New to Faith: Bible Reading PlanSample

The Lord’s Supper

Christ-followers are to participate in the Lord’s Supper when the church remembers Christ’s death on the cross by eating bread and drinking wine or juice. This practice may seem a bit strange at first. “What do bread and wine have to do with Jesus’ death, and why does the church routinely engage in this activity together?”

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He initiated the Lord’s Supper with His disciples as a way to memorialize the events about to take place. Jesus took bread, broke it, and shared it. Then, He passed around a cup of wine. Jesus compared this meal to his soon-to-be broken body and spilled blood. Jesus said this meal wasn’t just bread and wine but a symbol of a new agreement between God and humanity: Jesus’ death established a way for forgiving sin and for God to have a restored relationship with people. Like a couple renewing their wedding vows, every time we participate in the Lord’s Supper, we are recommitting ourselves to this new agreement between God and humanity.

While the elements and frequency of the Lord’s Supper may be different from church to church, the meaning and purpose remain the same. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper as a Christian community, we remember the new promise God made with us through Jesus' death, and we look forward to Jesus returning. We celebrate being united in Christ as we all participate in the same meal celebrated for 2,000 years.

Question: Why might it be important to remember Jesus’ death?