What does the Eucharist mean? Some call it the Lord’s Supper. Others refer to it as Communion. So what is it and what does it mean?
The Catholic denomination believe that the Eucharist is transubstantiated. So what does that mean? It means that the bread and wine mystically becomes the actual body and blood of Christ in the mouth of the person receiving them. The theory of transubstantiated is not in the Bible. Practically this would be a form of cannibalism. Christ was speaking metaphorically.
However, the Catholic denomination draws this belief from one of the bible verses:
“Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood. Otherwise, you won’t have real life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them.” (John 6:53-56 NCV)
Other denominations believe it is simply a symbol of the body and blood of Christ’s and his death on the cross, paying for our sins.
So where is this supper recorded in the Bible? In one area, The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians:
“On the night when the Lord Jesus was handed over to be killed, he took bread and gave thanks for it. Then he broke the bread and said, “This is my body; it is for you. Do this to remember me.” In the same way, after they ate, Jesus took the cup. He said, “This cup is the new agreement that is sealed with the blood of my death. When you drink this, do it to remember me.” Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup you are telling others about the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 NCV)
To describe all the elements of what is happening here, it can draw at least three main points; 1) Christ died while we were yet in sin 2) Communion is a sacred time of fellowship with God, where believers remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. In this unique time of worship, believers commemorate the Lord's death through prayer and meditation. 3) Believers visualize Christ dying on the cross for our sin and we should thank him in prayer and meditation. It’s a time of remembrance and thankfulness.
This time of remembrance is not to be taken lightly. It’s quite sacred. The Apostle Paul went on to say that if this is done in a flippant way (overlooking your sin), you are eating and drinking judgement upon yourself. So much that some are sick and even some have died. It’s quite serious and reserved for those who call and live as Christ being their Lord and Savior.
Meaning, it’s a time to confess and come clean with our sin and ask God to forgive us based on Christ’s death that paid for our sin.
Paul said: “So a person who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is not worthy of it will be guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. Look into your own hearts before you eat the bread and drink the cup, because all who eat the bread and drink the cup without recognizing the body eat and drink judgment against themselves. That is why many in your group are sick and weak, and some of you have died.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NCV)
So what’s the take-away?
Whether you believe it’s transubstantiated or not, it’s sacred. It’s serious. It’s the representation of your eternal life. That’s a really big deal. And if Jesus came with a mission. If he left heaven to become a human. If he came to live a perfect life that you and I will not and cannot. If he came to die in our place to pay for our sins past, present and future.
If we accept who he is, remember what he has done and follow him as our personal Lord and Savior - and remembering it all with the bread and wine, it’s an incredible memory that should change our life from the inside out.
This remembrance should bring about deep appreciation and thankfulness. It should bring about confession of sin and asking for forgiveness. And it should not be taken lightly at any level.
I mean, “Who dies for a race that lives in sin, doesn’t appreciate Jesus’ death and he died as we were participating in sin?” (Romans 5:8)
Who does that? God - Jesus - and The Holy Spirit - that’s who. What a price he paid for ungrateful people. Before Christ, we were all ungrateful.
LORD, thank you for loving us so much that you gave your only Son. And if we will just believe and trust in this, you will forgive our sins forever and provide eternal life in heaven where life is perfect, full and eternally amazing. Just thank you a thousand times. IJNIP amen ♥️
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