The Purpose of the Supper

Why do Christians eat unleavened bread and drink fruit of the vine on the first day of every week? The obvious answer is, “Because the Lord told us to,” and that is a correct answer. After all, Jesus did say, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). But, there is more to the Lord’s Supper than just going through the motions of observance. There is a purpose behind it that every Christian must understand, if they are going to partake of it “worthily” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

1 Corinthians 11 is an account of the establishment of the Lord’s Supper, which runs parallel to those that are given in the Gospels. It is identical to the accounts found in Matthew, Mark and Luke, but it also expands gives us additional information. In 1 Corinthians 11:26 KJV, the text says, “For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” This means that the Lord’s Supper is a living memorial of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, which is meant to endure until He returns to bring the last age of the world to an end.

Like statues and other memorials erected by men to commemorate the valiant deeds and sacrifices of others, the Lord’s Supper is meant to testify to the world about Jesus Christ and the valiant sacrifice He made for all humanity. When we partake of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine, our mind are meant to recall the Biblical account of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord. It also serves as a reminder that the Lord is coming back to the Earth to judge us all (2 Corinthians 5:10).

1 Corinthians 10:16 describes the Lord’s Supper as “communion” with the Lord. That is why most tend to regard it as a solemn occasion. While it is only one part of a worship service, which also consists of singing, prayer, giving, and preaching, it is a time when God is said to be acting in accord with us. When we fail to commune with God every week, our souls miss something that they desperately need. Don’t just go through the motions of observing the Lord’s Supper, but think about what it really means.