Why Bread & Wine?

Scripture: Various

The Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Hebrews 9:12-15

Origin: Passover

Exodus 12

Bread

In John 6:26-27, 32-35  Jesus said I am the Bread of Life

Wine

John 15 Jesus said I am the true vine

Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”

Blood is necessary for the forgiveness of sin. Hebrews 9:22

1 Peter 1:18-19, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

World Religions

The world religions all have this in common. Man working or paying to win the favor of their god or god’s. Doing good deeds that might outweigh the bad. Giving enough money to the poor or to the rich religious leaders. Going on a journey or pilgrimage. These are all ways to try to work your way to heaven or nirvana or a better life the next go-around. You never know if you’ve done enough or if you will make it. If you ask most people if they are going to heaven they will probably say “I hope so.”

True Christianity is a relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ. It is not a religion. God doesn’t leave us hanging like that. In last Sunday’s message, I shared 1 John 5:13 “I write these thing to you who believe in the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Taking it all in

  • Eat the broken bread
  • Drink the pressed wine
  • Abide in Christ

The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Do you have this intimate relationship with Jesus Christ? We symbolize it by eating the bread and drinking the wine of communion together. Accepting Christ’s payment of his own body and blood for my sins. And then welcoming His Holy Spirit to be central in our lives – like the bread that nourishes us and the blood that flows through our veins.

Jesus wanted His followers to do this and remember his sacrifice, our union with Him and our community with other believers.