Scripture teaches us that as often we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes (1 Cor. 11:26). There is a beautiful and meaningful parallel between the rituals of the old covenant and of the new covenant.
In the old covenant, a sacrament was performed once in a person's life--circumcision. This is true of baptism in the new covenant. Baptism is done once, when the person enters the covenant.
The old covenant also had sacrifices that were performed twice daily, weekly, monthly, annually and whenever the need arose. In the new covenant, the Lord's Supper replaces all those animal sacrifices, because Jesus' death fulfilled them all.
The following table illustrates the parallel:
Once in a lifetime: circumcision
Frequently: daily, weekly, annual, and other animal sacrifices
Once in a lifetime: baptism
"As often as you eat it": the Lord's Supper, commemorating Jesus's death
We have freedom in Christ to observe the Lord's Supper as often as we wish to remember his death in this way. When we take the elements of his Supper, we are doing it in remembrance of him and proclaiming the significance of his sacrifice for us. For a more detailed answer, see an article on our website:
www.wcg.org/lit/holidays/howoften.htm
Since Jesus began the Lord's Supper after having told his disciples to prepare for the Passover, it would seem reasonable to conclude that he used unleavened bread.
From the historical situation, we can also conclude that the bread Jesus used was made from grain harvested the year before, as required by old covenant law (Lev. 23:10-14). However, neither the Scriptures nor the symbolism requires us to imitate these particular details.
The Bible does not attach any significance or importance to the age of the flour, nor whether it was leavened. Similarly, it does not specify whether the bread was made with wheat or barley. Scriptures about the Last Supper do not use the word for unleavened--the Bible simply says that it was bread. It used the common word for a common food.
When Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" (John 6:51), he did not specify whether he was wheat or barley, leavened or unleavened. The point he was making does not rest on such details. He was simply comparing himself to food in general, the most common staple of the diet. Just as bread is the basis of physical life, Jesus is the basis of eternal life.
When Jesus called himself bread, he was referring to its value in the common people's diet, not to any specifics of shape or density. If he had lived and ministered in southeastern Asia, he might have compared himself to rice as the staff of life. His point did not depend on the specific grain being used--just that it was a common part of the diet. Jesus is the staple of our spiritual nourishment.
The wine that Jesus used was probably red fermented wine from the previous year. That was what was available. It may have been mixed with water, as wine often was in that day. Scripture does not mention these specifics. It simply says "fruit of the vine."
When Jesus instituted the symbols, he did not make detailed requirements for the food or drink. He used words that were commonly used for ordinary food and drink. This made it easier for the disciples to do "this" in his remembrance. Whenever the original disciples shared a meal, they could remember what Jesus had done at the Last Supper.
The significance of the bread is not the type of grain it is made from, its texture, or whether it has fermented. Its significance is that it is food, and that we share it.
Scripture simply says it is "bread," without specifying "unleavened." That is why the church teaches that members may use any type of bread whenever they observe communion. We always provide unleavened bread at our annual Lord's Supper on Nisan 14, but leavened bread may also be provided then, too.
Similarly, the significance of the wine is not its fermentation. The significance is that it is liquid, thus allowing it to represent Jesus' blood of the new covenant, and that we drink it, symbolizing our taking the new covenant into ourselves.
Jesus called it by a general term: "the fruit of the vine." Therefore we allow juice to be used for communion. We always have wine at our annual Lord's Supper, but we also offer grape juice in consideration for those who have reason to avoid wine.
Some people avoid wine because of allergies. Others avoid it because their body reacts with alcohol in undesirable ways. Some Christians in less-developed nations simply find it difficult to find wine. That is why substitutes are permissible. The effectiveness of the ceremony does not depend on chemistry, but on our relationship with God.
The Lord's Supper is for people who have faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, even if they have not been baptized yet. Under normal circumstances, such a person will soon be baptized. We tell people that the bread and wine are for those who have faith in Christ. They must make their own decision as to whether to partake.
We do not believe it is appropriate to refuse to let people partake if they want to do so, even if they are not baptized. God knows those who are his.
We explain that the Lord's Supper is for those who have faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. However, we can't, nor do we wish to, police everybody's heart as to whether their faith is real.
