Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, holds a sacred place in Christian worship which serves as a time of remembrance and renewal. When we as believers take of the bread and the wine, we participate in a profound act of spiritual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering His sacrificial death, celebrating His resurrection, and anticipating His glorious return.
The heart of communion has significant meaning of redemption and sacrifice. As Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples, He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, NIV). Likewise, He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20, NIV). When believers take of the bread and the wine, we commemorate Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, where He offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Communion is more than a religious ritual; it is a sacred act of spiritual communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV), the apostle Paul writes, “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?” Through the elements of bread and wine, believers enter into a spiritual union with Christ, experiencing His presence, His grace, and His love in a tangible way. It is a reverent moment of intimacy and communion with the Savior.
Communion also serves as a celebration of fellowship and unity among believers. In 1 Corinthians 10:17 (NIV), Paul writes, “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.” When we as believers partake of the bread and the wine together, we are affirming our unity in Christ and our shared identity as members of His body, the Church. Communion is an expression of the bond of love and fellowship that unites believers across the entire world with each other and with Jesus Christ.
When we take the elements of communion, we as believers receive spiritual nourishment and renewal for our souls. Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35, NIV). We as believers take of the bread and we are reminded of Jesus’ promise to sustain and satisfy our spiritual hunger. As we drink of the wine, we are reminded of Jesus’ promise of eternal life and the presence of His Spirit that dwells within us (John 6:53-58).
Communion also serves as a proclamation of the Lord’s death and resurrection until He comes again. In 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NIV), Paul writes, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” When believers take communion, we are bearing witness to the reality of Jesus’ sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection, affirming our faith in His redemptive work and our hope in His promised return.
In conclusion, communion is a sacred gift from the Lord—a moment of remembrance and renewal for us as believers. Through the elements of bread and wine, we as believers commemorate Jesus’ sacrificial death, we enter into spiritual communion with Him, our unity in Christ is affirmed, we receive spiritual nourishment and renewal, and we proclaim His death and resurrection until He comes again. When we as believers take of communion, may we always do it with grateful hearts, full of reverence for the Lord’s sacrifice and always remembering the significance of this sacred gift from the Lord.
By Angela Aberle
Image by Geda Zyvatkauskaite
