One of the most sacred and meaningful practices of the Christian faith is the celebration of communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper. Communion is a time to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who gave his body and blood for us on the cross. Communion is also a time to fellowship with God and with one another, as we share in the bread and the cup that symbolize his presence and his covenant with each of us.
In this post, I want to help each of us to reflect on the meaning and significance of communion. Prepare your heart with me as we receive God’s grace and love through the breaking of His Body and the shedding of His blood that will set us free.
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. (Luke 22:19-20 NIV)
The Lord’s Supper never ‘got old’ or lost its appeal in the early church. Those believers were filled with awe–and with gratitude for what God had done for them at Calvary.”
– John MacArthur
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26 NIV) Every time we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we are declaring a powerful truth: Jesus died for us and he is coming back for us. This is not just a ritual or a tradition, but a celebration of his love and his promise. We remember his sacrifice on the cross, his victory over death and sin, and his hope for our future. We also examine our hearts and confess our sins, knowing that he forgives us and cleanses us. We express our gratitude and worship to him, who gave himself for us and who will never leave us nor forsake us. We look forward to his glorious return when we will see him face to face and share in his joy and glory. The Lord’s Supper is a precious gift that reminds us of who he is, what he has done, and what he will do. Let us cherish it and honor him with our lives.
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. (1 Corinthians 10:16-17 NIV)
“The Lord’s Supper is a reminder of what Jesus did in the past, a symbol of our present relationship with him, and a promise of what he will do in the future.”
– Rick Warren
Communion is a sacred time of fellowship and worship. It’s a time to thank God for his amazing gift of salvation and to celebrate our unity in Christ. It’s a time to renew our commitment to follow him and to love one another as he loved us.
“Communion is not a ritual to remind us of Christ but an act by which we meet him.”
– Henri Nouwen
So next time you take communion, I encourage you to reflect on this passage and to appreciate the deep meaning and significance of this act of worship. Remember that you are not alone, but you are part of a family that spans across time and space. Remember that you are loved by God and by your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us that we are not an island, that we are one with You and one with each one of the men and women who choose You.
