Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, serves several profound purposes for the Christian faith. At its core, Communion is a powerful symbol and reminder of Christ's sacrificial love, displayed through His death on the cross. Through the elements of bread and wine, representing Christ's body and blood, believers remember the ultimate price paid for their redemption.
Further, Communion signifies the establishment of a New Covenant. When Christ declared, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25), He was heralding a new relationship between God and humanity, built on grace rather than the law.
Moreover, Communion embodies the unity of believers. As one body partakes of one bread and one cup, we affirm our interconnectedness and mutual dependence as the Body of Christ. This unity, transcending all earthly divisions, reflects the nature of God's kingdom.
Finally, Communion anticipates the future hope of dining with Christ in the heavenly kingdom. Each time we partake, we proclaim Christ's death "until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26), pointing to the hope of His triumphant return.
I invite you to pause and deeply reflect on these profound scriptures about Communion. Let these truths transform you, challenging you to embrace the depth of Christ's sacrifice, the unity of the body, and the anticipation of His return. Through this reflection, may your understanding and appreciation of communion be enriched, deepening your faith and drawing you nearer to God's heart.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."
Communion holds deep, transformative power, offering us a tangible connection to Christ's sacrifice, the unity of the Christian community, and the promise of Christ's return. These truths, echoed in the verses we've explored, serve as a continual reminder of God's immense love and grace towards us. As we remember, partake, and anticipate, may our lives be continually shaped by these profound biblical truths. Embrace the challenge and invitation that the Gospel presents, and may your journey with God be ever enriched by a deeper understanding of Communion.
We come before You today, humbled and awed by Your majesty, Your love, and Your grace. We acknowledge our failings, Lord, and confess our sins to You. In the quietness of our hearts, we admit our wrongdoings, our thoughtless words, our unkind actions, and our self-centered attitudes. We ask for Your forgiveness, Father, knowing that through the blood of Christ, You have reconciled us to yourself.
Lord, we also pray for unity within the body of Christ. We know that divisiveness does not glorify You, but rather it is our unity and love that truly reflects Your heart. Father, remind us that we are all part of one body, bound together by the blood of Jesus. Help us to be quick to forgive, eager to understand, and patient with one another.
God, tear down walls of division and misunderstanding, replacing them with bridges of love and compassion. Teach us to love one another as You have loved us. Let unity and forgiveness be the hallmarks of our community, showcasing Your power and grace to the world.
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray,
A graduate of Asbury Seminary, Nathan co-founded Christ Community Church with a fervent mission to serve the poor while making disciples of all nations. In 2017, he started Bridgetown Ventures, a ministry that empowers the marginalized to be architects of change in their own communities. In his transformative book, Storm the Gates, Nathan invites readers to embody the core values essential to fulfilling the Great Commission, serving as a clarion call for compassion, faith, and global discipleship.
