlasting.”
It is much too easy to permit sin to affect our relationship with God and others, so we must always meditate on the words of this Psalm daily, but much more in order we approach Communion.
There are several practical steps for approaching Communion with prayer, repentance, and humility that are specified by 1 Corinthians 11:23-34:
- Examine yourself truthfully (vs. 28).
- Repent of any unresolved sin (vs. 29-32).
- Remember what Christ has done for you (vs. 24).
- Give thanks for His many blessings to us (vs. 24).
- Take Communion with humility and reverence.
If we follow these steps, we will take part in Communion with confidence, knowing we now have done all that we will do to arrange our hearts for this act of worship.
How Holy Communion Looks Forward to Something Greater
From before creation, God had a plan. The Old Testament gave us the law and showed us that we could never measure up, while foreshadowing a Messiah who would come to save lots of us. In Genesis 14:18, Abraham has just returned from a victory, and “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” Many scholars see this because the foreshadowing of Communion since Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that he can be a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and everlasting priest and king.
In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Jesus says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” He tells his disciples multiple times that he’s leaving but that he’ll return for his children. In the meantime, we’re to proclaim the excellent news of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
We can look with hope toward his return. Revelation 19:9 says, “Then he said to me, Write: ‘Blessed are those that are called to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of God.’” The church is the bride of Christ, so when he returns there shall be the wedding supper of the Lamb. Christ and his children shall be reunited and can have a good time with a feast beyond our imagination.
When we take Holy Communion, we glance back to what Christ has done on the cross, but we also look forward with hope to an excellent greater day at his return. Then, we’ll eat and drink at his table and worship him in person for eternity.
Further Reading
10 Things You Should Know concerning the Lord’s Supper and Communion
Who Can Take Communion According to the Bible?
What is the Eucharist? The Tradition of Communion from the Lord’s Supper
Why is There So Much Disagreement about Holy Communion?
What is Communion and Why Is it Celebrated Differently?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/IngridHS
Linda Lyle is a author, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, in addition to multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is about to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
