Have you ever found yourself going through the motions during communion, wondering if there’s something more happening than meets the eye? That small piece of bread and tiny cup might seem like mere symbols, but they represent one of the most profound mysteries in Scripture. The table of the Lord isn’t just a religious ritual—it’s a divine appointment where heaven touches earth. When Jesus said, “This is My body” and “This is My blood,” He was inviting us into something far deeper than symbolic remembrance. There’s a reason why believers throughout history have experienced supernatural breakthrough, healing, and deliverance through this sacred practice. God has always used physical elements to release spiritual power, and communion may be the most potent example of all.
Biblical Insight
The foundation of communion comes directly from Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. In Matthew 26:26-28, we read: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’ Then He took a cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” Notice Jesus didn’t say “this represents My body” or “this symbolizes My blood”—He declared “this IS My body” and “this IS My blood.” His choice of words suggests something more substantial than mere symbolism.
This understanding deepens when we examine 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, where Paul warns about partaking unworthily: “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” Paul explicitly connects physical consequences—sickness and even death—to how believers approach communion. This passage reveals that communion involves more than mental acknowledgment; it carries tangible power that affects our physical bodies. The Greek word used for “discerning” is “diakrino,” which means to separate thoroughly, to discriminate, to judge correctly. Paul is saying we must recognize the actual presence and power in the elements.
Throughout Scripture, God consistently uses physical elements to convey spiritual reality. The tabernacle of Moses wasn’t just a tent but a shadow of heavenly realities (Hebrews 8:5). The manna in the wilderness wasn’t just food but pointed to Jesus as the true bread from heaven (John 6:31-35). When Jesus multiplied loaves and fish, He demonstrated that physical nourishment carried spiritual significance. Most profoundly, in John 6:53-57, Jesus declares: “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life… For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink.”
Practical Wisdom
So how does this deeper understanding of communion transform our everyday walk with the Messiah? First, we should approach the Lord’s table with reverence and expectation rather than routine. When we take communion, we’re not merely performing a ritual—we’re engaging in a supernatural transaction where the life of Jesus is being imparted to us. His life-giving power flows through these elements by the work of the Holy Spirit, providing healing, breakthrough, and divine enablement. This isn’t mystical thinking; it’s biblical reality. The same God who said “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5) provided communion as one vehicle through which that healing flows.
Consider establishing regular communion in your personal devotional life, not just waiting for church services. Many believers have discovered profound breakthrough by making communion a cornerstone of their prayer times. As you partake, specifically apply the blood of Jesus to areas of bondage, sickness, or family struggle. Remember that communion was instituted at Passover—a feast representing deliverance from slavery and entrance into promise. Just as the Israelites applied blood to their doorposts for protection and deliverance, we apply the blood of Jesus through communion for our freedom today. This isn’t ritualistic superstition but faith-filled participation in what Yahweh has provided.
The key to experiencing communion’s full power lies in approaching it with discernment and reverence. Paul’s warning about taking communion “unworthily” doesn’t mean we must be perfect—it means we recognize what we’re participating in. Before partaking, take time to repent of known sin, thanking Him for His blood you are about to drink and forgive those who’ve wronged you. And then consciously recognize the sacrifice of Jesus represented in the elements. The blood of Jesus cancels every accusation against you in heaven’s courts the moment you repent. When we approach communion with this understanding, we’re positioning ourselves to receive all that His sacrifice provides—healing, deliverance, and breakthrough in every area of life.
Clearing up misunderstandings
One common misconception is that communion is merely a remembrance with no actual spiritual substance. While remembrance is certainly part of communion (1 Corinthians 11:24-25), reducing it to only mental recollection misses the supernatural exchange occurring. Scripture consistently presents physical elements as carriers of spiritual reality—from the water that healed Naaman to the handkerchiefs from Paul that brought healing (Acts 19:11-12). The bread and cup aren’t magical objects but divinely appointed vehicles through which the Holy Spirit works.
Another misunderstanding is that Paul’s warning about sickness and death for taking communion “unworthily” means we must achieve some perfect state before partaking. This creates unnecessary fear and misses Paul’s point entirely. The unworthiness Paul addresses relates specifically to division between believers, selfishness, and failing to recognize the body of Christ—both the physical body broken for us and the church body with whom we share fellowship. Communion actually becomes medicine for our imperfections when approached with sincere repentance and faith. It’s not a reward for the perfected saint but provision for the growing disciple.
Some believers also struggle with thinking communion is only for corporate church settings. While there’s certainly special significance in taking communion as a gathered body, Scripture places no such limitation. Jesus instituted this practice with His closest disciples in an intimate setting. Throughout church history, believers have practiced personal and family communion as part of their devotional lives. The power of communion isn’t dependent on location or the number of participants but on faith in what Jesus accomplished and recognition of His loving presence in the elements.
Conclusion
Communion stands as one of the most profound mysteries and powerful provisions in our walk with Jesus. Far more than empty symbolism, it’s a divine appointment where heaven touches earth, where the supernatural life of Jesus is imparted to His people. When we approach the table with expectation and discernment, we position ourselves to receive physical healing, family breakthrough, spiritual refreshing, and deliverance from bondage. These elements connect us directly to the Passover power of freedom and the covenant promises of provision.
As you partake of communion, whether in church or your personal devotional time, do so with fresh reverence and expectation. Recognize that you’re not just remembering a historical event but participating in a living reality—the very life of Jesus being imparted to you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead flows through these simple elements when received in faith. In a world desperately searching for authentic spiritual encounter, communion offers us direct access to the supernatural presence and power of the living God.
Did you know
The early church fathers frequently reported miraculous healings, deliverances, and supernatural manifestations during communion. Ignatius of Antioch, who was taught by the Apostle John himself, referred to the Eucharist as “the medicine of immortality” and taught that it carried transformative power for both body and soul. This understanding prevailed throughout the first centuries of Christianity, where communion was viewed not merely as symbolism but as a genuine encounter with the risen Messiah.
