Celebrating the Lord’s Supper by practicing communion is important to the Christian faith. Christians often take communion at church with fellow members of the congregation in remembrance of the death and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In the Baptist denomination, participating in this ritual is considered an ordinance, which means taking communion is a demonstration of their faith and belief in Jesus Christ as their savior. Here’s what you should know about this tradition.

What Does It Symbolize?

The Lord’s Supper, as written in the Bible, is an event that happened shortly before Jesus was crucified. Jesus was aware of his impending death and wanted to have one last supper with his disciples. He served bread and wine and explained to his disciples the significance of this meal.

Jesus told those at the table that the bread represented His body. He purposefully broke the bread, which many people have connected to the fact this his body was later broken during his crucifixion.

He then poured wine for everyone and stated that it was his blood. The wine they drank was representative of the blood Jesus later shed during His sacrifice.

Why It’s Important Today 

In Luke 22:19, Jesus specifically instructed his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me.” The verse has influenced Christians to reenact the Lord’s Supper at their church in remembrance of Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Jesus said, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” The verse references the belief Jesus will return to Earth again one day.

Christians perform the act of eating a small piece of bread and drinking a small sip of wine to remember the sacrifice. The Baptist denomination believes that Jesus was crucified for humanity’s sins and that His death gave Christians the opportunity to be forgiven for their sins and granted entrance to Heaven after death. By participating in this practice, Christians are remembering the suffering Jesus went through to save their souls and celebrating His eventual return.

If you’re looking for a Baptist church to join, check out Oak View Baptist Church in High Point, NC. Serving the Triad Area since 1958, this community prioritizes welcoming new congregants and offers fellowship sessions for members to get to know each other. In addition to their Sunday worship services, they offer ministries and Bible fellowship groups for people of all ages. For more information on this church, visit them online or call (336) 841-6511.