"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 stir up a debate among 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 closer look at what we do know the Bible has to say about the subject of Communion.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Holy Communion?
We celebrate 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 are worshipping through remembrance and a renewed dedication as we look toward his return.
The multiple names for communion exist because Christ did not name the act; he led by example. It is often referred to as the Lord’s Supper because Christ performed the first communion during his last Passover meal, which is commonly 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 in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The term Eucharist is also used, which means giving of thanks, coming from the Greek by way of Latin, which is found 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 came from a different 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 during the famine when they were rescued by Joseph (Genesis 37-50). They grew into a great nation, which frightened the Egyptians, so the Egyptians forced them into slavery. After many years, God sent Moses to free his people, but the Pharoah was stubborn and refused to release them. So, God told Moses to put blood on the doorposts of all the Israelites’ houses so that the angel of death would pass over 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 set up 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 would be broken and his blood that would 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 from now on, they would eat the bread and drink the wine to remember him and what he was about to do. Jesus’ command to “do this in remembrance of me” is a command to all Christians to take time to remember 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 am the bread of life, upon which metaphor this sacrament is built; as the life of the body is supported by bread, which is therefore put for all bodily nourishment (Matt. 4:4; 6:11), so the life of the soul is supported and maintained by Christ’s mediation.”
The wine completes the meal because wine makes the heart 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 within Christianity
Christ gave us the key parts of Holy Communion, but he did not give it a name, specify the frequency, or specify who should serve and who shouldn’t partake. Since these details are not spelled out, there is room for disagreement. The biggest disagreement, however, falls in how different traditions interpret what happens during Holy Communion. All denominations believe that bread and wine taste like bread and wine, but the debate is over what is accomplished in taking the elements. There are three basic views:
- Transubstantiation – Roman Catholics believe that the grace of God to do His will and stand just before God is infused in us through the elements as they become the literal body and blood of Christ.
- Consubstantiation – Certain Protestants believe that the blood and body of Christ coexists in the bread and wine of the Eucharist, but by partaking in communion we are recognizing what Christ has already done to make us right before God.
- Symbolic – Other Protestant denominations believe that the elements 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 believe that church members are allowed to take communion. Many allow proclaimed believers who are non-members to join in as well. However, before Communion, many church services include a moment in which believers are asked to examine themselves to see if there is unresolved sin in their lives. If so, they should 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 those who do not show reverence. It doesn’t require partakers to be perfect (because no one is—and this is the very reason we take Communion), but it does require them to be believers who are 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 examine our spiritual lives. Gratitude, remembrance, and examination are all ways we can renew our connection to Christ and His sacrifice. It is also a time to foster unity among all believers as we proclaim Jesus’ death and resurrection together.
How Can We Prepare Our Hearts for Communion?
It is essential to our spiritual growth to take time to examine ourselves. As long as we live in this fallen world, we will 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 is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.”
It is far too easy to allow sin to affect our relationship with God and others, so we should meditate on the words of this Psalm every day, but even more so as we approach Communion.
There are several practical steps for approaching Communion with prayer, repentance, and humility which are laid out in 1 Corinthians 11:23-34:
- Examine yourself honestly (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 can participate in Communion with confidence, knowing we have done all that we can do to prepare 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 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 as the foreshadowing of Communion since Jesus fulfilled the prophecy that he would be a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and eternal 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 is leaving but that he will return for his children. In the meantime, we are to proclaim the good 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 who are called to the marriage 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 will be the marriage supper of the Lamb. Christ and his children will be reunited and will celebrate with a feast beyond our imagination.
When we take Holy Communion, we look back to what Christ has done on the cross, but we also look forward with hope to an even greater day at his return. Then, we will eat and drink at his table and worship him in person for eternity.
Further Reading
10 Things You Should Know about 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 writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
