And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, "Drink from it, all of you.  For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins".  (Matthew 26:26-28 NKJV)

Communion is one of the two ordinances or "sacraments" instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ (water baptism is the other).  It is a time of personal reflection as well as communal fellowship between each of the participants and the Lord.  When we drink of the cup and eat the bread, we do so in the manner that Jesus commanded - "in remembrance of Him".  But to better understand the meaning and significance of Communion, let us begin with a brief look at its origin within Passover.

What is Passover?

In the book of Exodus we are told that the children of Israel lived as foreigners in Egypt.  Their status had changed from a free people to salves, and by the time of Moses that were suffering under terrible conditions.  God promised them deliverance, but Pharaoh refused to let the  people go.  Demonstrating his power as being superior to the gods of Egypt, the Lord struck them with ten plagues - the final one being the death of the first-born.  The only way to escape this last plague was to kill and unblemished lamb and spread its blood on the doorframe of their house.  That tragic night, the death angel entered into the homes of the Egyptians but "passed over" the homes of the Israelites, where the blood had been obediently applied to the doorposts.  Realizing his own defeat, Pharaoh called for Moses and demanded the Israelites leave Egypt immediately.  They were then instructed by God to celebrate the Passover meal once a year in remembrance of what He did for them that remarkable night.

 What is the Lord's Supper?

Knowing His blood was about to be shed for the spiritual deliverance of God's people in every nation and throughout all time, the Lord Jesus gathered His disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem.  He took two of the emblems of the Passover meal, the bread and the cup, and began a new custom.  The night He completed the imagery of the Old Covenant and instituted the New Covenant.

The "Lord's Supper" is a service that uses the bread and the cup to remember the Lord and out New Covenant with Him.  In it we celebrate our deliverance from sin's bondage through faith in Jesus.  It is also called "Communion," because this ceremony promotes fellowship or communion with God and each other.  We are truly thankful that Christ's blood has washed our sins away, which is what the word "Eucharist" means.

It it Literal or Symbolic?

There are differing views of what the Bible says about the bread and the cup or "communion".  One denomination teaches Transubstantiation, saying the bread actually becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes the Blood of Christ by a priestly consecration.  Another denomination teaches Consubstantiation, saying Christ's body and blood are "in, with, and under" the bread and wine, i.e., "a simultaneous coexistence of both" effected not by the blessing of a priest by by the Word of God. 

The Symbolic view was taught by Calvin, Zwingli and the other Reformers, and is embraced by most Evangelical churches today.  When Jesus said, "This is My body, this My blood" He was speaking figuratively, or symbolically.  The apostles listening to Him knew it, and when we read those words of His today we know it as well.  However, we do understand this Meal is special, not common, and it is the invisible presence of Christ and not the bread and cup that makes this service unique.

The symbolic view is the most Biblical view for it teaches that is is by the Holy Spirit alone that the bread and cup, as they are partaken by faith, convey the realities they represent.  Jesus, the risen and unseen Host, is Lord at His table.  He is not there at the disposal of the church to be given and received automatically in the mere performance of a ritual.

How Often?

Passover was once a year but the new Testament church sometimes met daily!  Today some churches choose to serve the Lord's Supper every week and others once a month.  For the past few years, our church as been serving communion whenever there is a fifth Sunday in a month.  This has proven to be right for us because many times we seemed to rush through our communion service to "get to the sermon," or we tacked it on the end of the service like a necessary but cumbersome appendage.  We now look forward to this celebration and make an entire service of it.

How should I prepare?

Paul taught the Christians of his day to reveal their respect and reverence for God everyday and every way.  Out of respect for the Lord's Table they were warned not to worship idols, participating in gossip, or cause division between member of the church (see 1 Corinthians 10 and 11).  He said they were to 'examine themselves" and if they had sinned in any of these ways, confess it to God and turn away from doing those sins again.  I always encourage people that our communion time is a celebration but if there is known sin, especially the kind that divides believers, they must make it right in prayer before partaking of the bread and cup.

Who can participate?

We practice an "open communion," that is, we believe that all who are born-again may partake with us even if they are not members of our church.  On the subject of children, we ask parents that they not allow them to be served until there is an assurance of salvation in their child's life.

In conclusion

I hope this short instruction has been helpful for you.  The most important truth I want to leave you with is that Jesus really was crucified and rose again from the dead, offering forgiveness of sins freely to all who come to Him.  It was never God's plan for you to only participate in a religious observance like communion and then to think that is all you need to do.  His plan for you is by faith, you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, receive Him into your heart, and be forgiven of all your sins!  It is "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2: 8-9.

My prayer is that you would look to Jesus, even right at this moment.  Turn to Him in faith, and trust Him for mercy and forgiveness.

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