Here’s how I remember communion being explained to me: The bread stands for Jesus’ body, broken for us, and the cup stands for His blood, poured out to forgive our sins. That was pretty much it.

It’s quite a personal thing in my tradition. I’m directed to close my eyes and bow my head and quietly remember what Jesus did for me on the cross.

I’m holding a little styrofoam wafer and a tiny plastic thimble of grape juice, head bowed, eyes closed.

But Scripture tells a different story. One of kings, battles, thrones, and victory.

Melchizedek

Genesis 14 is the Bible’s first war narrative. Four kings conquer five and people are taken captive—including Abram’s nephew, Lot. So Abram gathers his men, attacks at night, and defeats the kings. He rescues the captives and recovers the plunder….

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” – Gen 14:18-20

The bread and wine commemorate deliverance.

Passover

The foundational Israelite meal started when God saved Israel from Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods.

“This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Yahweh’s Passover. On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh.“ (Ex 12:11-12)

The bread (no wine here) commemorates deliverance.

The Last Supper

On the weekend where Jesus defeats the dark powers, he is the Bread and the Wine.

“This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.“ (Lk 22:19-20)

“Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col 2:15).

The bread and wine commemorate deliverance.

The Lord’s Supper

The deliverance that we’re proclaiming is not a small private thing. People in the church who were doing communion wrong were literally dropping dead as warnings to the rest of the final judgement.

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner… eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep… we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. (1 Co 11:26-32)

The bread and wine remember and foreshadow deliverance.

Proclaiming Deliverance

When we partake in the Lord’s Supper together, it’s not just that Jesus loves me and forgives my sins. We’re declaring his victory over sin, death and the devil at a global scale. The King has overcome and reigns.

A somber snack in silence is the right format for me remembering what Jesus did for me. But that format doesn’t at all fit the Bible’s bigger story. Let’s make it a real feast with real bread and real wine to proclaim real victory.