“And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19)
The last meal of Jesus with his disciples, shortly before his death, was very special. It was the Passover meal, packed with symbolism about Israel’s salvation from slavery in Egypt. This meal should be celebrated every year, throughout the generations. But Jesus gave it a new meaning by making the bread and the wine into symbols of his death that would save people from sin. He told his disciples to eat this meal “in remembrance of me”. Since then, it has been celebrated by Christians worldwide.
The Lord’s Supper (also called “communion”) is not an extensive ritual, but it has a deep meaning. It draws our attention to Jesus’ atoning death on the cross. It reminds us of the high price He paid for our salvation. This is the core of the Gospel, which should never be forgotten. Eating from the bread and drinking from the wine together with your fellow believers is a powerful way to “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Do you regularly take communion? What does this mean to you?