What About Communion?

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 ESV

One of the greatest privileges I have when visiting a senior living facility, is to serve communion. But just what exactly is communion and why do we keep this tradition? Since we do come from a variety of different church backgrounds, I will simply stay with what the Apostle Paul tells us in today’s verse. First, let’s remember that in the Bible this observance is usually called “The Lord’s Supper”. Many of us today use the word, “Communion” which means, “Fellowship.” We call it that because when we take the bread and drink from the cup, we are not only remembering the Lord, as He commanded, but we are recognizing the fact that through the sacrifice of Jesus, He makes us one family by our shared faith in Him.

The second thing I am asked is, “Who can take part in communion?” This is a great question, and the answer is simple. Anyone can receive who has personally put their faith in the Lord Jesus for salvation and the forgiveness of their sins. You don’t have to join my church, send an offering or be extra good this week. We also do not observe the Lord’s Supper to, “Get saved”, but because we have already come to God personally and asked Jesus to forgive our sins and give us a new life. This is a meal of remembering what Jesus has done. When I receive the bread, I remember again the suffering Jesus went through as He was beaten, spit on and nailed to the cross. When I drink the cup, I am thankful that Jesus allowed them to crucify Him in order to pay for my sins. Though the cross was a horrible and bloody scene, during communion, I am not horrified, I am grateful. I remember that as He was dying, Jesus cried out, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” How amazing that Jesus gave His life for me and you! How astonishing it is that the bread and cup which were handed to the disciples by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, is still being passed to us today. So, when we come together for the Lord’s Supper, let’s remember Him and all He has done, then worship together as His family. Each of us has been included through the blood He shed because of His amazing love for us all!