Is The Lord’s Supper Supernatural?

The last thing that Jesus did with His disciples was take a couple of everyday items and use them as an object lesson about the most important moment in history. Over 2,000 years, the Lord’s Supper has become a big part of Christianity. Some even think there’s a supernatural element to it. I agree, and I’ll prove it to you in less than 10 minutes.

Every single one of us understands the importance of famous last words. When someone realizes they’ll never talk to another person again, it changes what they say. As Jesus sat in the Upper Room with the disciples and ate a meal, He looked at what was on the table. Before Him sat two items that His followers would see on their tables every day after this: bread and wine. And like the amazing Jewish rabbi He was, He turned these into symbols for what would happen to Him over the next 24 hours. The Lord’s Supper, also called Communion, is practiced by most Christians throughout the world. And there are LOTS of different ideas about when and how to do it. 

The Lord’s Supper Has Become Too Religious

Some churches take communion every week. Others once a month, once a quarter, or even only once a year. Catholics believe in transubstantiation – the belief that the bread supernaturally transforms into Christ’s body, and the wine into His blood, when the Christian is given the elements. Most Protestants and Evangelicals completely reject this idea. But either way, the Lord’s Supper has become a religious act practiced on Sunday’s in church. And this is NOT what Jesus had in mind. 

Back to the Bible

When we actually set aside our 21st Century biases and traditions, and just read the Bible, a lot of confusion goes away.

Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:14-20 NET)

This isn’t a religious ritual. It’s at a meal. It’s something all of us do every day. And in Jesus’ time, bread and wine were present at most of these meals. Jesus isn’t telling His disciples to start a new ritual. He’s telling them that every time they sit down to eat, they should look at the bread and the wine on the table and remember the Cross. His broken body and his shed blood. This isn’t a once a week or month or year thing. It’s an everyday thing. And this is where the Lord’s Supper goes from ritual to supernatural.

Making Everyday Supernatural

So, let’s get really practical for a moment. How do we do this in our lives today? I’ve started looking for habits in my life that I can use as triggers for remembering spiritual truths. When these moments happen, I say a silent prayer. And this has created a supernatural element to my life I’ve never experienced before. I’m praying all day, every day. This isn’t to brag. I’ve never told anyone about this. But here are a couple of examples.

Every time I wash my hands, I pause and remember that I’m only truly clean because of the Blood of the Lamb. I take a moment to thank God for the blood. All day long, I’m reminded of the cross.

I’m a coffee lover. For years now, I brew pour over coffee. (Yeah, I guess that makes me a coffee snob). Anyway, when I grind the beans and pour the near boiling water over the grounds, I think about how God has no choice except to crush me. If I’m going to be any good to Him and the world around me, I need to be changed. Broken. Destroyed. And then, I need the Holy Spirit to pour through me, transforming me into something pleasant and useful. 

Everyday habits can become supernatural moments. Take some time in the next few days to think about tasks you do every day or multiple times a day, and see how you can transform them into moments of prayer. You might find prayer a whole lot easier than it’s ever before.