What is the significance of the Lord’s Supper?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Lord’s Supper is a sacred ordinance that commemorates Jesus’ death, resurrection, and promised return. It is rooted in the Jewish Passover tradition where God delivered Israel from Egypt. Jesus, the perfect Passover Lamb, instituted this meal with bread symbolizing His broken body and wine representing His shed blood, establishing a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins. The New Testament teaches believers to partake with reverence and self-examination to avoid judgment, recognizing the profound sacrifice behind the symbols. This act not only renews faith and gratitude for God’s grace but also unites believers as one body, called to live in unity and holiness. The Lord’s Supper remains a powerful reminder of Christ’s love and a hopeful proclamation of His coming again.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Genesis 3:15 is the first Messianic prophecy in the Bible, called the protoevangelium (“first gospel”). In it, Jesus is prophesied to crush the power of Satan, as He did when he conquered sin and death through His resurrection.
• Among the yearly feasts commanded by God to the Jewish nation, the Passover was the most important. This feast commemorated God’s mighty deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. God plagued Egypt until they obeyed His command to release His people. The last plague was the death of all of their firstborn. The Israelites were spared that because God, through Moses, instructed them to sacrifice a lamb without blemish and sprinkle its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, so that death would "pass over" them (Exodus 12:1-30; Leviticus 23:5).
• God commanded the Israelites to observe the Passover feast annually as a lasting ordinance (Exodus 12:14; Numbers 9:1-5; Deuteronomy 16:1).
• King David, in Psalm 22, and the prophet Isaiah (chapter 53) had both prophesied of the great physical and mental suffering that Jesus would endure. And since this was to be a feast of remembrance, it was to be carried out into future generations.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• All four gospels give us the details of Jesus’ Last Supper, which was the Passover celebration that Jesus kept with His disciples (Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:7-22; John 13:21-30).
• In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul reminded the Corinthian church of the seriousness of the communion memorial. He warned them that partaking in Communion unworthily—without self-examination or recognizing Jesus’ sacrifice—brings judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). This includes lacking appreciation for Christ’s suffering, failing to confess sins, or treating the Lord’s Supper as merely a ritual. To avoid this, Paul urges us to examine ourselves before participating.
• Jesus spoke of a new covenant (Luke 22:20). The sacrifice of a lamb, required by the old covenant, was terminated, having fulfilled its purpose (Hebrews 8:8-13.) The one-time sacrifice of Christ, God's Passover Lamb, established a new covenant. This new covenant, in which we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Christ's shed blood and broken body, is celebrated as we remember Him in the Lord's Supper.
• Paul also reminds us that there is a time limit on this ceremony. He says, ". . . you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26). From that first Lord's Supper in the upper room until He returns to earth, we are to repeatedly memorialize His death by means of the humble symbols of bread and wine.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Lord’s Supper is a profound and sacred moment where believers encounter the heart of the gospel—the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Each time the bread is broken and the cup is shared, it powerfully reminds us of Christ’s body given and His blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins. This ordinance calls us to remember the depth of God’s love and grace, renewing our faith and commitment to live in the freedom bought by Jesus’ sacrifice. It’s not just a ritual. It is a personal encounter with the mercy that sustains us and the hope that anchors our souls until He returns.

At the same time, the Lord’s Supper unites believers as one body, drawing us into deeper fellowship and mutual care. As we partake together, we are reminded that we belong to something greater than ourselves—a living community called to reflect Christ’s love and holiness in the world. This shared meal challenges us to live in unity, repentance, and obedience, while fueling our anticipation of the glorious day when Christ will come again. The Lord’s Supper is both a powerful remembrance of what Christ has done and a compelling invitation to live faithfully in His presence every day.

UNDERSTAND

• The Lord’s Supper remembers Jesus’ death, resurrection, and return, using bread and wine as symbols of His sacrifice and new covenant.
• Believers are called to participate in the Lord’s Supper with reverence and self-examination.
• The Lord’s Supper unites the church in fellowship and calls us to live in unity while awaiting Christ’s return.

REFLECT

• How does remembering Christ’s sacrifice through the Lord’s Supper affect your faith and gratitude?
• How do you prepare your heart and mind before participating in Communion to honor its sacred meaning?
• How does partaking in the Lord’s Supper remind you to live in unity and holiness with other believers?

ENGAGE

• How do the symbols of bread and wine deepen our understanding of Jesus’ sacrifice and the new covenant?
• How does regularly celebrating the Lord’s Supper strengthen the unity and fellowship within the body of believers?
• How can reflecting on the promise of Christ’s return during Communion shape our daily lives?