Thursday, October 16, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Revelation 5

Communion, the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist - the same meal has many names. No matter what we call it, Jesus intended this meal for one purpose: to remember what he has done for us. 

It all started during what the Bible calls “The Last Supper.” On the same night that Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and executed, he ate a meal with his twelve closest followers. It was part of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorated when God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt. But Jesus assigned new meaning to a special portion of the meal. 

Luke 22:19-20 
He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people - an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” 

Did you catch it? Jesus took bread and wine and made them tangible reminders of his death. He told his followers to eat and drink them to remember him and declare God’s new promise of salvation. It’s truly beautiful: Jesus used a meal commemorating freedom to show his followers how to celebrate the freedom found in him! 

The early church was devoted to communion and called it the “love feast.” Everyone, no matter their background, ate pieces from one loaf of bread and drank from the same cup. It wasn’t simply a ritual or a nourishing meal - it was a moment of unity and love between Jesus followers. 

And that moment has the same meaning for us today. Our culture praises individualism, so it’s often easy for us to forget about our unity as Jesus followers. Just like the early church, we need to be reminded of what unifies us. 

1 Corinthians 11:26  
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 

Communion reminds us that we are unified by the death of Jesus, through which we can all find freedom. And it unifies us around the mission Jesus has for his church: to introduce people to Jesus and help them find freedom, too. Let’s remember that, and remember him, through communion.

Questions: 
When was the last time you took communion? 

How does the tangible reminder of communion affect how you think about Jesus’ death? 

Where in your life can you embrace the unity you have with other followers of Jesus?

Next Steps: 
Take communion this week, ideally with other Jesus followers. It doesn’t have to be at a church service or in the presence of a pastor. It can be with your family, friends, your Group, or even one other person. Simply eat and remember together what Jesus has done for you. And thank God in prayer for the unity you share through Jesus.

Prayer: 
Jesus, thank you for the gift of communion. What a blessing it is to have such a simple, yet beautiful way to remember you. Help me see your sacrifice with new eyes and intentionally remember your body and blood given for me. Give me a greater vision of the unity that bonds me with other Jesus followers, and forgive me for the times I forget. Please equip us to unite around your mission and help others find freedom through you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:
Colossians 1:6
This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.

This post was written by Ashley Allen, a Content Development intern at CedarCreek and Findlay attendee.