The Lord's Supper, also known as Communion or the Eucharist, holds profound significance within Christian theology and practice. Instituted by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper, this sacrament is a central element of Christian worship and serves as a means of grace, a memorial of Christ's sacrifice, and a proclamation of His death and resurrection until He returns.

Biblical Foundation

The institution of the Lord's Supper is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels and the writings of the Apostle Paul. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus shares the Passover meal with His disciples, taking bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood. "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body.' Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'" (Matthew 26:26-28).

Paul's account in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 provides further theological insight and instruction for the practice of the Lord's Supper: "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes" .

Theological Significance

1. Memorial of Christ's Sacrifice: The Lord's Supper serves as a tangible reminder of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross. By partaking in the bread and the cup, believers remember the atoning work of Christ, who offered Himself as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin. This act of remembrance is not merely a mental exercise but a spiritual participation in the reality of Christ's redemptive work.

2. Proclamation of the Gospel: Each celebration of the Lord's Supper is a proclamation of the Gospel message. As Paul states, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). The sacrament declares the central truths of the Christian faith: Christ's death, resurrection, and promised return.

3. Covenant Renewal: The Lord's Supper is a renewal of the New Covenant established by Christ's blood. It signifies the believer's ongoing relationship with God, grounded in the promises of forgiveness and eternal life. The language of covenant echoes the Old Testament covenants, particularly the Passover, which foreshadowed the ultimate deliverance through Christ.

4. Communion with Christ and the Church: The term "Communion" highlights the intimate fellowship believers share with Christ and one another through the Lord's Supper. In 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Paul writes, "Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf" . This unity reflects the spiritual reality of the Church as the body of Christ.

5. Anticipation of the Messianic Banquet: The Lord's Supper also points forward to the eschatological hope of the Messianic Banquet, the marriage supper of the Lamb, where believers will dine with Christ in His kingdom. Jesus alludes to this future celebration in Matthew 26:29: "I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom" .

Practical Observance

The observance of the Lord's Supper varies among Christian denominations, but its core elements remain consistent: the use of bread and wine (or grape juice) and the recitation of the words of institution. The frequency of its celebration ranges from weekly to monthly or quarterly, depending on tradition. Regardless of the frequency, the Lord's Supper is approached with reverence, self-examination, and a heart of gratitude for the grace of God in Christ.