Communion: The Symbol of God's GraceSýnishorn

Why We Take Communion

What was the first communion like? How did Jesus use the Passover meal to show His disciples what was to come?

We are not required to celebrate the Passover meal today (although it is meaningful to participate in one of these dinners to see how it foreshadows the coming of Jesus). God set the old covenant rituals aside, but Jesus instituted something new for us. As He was eating the Passover meal with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, He took some of the unleavened bread in His hand and said: “This is My body which is given for you” (Luke 22:19). Then He took the cup of wine and said: “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (v. 20).

In that moment Jesus totally redefined the Passover meal—and He invited us to join Him in the new celebration. After He shared the bread and wine with His disciples, He gave them some important instructions:

And when He had taken some bread and 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

So we see in this verse that Jesus instructed us to share this bread and wine with each other to remember His sacrifice. The bread represents Jesus’ body, which was broken for us. The wine represents His blood, which He spilled to save us. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper it is an act of worship; we express our gratitude to Him and honor Him for His great love.

When we partake of the bread and wine, we are thanking Jesus for the forgiveness and eternal life He gives us.

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is My body.”

Then He took the cup, and after He gave thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

—Matthew 26:26-29

As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

—1 Corinthians 11:26