Remembering God's Goodness This Thanksgiving SeasonExemplo

The Lord’s Supper. Communion. Eucharist. Whatever terms your church tradition uses, this ordinance, or sacrament, is a visible sign and seal of the gospel. Since the church’s inception, Christians have celebrated it together to visibly proclaim the gospel and feed on Christ.

Communion is both somber and celebratory. It’s sobering because it reminds us of our sin and need for cleansing, something only the Lamb of God could provide. But it’s celebratory because through it we taste again the sweet joys of salvation.

The Church gets the name Eucharist from the Greek word Eucharisteo, which means to give thanks. Within it are layers of meaning since charis means grace or even favor or gifts of grace, and chara means joy. It’s a meal of giving thanks, both because Jesus “gave thanks” (Matt. 26:27; Mark 14:23; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24) and because we give thanks for all we receive through him.

One thing I love about The Lord’s Supper is how physical it is. The gospel not only enters us through our ears (proclamation) but through our eyes (seeing), nose (the smell of the bread and wine), lips (we taste it), and touch (feeling the communion bread between our fingers).

But all the physicality of this Communion Meal is meaningless apart from the realities it signifies to us. It’s a reminder of all God has promised and given to us through Christ.

The bread represents the body of Jesus, broken on the cross in our place. Whenever I take communion, as I roll my fingers over the bread it reminds me Jesus had a physical body. As I chew, it points me to how Jesus’ body was crushed for our iniquities (Is. 53:5). I can be made whole in him only because he was broken for me.

The cup is the blood of the covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. I drink a cup of joy and celebration because Jesus drank the cup of sorrow and judgment. If we drink grape juice rather than wine, we lose a bit of the bitterness that wine conveys. Both joy and sorrow wash over us as we sip the wine and savor Christ’s grace for us. Because his life was taken, mine can be spared (see Heb. 9:22).

The blessings of life in Christ, life as the Father’s beloved children, and life in the power of the Spirit become ours. We would have none of these things apart from Christ and they become ours by grace and through faith. I’d say “eucharisteo,” or giving thanks, is a fitting term for a meal representing and conveying such wonderful truths. This is the true and satisfying Thanksgiving meal, offering joys beyond what turkey and stuffing could dare to imagine.

As you go throughout your day, meditate on the wonderful gift of Christ. Take a minute to pray in thanksgiving to God for such a priceless gift.