Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, is an important Christian ritual practiced by most denominations. The practice commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. During the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples and spoke of them symbolically representing his body and blood. Christians partake in communion to remember and reflect on Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.
The Bible has much to say about communion and provides guidance on how it should be practiced. Here is an overview of key biblical themes and passages concerning communion:
Instituted by Jesus
Communion was instituted by Jesus himself at the Last Supper. The Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all provide accounts of Jesus sharing bread and wine with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion (Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20). These passages describe Jesus breaking bread, blessing it as his body, and sharing it with his disciples. He then shares the cup of wine, equating it to his blood of the new covenant shed for the forgiveness of sins.
Remembering Jesus’s Death and Resurrection
One of the main themes of communion is remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and victorious resurrection. Jesus told his disciples at the Last Supper to “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The practice of communion serves as a memorial to reflect on the magnitude of Christ’s love shown through his willing sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity.
The apostle Paul wrote, “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). Partaking of communion declares salvation through Christ’s finished work on the cross as well as expresses hope and expectancy of his promised return.
Unity of Believers
Communion signifies the unity of believers with each other and with Christ. Because there is one loaf of bread, the many individual pieces point to the unity and commonality of those participating in communion (1 Corinthians 10:17). All believers are members of the one body of Christ.
The apostle Paul warns against practicing communion in an “unworthy manner” and thereby profaning the sacrament (1 Corinthians 11:27). He charges believers to examine themselves and reconcile broken relationships within the Church before participating in communion, ensuring they are in right fellowship with each other (1 Corinthians 11:28-29).
New Covenant in Jesus’s Blood
When Jesus instituted communion at the Last Supper, he spoke of the wine as the “blood of the covenant” (Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:24). This references the establishment of a new covenant between God and humanity through the sacrificial shedding of Christ’s blood.
Just as the first covenant was sealed with the blood of animal sacrifices (Exodus 24:8), the new covenant was established and ratified with the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus’s own blood. His blood makes possible the forgiveness of sins referenced during the Last Supper (Matthew 26:28).
Looking Forward to Heavenly Banquet
The communion meal not only looks back to the cross but also looks forward to eternal life in Christ. Jesus told his disciples he would not drink of the fruit of the vine again “until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). This hints at a future heavenly banquet for believers in glory.
In Revelation 19, John depicts a wedding supper of the Lamb which represents the culmination of faithful believers’ intimate union with Christ in eternity. Communion symbolically anticipates this future glory and union with Christ.
Passover Connection
The Last Supper took place amid celebration of the Jewish Passover. There are parallels between the Passover meal and the Lord’s Supper, including the elements of bread, wine, and lamb. Just as Passover commemorates Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, communion commemorates deliverance from slavery to sin through the sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Christ’s Real Presence
Catholic and some Lutheran communions teach that the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus through transubstantiation. Most Protestant communions instead see the elements as symbolic representations only. The biblical accounts do speak literally of the bread as Christ’s body and the wine as his blood, but also utilize figurative language of symbolism (John 6:53-58, 1 Corinthians 10:16).
For Discerning and Examining
Paul offers a serious warning about partaking of communion in an unworthy manner and the need to spiritually examine oneself beforehand (1 Corinthians 11:27-32). Misuse of communion fails to show proper discernment of Christ’s body and blood. Examination should deal with sins that disrupt unity and love between believers who are symbolically partaking of the one loaf.
Practice in the Early Church
The Book of Acts describes early Christians partaking of communion as part of worship and meals together (Acts 2:42, 46). The letters of Paul also provide the earliest written instructions for proper practice of the Lord’s Supper in the gatherings of believers (1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). Paul received direct revelation from Jesus concerning communion and passed these teachings down to the churches.
Different Understandings & Practices
There are differences in how frequently various denominations and traditions take communion. Some celebrate it every Sunday as a core part of weekly worship. Others observe it less frequently, even as infrequently as only a few times per year. The Bible does not prescribe a particular frequency, simply exhorting disciples to participate in remembrance of Christ.
There are also different views concerning who can participate. While some traditions restrict it to full church members, most Protestant communions permit any baptized believer to partake. The Bible does not exclude children from participating if they have expressed faith in Christ and understand communion’s significance.
Styles of celebration vary across traditions as well. Communion may involve kneeling at an altar, passing plates of bread and cups down pews, or gathered around tables. The elements may be eaten separately or dipped together. Fermented wine or non-alcoholic grape juice may be used. The Bible does not mandate any particular format.
Key Communion Bible Verses
Here is a selection of insightful Bible verses about communion for further study:
- Matthew 26:26-29 – Jesus institutes communion at the Last Supper with his disciples.
- Mark 14:22-25 – Jesus establishes communion with bread representing his body and wine representing his blood of the new covenant.
- Luke 22:14-23 – Jesus shares the first Lord’s Supper with his disciples on the night of his arrest.
- John 6:53-58 – Jesus declares that one must eat his flesh and drink his blood, pointing forward to communion.
- Acts 2:42, 46 – Early Christians devote themselves to breaking of bread in communion meals together.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 – The bread and cup unite believers together as one body in Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – Paul recounts Jesus instituting communion and explains its meaning.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 – Warning against improperly partaking of communion without self-examination.
In summary, the practice of communion originates from Jesus himself in the Upper Room at the Last Supper. The Bible provides rich meaning and symbolism in the elements of bread and wine. Communion represents Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross for sin, the new covenant in his blood, and the unity of believers as one body in Him. Observed properly and thoughtfully, communion offers a special opportunity to remember the Lord’s death with reverence and hope until his return.