The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper

Main Verses

Matthew 26:26-29 Jesus’ last feast, the first Lord’s Supper.

Mark 14:22-25 Jesus’ last feast, the first Lord’s Supper.

Luke 22:17-20 Jesus’ last feast, and the first command to observe the Lord’s Supper.

John 6:48-59 Jesus’ body and blood for us to eat and drink.

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Participation in the body and blood of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 Partaking of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner.

What Is the Lord’s Supper?

The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, was first celebrated by our Lord on the day before He died. It was the PASSOVER meal of the Passover festival, which took place during the last week of Jesus’ life. God had commanded the Jews to observe the Passover every year as a remembrance and celebration of their deliverance from EGYPT (Exodus 12:1-20). God commanded that only unleavened bread be eaten during the Passover festival. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, Paul states that Christ became our Passover sacrifice. Therefore, non-Jewish Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper only instead of Passover itself.

Jesus commanded us to observe the Lord’s Supper. In the Gospels this command is recorded only in Luke 22:19. But Paul emphasizes this command in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. The first Christians celebrated the Lord’s Supper frequently (Acts 2:42; 20:7).

Looking at all four accounts of the first Lord’s Supper in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and 1 Corinthians, we can see that none of them records all of Jesus’ words. But we can make a composite record by combining the four accounts as follows:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you; do this in remembrance of me. This cup is the new covenant in my blood (or) this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Drink from it, all of you … do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Many different ways of observing the Lord’s Supper have been practiced throughout the history of the church. In many churches today, the Lord’s Supper is celebrated every week. Many other churches today observe the Lord’s Supper three or four times a year. Many churches use an unleavened bread and an actual wine, as was the custom during the Jewish Passover feast of Jesus’ time. But many other churches use a leavened bread and a non-fermented juice instead. There is usually a time of confession of sin beforehand. Many churches serve the elements in the front of the church, while in other churches the elements are served where the partakers are sitting. Many large churches use individual small cups, while other churches prefer to use one or more common cups, as in the first Lord’s Supper. A few churches even practice foot washing beforehand (John 13:1-17).

The Body and Blood of Jesus

Jesus said, “This is my body. … This is my blood.” Christians have different opinions about what this means (see panel: “This is my body … This is my blood.”). Many Christians believe that Jesus’ actual body and blood becomes present in or through the bread and wine in a supernatural, but real, way. These Christians point to 1 Corinthians 10:16, where it says that the bread and cup are a participation in the body and blood of Jesus. They also point to 1 Corinthians 11:27,29, where Paul says that we are guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord if we eat in an unworthy manner. Jesus said, “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:55-56).

Many other Christians do not believe that Jesus’ actual body and blood are present at the Lord’s Supper. Since Jesus had not yet died on the cross when He first instituted the Lord’s Supper, they believe that Jesus meant, “This represents my body,” and “This represents my blood.” These Christians believe that John 6:55-56 does not refer to actual eating of Jesus’ body and blood but to believing in Jesus. In John 6:35, Jesus says: “He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” These Christians, then, say that to partake of Jesus’ body and blood is the same as to believe in Him.

Why Do We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper?

Jesus commanded us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. But there are times when a person should not participate in it. In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul tells us we must not partake of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. Since none of us in ourselves are worthy of Jesus’ death and forgiveness, how do we partake in a “worthy manner”? The answer is that we must first examine ourselves, confess our sins, and repent. Only then should we partake in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28-31; 1 John 1:9).

Therefore, a person who is living in a state of unconfessed sin should not join in the Lord’s Supper. If he does, he is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27). Such a person eats and drinks judgment on himself, and this can result in weakness, sickness, or even death (1 Corinthians 11:29-30). This is a serious matter. Many churches do not allow a member living in unconfessed sin to partake in the Lord’s Supper, since it would cause him to bring judgment on himself. Although it is dangerous to partake in the Lord’s Supper without repentance, it is even more dangerous to refuse to repent! If we have sinned, we need to confess, repent, and then to come to the Lord’s table.

All Christians believe that the Lord’s Supper is a time of remembering Christ’s death with confession and repentance, because Jesus asked us to remember His death when we eat and drink at His table (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). In celebrating the Lord’s Supper, we not only remember Christ’s death, but we also proclaim to others the grace that comes from His death. Paul wrote that whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Because of Christ’s death, we receive forgiveness and eternal life; by partaking in the Lord’s Supper we show our gratitude for these blessings. But we also look forward to Christ’s second coming, since we will keep on celebrating the Lord’s Supper until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Many Christians call the Lord’s Supper “Holy Communion.” This is in recognition of our fellowship with Christ. Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:56). However, this fellowship is not only with Christ but with our fellow believers also. We share in Christ’s body; therefore, we also share in each other. There is one loaf—that is, Christ Jesus—and although we are many, we … are one body, for we all partake of one loaf (1 Corinthians 10:17).

In addition, many Christians believe that the Lord’s Supper is also a “means of grace,” one of the ways by which God’s GRACE is given to us.¹ Just as we can receive real judgment through the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-32), so we can also receive real blessings. These Christians believe that in the Lord’s Supper we receive forgiveness of sins in a special way. Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Jesus also said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” and “remains in me, and I in him” (John 6:5456). Therefore, these Christians believe that in the Lord’s Supper God gives us His grace in a special way; this grace consists of forgiveness of sins, union with Christ, and eternal life. They say that the bread and wine are outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace. Partaking of the bread and wine alone does nothing; it is partaking through faith that we receive the inward grace of the Lord’s Supper. If we partake without faith, we do not receive grace; rather, we receive judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Many other Christians do not believe there is any special grace available in the Lord’s Supper. They believe God’s grace is available to us only through the written word of God; they do not believe God gives His grace through special means or ceremonies. When we believe in Jesus by faith, we are then “eating His body and drinking His blood” in a spiritual way, not physically. They believe that the Lord’s Supper is special only in the sense that we as a church body come together to remember Christ’s death; it is only an act of corporate worship and witness.

Summary

Christians should make up their minds on these questions after studying the verses involved. There are two main questions. First, do we receive Jesus’ actual body and blood during the Lord’s Supper, or not? Second, we remember Christ’s death and confess our sins when we partake in the Lord’s Supper, but do we also receive God’s forgiveness in a special way? Whatever we decide on these questions, we should not condemn our brother or sister if they have a different belief from ours. We all celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Our own beliefs about its meaning should not separate us from our brother and sister for whom Christ died. Many believe that in 1 Corinthians 12:13 Paul is referring to water baptism and the Lord’s Supper when he says that we are one body, having been baptized … into one body and made to drink of one Spirit. The Lord’s Supper should bring us together, not separate us.

Whether or not the blood of Christ is actually present in the Lord’s Supper, Jesus asked us to remember His death and all it did for us. We cannot begin to count all that Jesus’ death—His blood—has done for us: justification (Romans 5:9), redemption and forgiveness (Ephesians 2:13; Colossians 1:20), cleansing of conscience (Hebrews 9:14), access to mercy (Hebrews 10:19), purification from sins (1 John 1:7), and an overcoming victory (Revelation 12:11). The blood of Christ—what a precious thing!

¹ These Christians believe that water baptism also is a means of grace. But other Christians believe differently (see General Article: Water Baptism).