1 Corinthians 11

23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.[f] Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” 26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against[g] the body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ,[h] you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

33 So, my dear brothers and sisters,[i] when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.

Just days before going to the cross, Jesus introduces a new practice to His disciples. He knows what’s about to happen, and He knows how His death and resurrection are going to be the turning point of all history, including the lives of his students. As a result, this new practice will symbolize the powerful moment in time and will be a reminder for the rest of time of what He accomplished on the cross. A broken body to bring freedom and poured out wine to bring forgiveness.

• Take a moment to gather some communion items.
• Take the bread, representing the broken body of Jesus, and hold it in your hands while you remember how He suffered and died for your sin. And then eat the bread and give thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice.
• Take the cup, representing the poured out blood of Jesus, and hold it while you remember how blood and water flowed from His side and how His forgiveness washes you clean. And then drink the juice and give thanks for Jesus amazing grace.
• Write down on a piece of paper the emotions you felt and the thoughts that came to your mind while practicing communion. Put the paper in your bible on the page of 1 Corinthians 11 as a reminder of what you heard and experienced today.

Thank you, Jesus, for your abundant grace and mercy!