Communion: What Is It Really About?
Think about the most memorable meal you have ever had. Perhaps it was a specific holiday meal that conjures up warm memories with loved ones. Maybe it was that birthday dinner when you turned thirty. Or your first date at a “fancy” restaurant. For me, it was the pizza my wife and I enjoyed on the living room floor after closing on our first house. There was something unforgettable about sitting on that brand new carpet with no furniture, just the two of us.
Now imagine a meal where every bite and sip celebrates redemption. A meal not just shared with the people around you, but with believers across the world and throughout history. This is “communion.” More than bread and wine, it is an invitation to remember, reflect, unite, and proclaim.
Communion holds a special importance for Christians. It is one of only two sacraments that Jesus, himself, instituted (the other being baptism). The practice of communion goes back to the night before Jesus was betrayed. In Matthew 26, we read:
As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.”
Remembrance
Why do we participate in communion? I think of it like this … A few years ago, my youngest daughter made me a bracelet out of string that she braided together. Despite it being faded and frayed, I still have that bracelet, because it is a reminder of the bond we share. Communion is similar but infinitely deeper. Jesus instructed the disciples to break bread and drink wine to remember Him. It is a reminder of His sacrifice on our behalf and of a new covenant established through His death and resurrection. This new covenant is for all believers, founded on the idea of grace through faith.
Reflection
Communion is also a time for reflection, not just on the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, but also as an opportunity for self-reflection. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 11:28 that everyone should take a careful look at themselves before they eat the bread and drink from the cup. When we examine ourselves, we often find sin, which is to be expected as we are a lost and broken people. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our relationships and seek reconciliation where needed. This self-reflection is a good thing, as it reminds us that we need Jesus and only He can take away our sins and reconcile relationships, particularly with God.
Unity
Our word communion comes from the Latin word “communio” (meaning “to share in common”). It is a sacred opportunity to be in fellowship with Jesus and with others. One of the most beautiful aspects of communion is its ability to unite. Paul emphasizes the unity of believers in 1 Corinthians 10:17: “And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.”
Here we are affirmed in our unity as believers and our shared identity in Christ. Communion is an act of fellowship and adds harmony to the Church. Not only is this a shared act among millions of believers of today, but communion also transcends time and allows us to connect with the early Church who broke bread together as a part of their fellowship.
Proclamation
Communion is a also proclamation of several key truths. It is a proclamation to us that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is sufficient. It is a proclamation to the Church that we are united in our identity in Christ. It is a proclamation to the world that there is good news and a hope for the future. Lastly, it is a proclamation to the enemy that Jesus is king, and sin is defeated.
My encouragement to you is this: The next time you participate in communion, do not rush it. Pause. Remember the sacrifice Jesus made for you. Reflect on areas of your life that are not in line with God’s purpose for you and seek reconciliation. Recognize that you are a part of something bigger than yourself, a community of believers whose identity rests in Christ. Lastly, as you take the bread and eat it, and as you take the wine and drink it, proclaim the truth found in the gospel, that Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again all for the forgiveness of our sins and as a demonstration of God’s deep and profound love.