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Practicing the Lord’s Supper: Acknowledging Jesus’ Sacrifice and Lordship in Your Life

God designed our bodies to attach significance and memory to sensory experiences. Think about it. Do you feel nostalgic when you smell your favorite homecooked meal, or do you get anxious when you see something that reminds you of a bad experience?

As God created you, He knew that physical reminders would continually pull your attention and affections back to memories you need to hold onto. That’s why when Jesus was preparing His followers for the most significant moment in history—His death, burial, and resurrection—He left them with a tangible experience so they could rehearse the moment again and again.

We call this experience the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:7–20). During Jesus’ last meal with His followers before His death, He took the bread on the table and broke it with His hands as a symbol of what would soon happen to His body on the cross. He then poured wine from a pitcher into a cup they would all share, saying the wine would be like His blood that He willingly would shed so our sins could be forgiven.

After Jesus ascended to heaven and his followers formed the church, they remembered what happened to Christ by eating bread and drinking wine together (Acts 2:42). Paul instructs the church to do this to remind themselves of what Jesus did for them (1 Corinthians 11:23–29).

We continue this ritual of remembrance today. Each time we tear bread with our hands, we can’t help but remember why Christ’s body had to be torn in the first place. Each time we pour the wine and drink it, we are compelled to recall that Christ’s blood flowed freely when He hung on the cross to pay for our sins. In doing so, our gratitude for His love is renewed and our commitment to His lordship is buoyed.

Have you ever experienced this act of remembrance? If not, be encouraged to find a group of other believers with whom you can share this experience. Consider using the prayer below.

Prayer

“God, thank You for everything Jesus went through so I could have a relationship with You. You deserve everything I could possibly give You—all of me. Thank You for this way of remembering Your love and sacrifice for me. Help me on the days when I’m prone to forget.”

Explore at Your Speed

Some of Jesus’ first followers struggled with the gravity of the Lord’s Supper. Check out more of today’s passage in 1 Corinthians 11:28–34, and consider what Paul was warning the Corinthian church of in his instructions to them about how to do the Lord’s Supper.