Why is communion so important?

Communion: A sacrament commemorating the Last Supper.

What are the most important events in your life? How do you celebrate or remember them? How do Christians remember the important events in their faith?

Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross through a ceremony in church called communion, which is also known as the Eucharist.

Communion is based on a real event, known as the Lord's Supper. On the night before Jesus died, he had a special meal with his disciples: the Passover meal. Jews ate a Passover meal every year to celebrate how God saved the Israelites from the Egyptians in the time of Moses. This is the time when they escaped from Pharaoh to live in the promised land.

During the Lord's Supper Jesus broke bread and drank wine. He told them that they were to do the same, to remember him and the sacrifice he was about to make; dying on the cross. The blood represents Jesus' body, broken. The wine represents the blood that was spilled when he was killed.

When Christians celebrate communion they are reminded of the mystery of salvation, which brings them closer to God.

Here is the text from Luke 22:

The Lord's Supper

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”

Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes.”

Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” 

In the same way, he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.“

Watch the videos here to gain a better understanding of this Christian practice.