Communion Scripture Origin According To The Bible
June 2022
Alberta Vadnais
I love finding ways to feel God in my day, whether I’m going to work or cooking dinner. I make sure I’m connected to Him by listening to Bible stories, sermons, praying, and singing praise songs. All the apps I test are introduced into my everyday life so that I can feel their usability on a daily basis.
The Origin of Communion
Communion, also known as the Eucharist or the Lord’s supper is a doctrine instituted by Jesus Himself during His last meal with His disciples on earth.
Matthew 26: 26-28 records that Jesus instituted communion during the last meal He had with His disciples at the feast of Passover. He had sent them earlier into the city to prepare the place where they would celebrate Passover with each other one last time. As they ate, He took a loaf of unleavened bread, broke it into pieces and gave one to each of them. He also passed around a cup of wine. Jesus used the bread to represent His body and wine to represent His blood, and asked them to do it often to remember Him.
So today in the church, we take wine and unleavened bread or wafers in the same way Jesus did when He was here. That act in itself is called communion.
What Is The Purpose of Taking Communion?
Looking at a few communion scripture, we can see that Jesus gave us the Lord’s supper for reasons, and it is with those same reasons in mind that we take the eucharist today. What are they?
- To remember Him.
Communion reminds us of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice. The fact that He gave His body and shed His blood for us is what we remember when we take communion. It reminds us of the inheritance we have received as a result of this. We also remember that we live for Him in this world because He died for us.
- It reminds us that we are one body in Christ.
At the first eucharist, Jesus broke just one bread into many pieces for His disciples. That was to symbolize that no matter how many they were, they shared a brotherhood that was thicker than blood because they were one body- the church. It reminds us in the same way that we cannot harm our own natural bodies. We must also not do anything that will be harmful to our brothers and sisters. We are reminded of why we walk in love for our brethren.
- We remember His coming.
In a communion scripture, Jesus said that He would not take it again, until He drinks it with us in God’s kingdom. We see this in Mark 14:25. As we take the Lord’s supper, we are to be reminded that Jesus is coming back to take us to the places He has prepared for us in heaven. Therefore, we must spread the gospel and live our lives for God so that we can hear Him say well done on that Last Day.
What Does The Bible Say About Communion?
Take a look through these bible verses and see what the word itself says about this practice.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
24 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.”
25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
16 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?
17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave 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.
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
First Communion Ceremony Tradition
The first Communion Ceremony is an ancient tradition that has been practiced and passed down for decades by the Catholic Church. It takes place during the Easter season, but some churches push theirs into the season of Pentecost.
The ceremony is celebrated with a number of hallmarks and for a child, it signifies one of the first foundations of his/her Christian life.
This primarily includes the first time he or she would accept the Holy Eucharist. The children are encouraged to fast before the occasion, so as to be in the right spiritual state for receiving the body and the blood of Christ.
How is the First Communion Celebrated?
It is usually celebrated with large gatherings of families and well wishers, with lots to eat and drink. The kids wear special white clothing which symbolizes purity and consecration.
This clothing is usually a fancy decent dress for the girls, coupled with a veil and white gloves. For the guys, it differs based off culture. It could be a kilt, a good ol’ suit or even a military style uniform with gold braidings.
Some families pass on their first communion clothings as a tradition, so it remains in their lineage as a memorial of their Christian heritage.
It is also customary to give first communion gifts to the kids to commemorate this occasion, and these gifts should help them in their personal walk with God.
Gift choices vary from special Christian journals to dainty engraved bracelets e.t.c
While celebrating, be sure to keep your child in mind throughout the occasion. Even as much as you’d like to follow tradition to the letter, you could consider tailoring your kids’ First Communion ceremony to suit their personal Christian journey.
Communion Prayer
Thank You for everything You have given me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins when You could have chosen not to. Lord, forgive me for the sins I have committed against You.
I bow before you in humility and ask You to examine my heart today. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or unforgiveness that may be hindering my relationship with You.
As I take the bread representing Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to me and to all who will receive You. I also remember the bond of the covenant I share with my brothers and sisters in You. Thank you for your one perfect sacrifice.
In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
Final Thoughts
Whenever we take communion, let us keep these words of Jesus in our hearts. Let us no longer just receive it as a routine action or because everyone else is taking it. As we’ve seen from the communion scriptures, the Holy Eucharist holds more significant value than we perceive.
May we bear in mind our Lord’s sacrifice, our covenant with our fellow Christians, and the glorious inheritance that awaits us on the last day when we take the Lord’s supper again.
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