Q & A on the Lord’s Supper or Communion
References:
Exodus 12, Matthew 26, 1 Corinthians 11, Luke 22, Hebrews 9

What is the “Lord’s Supper?”
It is a time when the family of God partakes of bread and wine (grape juice) in remembrance of Jesus, life, death and resurrection. This act of Jesus speaks to the depth of God’s love for us.

Grape Juice: The reason we use this instead of wine is to not stumble those who have challenges with alcohol.

Why do we celebrate the “Lord’s Supper?”
The Lord’s Supper is rooted in the Jewish Passover. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt God sent Moses to deliver them. Through many plagues and disasters God showed his power to Pharaoh but Pharaoh still would not release the Israelites from freedom. Due to this, God allowed a deadly judgment to fall on Egypt. The firstborn among all living things was to die except those among the Israelites.

God protected the Israelites in a unique way. He instructed his people to make a sacrifice of a pure animal, whose blood they would smear on the doorposts of their homes. God said to them in Exodus 12:13, “The blood will be a sign for you on the house where you are; and when I see the blood I will pass over you.” The memory of what happened on the Passover night in Egypt has never been forgotten and is celebrated by Jews today!

At the end of his earthly ministry Jesus established the observance of the Lord’s Supper to help his us remember his love and the great sacrifice that love required of him. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper, it is our way of saying, “Never forget!”

Though the Lord’s Supper is rooted in the Jewish Passover, we do not celebrate it in the same way. The Passover remembers God’s deliverance of a nation of people from slavery. The Lord’s Supper remembers God’s spiritual deliverance of all people who come to Christ wishing to be free from sin’s slavery. Just as the Passover saved people from physical death, the Lord’s Supper reminds us we are saved from spiritual death.
 

What do the elements of the Lord’s Supper represent?
Bread: Symbolizes Jesus’ wounded, broken body, sacrificed on our behalf. (1 Corinthians 11:24)

Juice: Symbolizes Jesus’ blood, his very life, given so we could be saved. (Hebrews 9:22)

Teaching the significance of the Lord’s Supper
The best way to explain the Lord’s Supper is by showing how the elements are symbols or pictures of Jesus’ body and blood given on the cross to pay for our sins. An illustration could be: Jesus’ death for our sin debt is similar to money given to pay for someone else’ financial debt.

The practice of the Lord’s Supper
The Bible says we should participate in the Lord’s Supper regularly. In Exodus 12 the Israelites are asked to observe the Passover for generations to come. In Luke 22 Jesus says, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

We must never forget what Jesus has done for us through the cross and participate in the Lord’s Supper regularly.

Who can participate in the Lord’s Supper?
Age is not a factor. Those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord can participate for they are remembering what Jesus has done for them. (1 Corinthians 11:29) If you have children who do not understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus or take communion, explain your story to them and the communion process! Even if there is not full understanding of the Lord’s Supper (by us or our children) we need to participate regularly and by doing so will increase our understanding of the Lord’s Supper!

See you at the Lord’s table,

Pastor Bill