One of the most special things we do together as a church is sharing in the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, as it is sometimes called, is a tradition started by Jesus, to help us remember his death, and understand what it means for us.

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 says, ”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.’”

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic meal; let’s look at three of the pictures represented in this Sacrament.

Picture 1 – What Christ has done for us

First, the Lord’s Supper is a picture of what Christ has done for us.

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper while eating the Passover meal with his disciples. Passover was an annual feast when the Jews remembered how God freed them from slavery in Egypt and saved them from the final plague through the sacrifice of a lamb.

During the meal one of his displaces leaves, to betray Jesus, and returns with guards that arrest him and bring him to the authorities where he receives an unfair trial. He is then beaten, mocked, and executed.

Christ suffered and died, but he did so for us; he is our sacrificial lamb.

We share this meal to remember that Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away our sins, giving us freedom and forgiveness.

The bread is a symbol of his body, which was broken for us, and the wine represents his blood which is a seal of the New Covenant.

Picture 2 – Receiving with Faith

We participate in the Lord’s supper by eating the bread and drinking the wine, which is a picture of receiving the promised blessings of Christ by receiving them with faith.

Physical food doesn’t get into our body, just by buying it, or by cooking it, or by looking at it on a plate. You need to take it and eat it.

That is a picture of faith. Christ has died for us. In his grace, he offers us forgiveness of sins and the promises of eternal life.

We need to reach out and receive it by faith –– and that’s all we need to do.

Jesus has died the death, he has paid the cost, he has atoned for our sin, and he has defeated the grave; all we need to do to receive the spiritual benefits is to believe in him.

Picture 3 – The Unity We Share

Communion is a picture of Christ’s death, a picture of how we receive its benefits through faith, and a picture of our unity.

We share in one meal, we sit at one table, and we eat from the one loaf. The Lord’s Supper is a picture of our unity with Christ, and also with each other. And not just those physically with us here, but all those throughout history, and throughout the world who have put their in Jesus. Different traditions and denominations have different names for communion, and do it in different ways, but there is only one Jesus, who died once, for all, and only one spirit unites us together.

Who should take it?

That’s what it is, but how should we take it?

In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul warns Christians against eating the bread or drinking the cup in an unworthy manner, and then in verse 28 he says, “Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.”

Before we receive communion we should examine ourselves to see if we are ready to take it.How do you know if you are ready to take communion?

• First are you a Christian, have you by faith received Christ’s forgiveness?
• Have you been baptised, as a sign of that unity with Christ?
• Do you have a good understanding of the Lord’s Supper; what it means and what is involved in taking it?

If the answer is no to any of those questions then we would ask you not to take communion, but to consider signing up for our next Alpha course, or speak to our minister about baptism or communicant classes.

And if you are a Christian, who has been baptised, and publicly affirmed your faith, either here, or in another church, then you might want to ask yourself these kinds of questions before receiving communion;

• What sins do I need to repent of?
• Is there someone I need to forgive?
• Am I being obedient in all areas of my life?
• Am I being loving towards others?
• Have I been committed to church through, attendance, prayer, giving, and serving?
• What new graces and mercies do I need?

And in some circumstances, you might know in your own heart, that you are not ready to receive communion at a certain time. Maybe there is a deliberate ongoing sin you need to repent of or a relationship you need to try and fix first.

But that does not mean you need to be perfect. Far from it! We come to this table as sinners in need of forgiveness. We come with weak faith, and weary souls in need of mercy and strength. We come with doubts and questions in need of comfort and assurance.

But we examine ourselves before we eat and drink precisely so that we know what our needs are so that we can come to Christ to satisfy our hunger and thirst.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35