Nearly every group that names the name of Christ participates in it in some fashion or another. It’s done in many distinct modes and frequencies and there are vast differences in traditional and biblical interpretations of its meaning, and different rules about who can lead in its celebration. There is tremendous beauty in nearly every part of the Christian family that has grown up around the practice of the Lord’s supper. There’s also a fair amount of controversy—which is weird when you consider that its called “communion.” But then again, the controversy is not surprising. Most things that high importance generate passionate feelings and opinions.

Lately, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with some very bright and inquisitive children about the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. It really pushed me to consider what is basic about this practice that Jesus himself instituted on “the night in which he was betrayed…”

First, let me say that I have a bent toward seeing the positive side of most understandings of things like this. So, if you’re looking for a narrow or highly dogmatic teaching on communion—your not going to find it here. To be frank, I think a lot of the controversy, and elaborate theology around these things comes from overthinking them.

So, in light of that, let me share with you seven things that I think are basic to sharing in the Lord’s Supper.

1. Jesus started it and expected his disciples to continue practicing it. They did, and they passed it on to us. That’s why, in our part of the kingdom, we call it an “ordinance.” It’s something Jesus commanded us to do. That’s plenty of motivation to do it.

2. It’s symbolic. The bread and the juice (or wine in many places) continue to be bread and juice. They symbolize Jesus’ body and his blood. They remind us that in his mission to redeem us and restore us, he was physically crushed and his life was poured out on the cross on our behalf. Jesus instituted this during the traditional Jewish Passover feast. He used elements of that meal to highlight what he was all about. He connected his mission to God’s setting the Hebrew captives free from bondage in Egypt. His sacrifice would set us free from the slavery of sin and death.

3. It’s way more than a symbol. If there was no significance in the bread and wine themselves, then why didn’t Jesus just say, “think about my body and blood,” and leave it at that? There is something powerful in the sharing of the elements themselves, something that transcends symbol and rationality. The Bible never clearly states what that is.  

4. It’s serious. In Communion we see that Christ died by taking our sin on himself. He not only died for us, he died for and because of “me.” My sin. My duplicity. My broken relationships. Communion is a time to examine oneself and start moving, by God’s grace, to set things right.

5. It’s joyful. When we take it, we not only look back to what Jesus did for us. We look forward to what he will do for us, and the day when we all gather at His table and eat with him, face to face. It’s a celebration of victory.

6. It defines us. What brings us together and what makes us God’s people is not our goodness, our ethnicity, social position, or even our taste in friends. It’s God’s grace. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. We all had a need that only God could supply. So, when we take communion, we’re to “consider the Body of Christ.” That’s our relationship with each other.

7. Who is it for? It’s for people who need grace; who are weak, sinful, and broken. It’s for people who genuinely desire to be healed and to live life in communion with God and each other.

So how important is understanding communion? Since Jesus did say “Do this in remembrance of me,” it’s pretty clear that we should have a basic understanding of what Jesus did. Just remember, who Jesus is and what he did is beyond human capability to fully comprehend. If we think we fully understand Him, we’re mistaken. If we think we need to understand Him fully before we do the things he tells us to do, or receive his grace—we’ll never do or receive anything.   

See you Sunday at the Table,

Pastor Tom