On the night before He died, Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples. He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, saying, “this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Then He took the cup: “This cup is the new testament in my blood” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). The bread and the unfermented wine point us to His body given and His blood shed for us.
Before the meal, Jesus did something surprising. He took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet, the work of a servant (John 13:4-5). Then He said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). That is why Adventists wash one another’s feet before the Lord’s Supper. It is a time to humble ourselves, make things right with one another and receive fresh cleansing from Jesus.
The Lord’s Supper looks back to the cross and forward to Jesus’ return: “as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Every believer who has accepted Jesus is welcome to take part, after examining his or her own heart (1 Corinthians 11:28).
Key Bible verses
- 1 Corinthians 11:23-26This do in remembrance of me.
- Matthew 26:26-29The bread and the cup at the Last Supper.
- John 13:1-17Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
- John 13:14-15Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- 1 Corinthians 11:27-29Let a man examine himself.
- 1 Corinthians 10:16-17We being many are one bread.
- Revelation 3:20I will sup with him, and he with me.
Tap a reference to read it in the Bible.
Think about it
- What do you feel when you take the bread and the cup?
- Why do you think Jesus chose to wash feet, the work of a servant?
- Is there someone you need to make peace with before the next Communion service?
