The Lord's Supper: A Sacred Ordinance of Communion
The Lord's Supper is one of the ordinances or sacraments instituted by Jesus for the observance of the church. It is known by different names such as "Lord's table" (1 Cor 10:21), "Lord's supper" (1 Cor 11:20), and "Holy Communion." The phrase "Holy Communion" is derived from the Greek word koinonia (meaning fellowship) in 1 Cor 10:16. Jesus established the Lord's Supper (Mt 26:26-29), and He commands us to observe it (Mt 26:27; 1 Cor 11:25). The Lord's Supper is both symbolic and affirmative in its meaning.
The Symbolism in the Lord's Supper
Matthew 26:26-30:
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body." 27 Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 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." 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (cf. Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:15-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25).
The bread and wine are the two substances in the ministry of the Lord’s Supper. The bread refers to the body of Jesus Christ (Mt 26:26), and the breaking of the loaf of bread implies the sufferings of Jesus Christ on the cross. The wine represents the blood of Jesus Christ, which is shed to inaugurate the new covenant of God with human beings (Mt 26:28). Thus, the bread and blood signify the great sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for the redemption of sinners and the covenantal relationship of God with humans through the salvific work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Method of Administration
Following are the main elements of administering the ministry of the Lord's Supper, which can be derived from Mt 26:26-30; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:15-20, and 1 Cor 11:23-25:
Thanksgiving: Jesus took both the bread and the cup of wine and gave thanks. The thanksgiving for the bread and the cup of wine were celebrated separately and given to the disciples separately—first bread and then wine.
Breaking the Bread: After giving thanks, Jesus broke the bread and gave it to the disciples.
Word of the Institution: Jesus also uttered the words of the institution before giving both bread and wine to the disciples. The word of the institution is, "Take and eat; this is My body" while giving the bread; and "Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" while giving the cup of the wine (Mt 26:26-28).
Singing Hymn: This was the concluding part of the ministry.
Meaning of the Lord’s Supper
Commemoration
1 Corinthians 11:25 says, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." The Lord's Supper is for the remembrance of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Proclaiming the Death and Return of Jesus
1 Corinthians 11:26 says, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes." The Lord's Supper declares the historic event of the death of Jesus, which lies at the center of the saving act of Jesus for us. This proclamation will continue until the return of Jesus. Thus, the Lord's Supper declares not only the death of Jesus but also reminds us of the fact that Jesus will come soon and that He has not yet returned. The same idea can be seen in Mt 26:29, where Jesus says, "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." Thus, the Lord's Supper reminds us of the inauguration of the Kingdom of God through the death of Jesus and its final culmination in its fullness at the return of Jesus Christ.Spiritual Communion with Christ
1 Corinthians 10:16 says, "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?" It is participation in the blood and body of Jesus Christ. It means a symbolic identification with the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Here, the Greek word used for participation is koinonia, which means fellowship or communion. The participation in the Lord's Supper enables us to have fellowship with the blood and body of Jesus Christ. It brings all the blessings of the blood and body of Jesus Christ to us. Moreover, the context of 1 Cor 10:16 is Paul’s discussion about the issue of believers' participation in sacrificial meals that are offered to idols. Paul clearly mentions that one cannot have communion with both the Table of the Lord (Lord's Supper) and the table of demons. He says, "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's Table and the table of demons" (1 Cor 10:21). Here, the table of demons refers to food offered to idols. Thus, the Lord’s Table gives us communion with Christ and reminds us to separate ourselves from idols and participating in idol worship.Unity of Believers
1 Corinthians 10:17 says, "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread." The Lord's Supper indicates the unity of all believers, irrespective of caste, color, status, or any other criteria. The early church administered the Lord's Supper in the context of a fellowship meal, which is evident in the Corinthian church (1 Cor 10:16). In such a context, Paul interprets the Lord's Supper in terms of sharing. The fellowship with the blood and body of Jesus Christ should also bring unity and fellowship among the believers. Thus, the participants of the Lord's Supper are expected to be united into one body. There was disunity in the Corinthian church, especially among the rich and poor, which is reflected in 1 Cor 11:17-22. Paul clearly condemns such disunity. There should be no disunity based on financial status in the church. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse indicates that there should be no division in the church based on race, social status, or gender. All who partake of the Lord's Supper are one in Christ, irrespective of caste, race, color, social status, gender, or any other aspects. All in the church are equal and one in Christ.
The Qualification for Partaking in the Lord’s Supper
Faith in Jesus
Holy Communion is a ministry where a believer enjoys continuous communion with Jesus. In other words, participating in Holy Communion indicates the continuous fellowship of a believer with Jesus. Thus, it is not for an unbeliever but for a believer who has a continuous relationship with God. Most churches believe that the public expression of faith through water baptism is essential for taking the Lord's Supper.Worthy Manner of Participation
1 Corinthians 11:27 says, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." The unworthy manner of reception of the Holy Communion brings one into the guilt of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. The phrase "unworthy manner" in the immediate context of 1 Cor 11:27 may indicate disunity in the church, and in the wider context of the letter, it may indicate immorality and lack of purity in one’s life.Self-Examination
1 Corinthians 11:28 says, "A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." Self-examination of one’s own life is a prerequisite for participating in Holy Communion.Discerning the Body
1 Corinthians 11:29 says, "For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself" (NRSV). The phrase "discerning the body" is translated in NIV as "recognizing the body of the Lord." The phrase "of the Lord" in NIV is not found in the original text in Greek. It means that it is difficult to tell the exact meaning of the phrase "discerning the body." The body can refer to the body of Jesus Christ, the church as the body of Christ, or the physical body. All these options can be relevant here. It is better to discern the meaning of the death of Jesus, one’s relationship with the rest of the believers in the body of Christ, and the purity of one’s physical body or life before taking part in Holy Communion. Furthermore, 1 Cor 11:27-29 clearly emphasizes the importance of a pure life before God as the qualification to participate in Holy Communion. Anyone participating without purity will be worthy of God's judgment, which can manifest as weakness, sickness, or death (1 Cor 11:29-34).