Christians take Communion because Jesus told us to. At the Last Supper he gave his followers bread and wine and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper, is a meal that helps us look back at the cross, look forward to Jesus’ return, look around at our unity as his people, and look inward with honest self-examination.
Why We Take Communion: Looking Back
We all have ways of remembering important moments, like anniversaries, birthdays, and national holidays. God gave his people a way to remember the most important moment in history. Jesus instituted Communion during his last meal with his disciples, as they celebrated the Jewish Passover together.
Passover looked back to the night God rescued Israel from a plague of death and from slavery in Egypt. Jesus used that setting to introduce a new memorial meal centered on himself.
Luke 22:19-20 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
The very next day, Jesus gave his body and poured out his blood on the cross. So when we take Communion, we remember how Jesus died to rescue us from spiritual death and slavery to sin, just as the Passover lamb pointed to Israel’s rescue. The bread and the cup keep the cross at the center of our faith.
Looking Forward
That night, Jesus knew he was about to be betrayed and killed. But he also looked beyond the cross to a glorious future he would share with his followers.
Luke 22:15-16 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
Jesus was promising that he would eat with his people again when God’s kingdom is fully established. So every time we take Communion, it’s a joyful preview of our future with Jesus, when our fellowship with him will be complete. Paul made the same connection when he said that in Communion we “proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Looking Around
The Lord’s Supper is also meant to build unity among believers. Sadly, the church in Corinth had turned it into a time of division, where some people feasted while others went hungry. Paul reminded them what the meal really means.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
When we gather to remember Jesus, we also remember that we belong to one another. Our unity in Christ runs deeper than differences of race, social class, or politics. So if you’re holding a grudge against another Christian or have a relationship that needs mending, it’s wise to take care of that before you come to the table.
That’s also why Communion is meant to be shared. It isn’t a private ritual but a family meal, where forgiven people gather around the same table because of the same Savior.
Looking Inward
We all need to pause for honest self-examination from time to time, and Communion builds that pause right into the life of the church. Paul warned the Corinthians not to treat the Lord’s Supper casually.
1 Corinthians 11:27-28 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
This doesn’t mean you have to be perfect to take Communion. None of us are, and that’s exactly why Jesus died. Taking it “in an unworthy manner” means treating it carelessly or holding onto sin without repentance. Before you eat and drink, ask God to show you anything you need to confess, receive his forgiveness, and come to the table grateful for his grace.
Churches practice Communion in different ways: weekly, monthly, or less often, with bread or wafers, wine or juice. What matters most isn’t the format but the heart. We come remembering Jesus, trusting him, and receiving his grace with gratitude.
The Takeaway
Why do Christians take Communion? Because Jesus told us to do it in remembrance of him. Each time we take Communion, we look back at the cross, look forward to his return, look around at our unity as his people, and look inward to make sure our hearts are right with God.
