Every time communion is served, the same small pieces of bread and small cup are passed down the row, and for many believers, it has quietly become routine, something done automatically without much thought behind it. Yet Jesus instituted this practice with deep, deliberate meaning that deserves fresh reflection.
Why Did Jesus Institute Communion?
During His final meal with the disciples before the crucifixion, Jesus transformed an ordinary Passover meal into a lasting memorial of His coming sacrifice.
This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me... This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. — Luke 22:19-20
The bread represents His body, broken for our sin, and the cup represents His blood, poured out to establish a new covenant between God and humanity. Every time we take communion, we are not merely observing a tradition; we are proclaiming the gospel itself in physical, tangible form.
What Does 'Do This in Remembrance of Me' Really Mean?
Remembrance here is not a passive, casual recollection like remembering a birthday. It is an active, worshipful rehearsing of the price Christ paid, meant to stir gratitude, humility, and renewed commitment each time it is practiced.
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. — 1 Corinthians 11:26
Communion also points forward, reminding believers that Christ will return, connecting our present worship to future hope.
How Should a Believer Prepare Their Heart Before Communion?
Paul gives a serious warning about approaching communion carelessly or with unaddressed sin in the heart, urging believers toward honest self-examination first.
- Examine your heart honestly for unconfessed sin before receiving communion
- Address any unresolved conflict with fellow believers where possible beforehand
- Approach with genuine gratitude, not empty ritual or distracted routine
- Remember both the cost of the cross and the hope of Christ's return
- Receive it as a family act of unity with the whole body of believers present
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. — 1 Corinthians 11:28
Does Communion Have Any Special Power in Itself?
The power of communion is not in the physical bread or juice itself, as though they were magical, but in the spiritual reality they represent and the faith of the one receiving them. At Jesus is the Way Jebathottam in Keelamudiman, Tuticorin, we encourage our congregation to slow down during communion, resisting the temptation to rush through it as a mere formality, and instead treat it as a sacred, unhurried moment of gratitude before God.
What Is the Connection Between Communion and Passover?
Jesus deliberately instituted communion during the Passover meal, a feast that itself commemorated God's deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt through the blood of a sacrificed lamb placed on the doorposts. By transforming this ancient meal into a new memorial pointing to Himself, Jesus revealed that He is the true and final Passover Lamb, whose blood delivers believers from the far greater slavery of sin and death. Understanding this Old Testament background adds rich, layered meaning to what might otherwise feel like a simple, routine church practice, connecting the entire story of Scripture to the small piece of bread and cup received at the table.
This connection also reminds us that communion is not an isolated New Testament invention but the fulfillment of a promise God had been building toward for centuries. Every time believers gather at the table, they are joining a story that stretches all the way back to Israel's deliverance, now completed and made available to every nation through Christ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should Christians take Holy Communion?
The Bible does not specify an exact frequency, and different churches practice it weekly, monthly, or quarterly. What matters most is the heart posture behind it, not the calendar frequency at which it is observed.
What happens if I take communion unworthily?
Paul warns that careless, irreverent participation while harboring known, unrepented sin brings spiritual consequence. This is not about achieving personal perfection, but about approaching communion with an honest, repentant heart rather than casual indifference.
Can a person who is not yet baptized take communion?
Most church traditions reserve communion for baptized believers who have made a personal profession of faith, since communion is meant to be received within the context of the covenant community, not by unbelievers or the unconverted.
Still Have a Doubt?
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