Duncan Christian Reformed Church

communion

What's in a Church? The Lord's Supper

Acts 2:42 gives us four corners to the church to look for: the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and the prayers. In this article we will look in the third corner, the breaking of bread, otherwise known as "the Lord's Supper" or the "Eucharist" or simply "communion." How are we to understand this sacrament?

In many ways when we talk of these things, we must admit we are dealing with "mystery." When the church talks of mystery, we don't mean like a murder mystery, a "whodunit" sort of thing. Mystery means something that is hidden but then becomes revealed [by God] and made known. An example of this mystery is what Jesus meant when he said, "This is my body" and "This is my blood." What does he mean by the word, "is"? Is it literally so, or just a symbol? The answer is in the realm of mystery.

In 1994 the denomination which I belong to came to some conclusions about how we can understand the Lord's Supper.

The Supper is a "remembering" of the death of Jesus Christ. Jesus said during the "last" supper he had with the disciples, "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:24,25). We remember his sacrifice on the cross, how he ransomed us from our sins.

The Supper is a "thanksgiving" for what Jesus has done. Some traditions call the Supper the "Eucharist" which is based on the Greek word meaning, "give thanks." Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? (1 Cor 10:16). When we give thanks, is there not always an element of joy expressed? Most certainly! God has done great things for us, so we are filled with joy!

The Supper is "participation" in the body and blood of Christ. See the quote from 1 Cor. 10 above. To "participate" in this means to be connected with Christ spiritually. The word has a sense of "fellowship." In other words, when Jesus died, we died with him (Col 3:1-4).

The Supper is a work of the Spirit, who "feeds" us with the body and blood of the Lord, nourishing us, strengthening us not only through his death, but also through his resurrection (John 6:53-58).

The Supper unites the church together into one community. Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf (1 Cor 1o:17). This too, is the work of the Spirit.

The Supper is a symbol of the coming kingdom. Jesus told us to celebrate this "until he comes again" (1 Cor 11:26). And he will come again, of this we can be sure, to make all things new!

What can we say about these things? We can say that when we come together as church, and we take part in this thing called "the Lord's Supper," we can do it in a way that celebrates what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. If there is anyone on earth who has a reason to celebrate, it is the church! Has not God granted us eternal life through his Son? Hasn't he, through Jesus, conquered all our greatest enemies: the devil, sin, death, everything that opposes God, even our very own selfishness? Hasn't he forgiven us for every sin we've committed, and have yet to commit? Hasn't he given us redemption; that is, hasn't he set us free not only from the guilt of our sin, but also the power of it? Hasn't he reconciled himself to us through Christ's death; that is, hasn't he cleared the way for us to have open communication with the living God? Hasn't he given us hope for the future, based not on a nebulous feeling but on the reality of Jesus Christ crucified, raised and ascended? Hasn't God given us faith, repentance, and hearts that he enables to trust in him?

In other words, to celebrate the supper is to celebrate God's grace, unearned, undeserved. Come celebrate with a church near you!