What is the Eucharist? We do know that it started at the Last Supper, which Jesus had with his disciples the night before he was crucified:
1 Cor. 11:23–26
23For I have heard from the Lord what I have also told you, that the Lord Jesus took bread the same night he was betrayed: 24After giving thanks, he broke it and said, "Take and eat. This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me." 25 In the same way, after he ate, he took the cup and said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this every time you drink it to remember me." 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show the death of the Lord until he comes again.
It's important to know what communion is all about when we take the juice and crackers at church. We are thinking about Jesus and giving thanks for how he saved us. At the same time, we also celebrate the bond we share with other Christians. But the Bible also tells us not to take communion if we don't know who Jesus is and what this holy tradition is really about:
1 Cor. 11:27–29
27 So, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy way will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But a person should look at himself and then eat the bread and drink the cup. 29 For whoever eats and drinks in an unworthy way eats and drinks judgement for himself because he doesn't know how to recognise the body of the Lord.
Some churches do communion every week and say so at the end of the service. In their announcement, they don't even say, "If you are a believer and have given your life to the Lord, take communion." Every time they have communion, they should really try to get this message across to their congregation. There may be newcomers or young children who don't know what communion is all about but will still take part.
Don't forget how important the real meaning of communion is. Rejoice in the Lord and the precious blood he shed on the cross to pay for our sins. And if you have Christ in your heart, you should gladly take part in communion, a wonderful holy tradition that comes from the Last Supper.
