Though is nearly 2,000 years ago when Jesus commanded that Christians should eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him. The fact that it is still carried out amongst churches, homes etc is share volume of how important Holy Communion really is. The whole point of Holy Communion is that the bread, which is broken, symbolizes the breaking of his body and the wine, which is poured, is to portray the blood, which was spilt. Holy communion shows how Jesus died on the cross so that the burden of Christian’s sin’s is taken on himself and Christians could then go to heaven. Therefore Holy Communion is a symbolic way for Christians to remember what Jesus has done for them and how Jesus is still present with them through the drinking of wine and eating of bread. Jesus’s death needs to be remembered because it's not about what Christinas do, but what Jesus did. Jesus sacrificed himself years ago; he forgave Christians so now Christians must re pay him with remembrance. When Christians do Holy Communion, Jesus promised he would be there and Christians trust that. Though most people think that Holy Communion is an act of eating and drinking that is not the case. As it is mostly about how the congregation come together as one person because of their faith in Jesus.
Holy communion is a personal way to connect with the lord Jesus therefore everyone has different effects from Holy Communion. Many people get love, strength and faith whereas other people get a personal connection to Jesus. The inspiring thing though is that one act can bring so much different emotions, which portrays the strong message, which Holy Communion must give to different people. Some people think that holy communion is not the most important way to worship however when other people say what holy communion gives to them its very hard to see the full picture. For example one person said that ‘‘when the priest breaks the loaf and pours the wine its as if the meal in the upper room was happening now and Jesus is telling us how much he loves us enough to die for us.” This person therefore saying that though the last supper happened thousands of years ago to this person the communion is a way to remember that Jesus has done so much for Christians to be here today. The love that Jesus gave back then is still here now therefore thankfulness that this person has is still carried from years ago.
Another person said, “In communion I take the bread as a symbol of god giving strength to me. It strengthens me for all the things I have to do during the week” therefore this person sees holy communion not just as a way to remember Jesus but also a way to gain strength from the lord. Which means that to this person Holy communion is vital part of his life as if gives him the strength he needs to carry out the things which he needs to do on that week. “When I’m actually eating the bread and drinking the wine I usually think about what Jesus has done for me. Jesus died for me. I know he died for everyone else as well. But this is very personal. It also links me with all the other Christians.” This persons view is very clear; this person feels that the fact that Jesus died for Christians unties all Christians together, therefore unties her/him with all the other Christians. This person also sees that Christians feel the same things as Jesus died for all of them therefore they feel a sense of togetherness which brings them in union with Christ. She also sees that because Jesus died for her this is a connexion, which is personal through her and Jesus. The final person says, “When I take the communion cup of wine I am reminded that the blood of Jesus consequently forgives my sin” this person view shows us that the wine is again a symbol for the washing away of sins. Like how water washes away dirt, wine washes away the sins.
As we already know many people think of Holy Communion as such as strong bond with Jesus therefore the most important way to worship however not everyone feels this way. Some people think that though Holy Communion is a positive way to remember Jesus it is not necessarily the best possible way. Some people feel this way because of several reasons. The first is because to some people the reason why Jesus died was because Christians back then did not believe in him though he died on the cross and sacrificed himself. As a result they had apart in his death therefore we should not be remembering the shredding of Jesus’s blood, which we carried out. Instead we should forget and start to ask for forgiveness from the lord.
The second reason is that the last supper, which is where the bread was eaten and where the wine was drunk. Was a time when Jesus and his disciples met and eat together however nowadays not many people have their meals together therefore the concept is not carried on therefore there is no reason to carry out the Holy Communion. Another reason is that how can eating and drinking symbolize what Jesus did, after all in the end it is still just food and drink. However others who do believe that holy communion is the best possible way to worship could defend by saying that it is not the eating and drinking but it is the words, which you say which show’s God that you are able to remission your sins. They may also carry on to say that the bread and wine is not just symbolic of the body and the blood but is also a picture, which we can use to remember Jesus for years to come.
Though both sides of the argument are very persuasive, after looking at both sides I can conclude that in my opinion I think that Holy Communion is the best possible way to worship. The reason why I think this is because I think that the whole concept of remembering Jesus through everyday things like bread and wine is a brilliant thing. So many people through communion feel closer to God therefore this must be the best way to worship, after all most Christians want to reach and feel close to god the most. I also think this because I think that Holy Communion gives strength to people to carry on therefore they are receiving strength from Jesus. The final reason why I think that Holy Communion is the best possible way to worship is because the symbolisms, which it has, the wine washes away the sins, which Christians have therefore, the wine symbolizes forgiveness. Which then contrast with the fact that Jesus dying represented forgiveness like the wine.
Lima Khanom 10L