The short answer: communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is the meal Jesus gave His followers on the night He was betrayed. Christians eat bread and drink from the cup to remember His body given and His blood shed for us, to proclaim His death until He returns, and to share together as one body. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24, ESV). It is for people who trust in Jesus, and the Bible calls us to examine ourselves before we take it.
What Jesus Did
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
That is 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, ESV. Jesus shared this meal with His disciples at the Passover, the feast that remembered God rescuing Israel from slavery. Now it points to a greater rescue: Jesus, the Lamb of God, giving His life for our sins.
Different Names
- The Lord's Supper, because Jesus gave it (1 Corinthians 11:20).
- Communion, because it is a sharing in Christ and with one another (1 Corinthians 10:16).
- The Eucharist, from a Greek word for giving thanks, because Jesus "had given thanks" (1 Corinthians 11:24).
- The breaking of bread, as the early church called it (Acts 2:42).
What Communion Means
- We remember. "Do this in remembrance of me." We look back to the cross, where Jesus' body was given and His blood was shed for us.
- We proclaim. Every time we take it, we "proclaim the Lord's death until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26, ESV). It is a sermon without words.
- We share in Christ. "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16, ESV).
- We are one body. "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:17, ESV).
- We look forward. Jesus said He would drink it new with His people in His Father's kingdom (Matthew 26:29). Communion is a foretaste of that feast.
Christian traditions understand how Christ is present in communion in different ways. All agree that Jesus commanded it, that it points to His death for us, and that it should be received with faith.
Who Should Take Communion?
Communion is for people who have trusted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is a family meal for believers. Many churches also ask that people be baptized first, following the order in the early church (Acts 2:41–42). Follow the practice of your local church, and if you are not sure, talk to the pastor. See should I get baptized?
If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, you are welcome to watch and to ask questions. The best next step is not the bread and the cup but Jesus Himself. See Know Jesus.
How to Prepare for Communion
"Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28, ESV). Paul warns against taking it "in an unworthy manner" (1 Corinthians 11:27, ESV), which in Corinth meant treating the meal and each other carelessly. Examining yourself is not about proving you are good enough. None of us is. It is about coming honestly.
- Remember the cross. Think about what Jesus did for you.
- Confess your sins. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 John 1:9, ESV). See what repentance means.
- Make things right with others. If there is conflict, forgive and seek peace. See how to forgive.
- Give thanks. Communion is a meal of gratitude.
- Look forward. Thank Him that He is coming again.
Common Questions
What is communion in the Bible? Communion, also called the Lord's Supper, is the meal Jesus gave His followers on the night He was betrayed. Christians eat the bread and drink the cup to remember His death, proclaim it until He comes, and share together as one body (1 Corinthians 11:23–26, 1 Corinthians 10:16–17).
Who can take communion? Communion is for people who have trusted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Many churches also ask that people be baptized first. Follow the practice of your local church and talk to the pastor if you are unsure.
How do I prepare for communion? Examine yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28): remember the cross, confess your sins, make things right with others where you can, give thanks, and look forward to Jesus' return.
How often should Christians take communion? The Bible does not set a schedule. Jesus said "as often as" you do it (1 Corinthians 11:25), and the early church devoted itself to the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). Churches practise it weekly, monthly, or at other regular times.
His body, given for you. Remember, until He comes.