Some people may actually become convicted and come to faith during the course of the Lord's Supper service, and it would be right for them to partake.
Anyone is welcome to observe the service.
We have always made arrangements for members to take the elements (bread and wine) in their own homes when they were unable to participate with the congregation. Although an elder would officiate in such situations when one was available, we permitted a member to lead when an elder was not available.
The New Testament never even hints at the idea that administering at the Lord's Supper is a function restricted to ordained leaders. For example, Paul did not mention anything about ordained leaders when he addressed the Corinthian church about the Lord's Supper. No verse connects the Lord's Supper with leadership offices.
As far as we can tell from the New Testament, Christians were able to observe the Lord's Supper as often as they wanted, without any need for elders, whenever two or three or more were gathered in his name. If an elder is present, it is traditional, though not required, that he lead the communion.
Both are appropriate. Our denominational practice is an annual, collective worldwide Lord's Supper service with footwashing on Nisan 14 or Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter, observed in some churches as the anniversary of the Last Supper).
For those who miss this annual service for reasons such as sickness and travel, private services can be held at any convenient time or location. We have also observed the Lord's Supper or communion at special conferences, retreats and other congregational meetings, including the fall festival.
We also teach that members may partake of the Lord's Supper at any time in small groups, and many are doing so. This is an already established practice.
We are pleased that groups commemorate our Lord's death, and see their own existence in that context, knowing that our unity comes because of our participation in him.
Our annual denominational service includes footwashing. It is optional to include this ceremony for Lord's Supper services celebrated at other times.
We want our annual denominational service to follow a general standard, including prayer, a basic explanation of and blessing on the bread and wine, footwashing and worshipful music.
Other communion services can follow any dignified and respectful format that brings glory to God and does not bring reproach on the name of Christ.
It must never be done flippantly, but with meaning. It should be a solemn and dignified occasion, yet at the same time, a joyous occasion--thereby appropriate for coming into the presence of God.
We have not heard of any problems in this regard, and we therefore do not feel it is appropriate to establish restrictions at this time.
We are not going to specify a dress standard, music, time limits or quantities. We pray that members will seek to be guided by God's Spirit to the level of formality appropriate for each situation.
Yes. This function is not restricted to pastors, elders or other church leaders, as discussed above, and may be done by women or any other lay members. Just as women may sing prayers in church, they may also pray at a communion service that God will bless the elements for our commemoration of the Lord's death and our participation by faith in our Lord.
Of course, when only women are present, women will lead. There is no need to invite a man in, as if his prayers would be more effective, or as if women cannot picture their union with Christ unless a man prays over the symbols.
Moreover, a woman may lead the service even if men are present. As we have previously explained (May 20, 1997, study paper), women may pray and read scripture, and these are the primary roles involved in leading a communion.
Jesus said, "This is my body." Some churches take this statement literally. However, other churches take this statement to be only symbolic.
In either case, Jesus did mean what he said. In some way, the bread and wine communicate the grace of Jesus to us.
However, it is quite possible that what Jesus said, and what he meant, was something symbolic or metaphorical. Jesus often used figurative language. For example, when Jesus said, I am the bread that came down from heaven, he did not mean that he was literally bread. He meant what he said, yet he meant it figuratively. Whether communication is literal or figurative, it still has meaning.
At the Last Supper, when Jesus actually said the words, he was right in front of the disciples, holding some bread, telling his disciples, This is my body.
The disciples could see his body. They could see the bread. They could tell that there was a difference.
In the original setting, the disciples would have understood Jesus' words in some figurative way.
Jesus also said that the cup was the new covenant in his blood. That's figurative language. He was not concerned about the actual cup. He used the word cup to refer to the wine inside the cup. It was a figure of speech. And the wine itself wasn't the new covenant, either. Jesus was speaking figuratively. He did not say that the wine was his blood.
The pattern is consistent: Jesus was speaking figuratively. The bread symbolized the body of Jesus. However, this does not mean that the bread is "only" a symbol--as if symbols are not important. Symbols are important. The bread represents the body of Jesus, and that's an extremely important representation.
Moreover, Jesus is present in the ceremony, as well as in the physical bread and wine, in some spiritual way. By partaking of the bread and wine, we participate in our Lord (1 Cor. 10:16).
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999