At my church, the Lord’s Supper elements are distributed (the bread then the wine), held, and then the congregants partake in unison to demonstrate the communal nature of the meal. I like this way of doing it though it’s certainly not the only way. The holding gives time for reflection. Because it might be helpful to someone, I’ll share some of the things I think about during this time. Again, a disclaimer: this is not necessarily what you should think about while participating in the supper.
THE BREAD we use is unleavened. A church member makes it to a standard recipe from the wife of a notable PCA pastor. A number of presbyterian and Reformed churches use it. It is a bit cookie-like but not too sweet. I am perfectly happy with it, but if I were to change anything I’d add salt, take away sugar, and maybe add some herbs. This bread’s best property is that it sheds fine crumbs as you hold it. Let me explain.
We should think of Christ’s real human body when handling the bread. “Jesus Christ is both God and man, and that makes all the difference” was my mantra once when teaching Christology to teenagers. The real human body of Christ reminds us of his real human nature, of the reality of his earthly existence. Crumbs help with that in tactile ways. Adam was formed from the dust of the ground; the Second Adam’s flesh was formed from similar stuff. The dust and grit remind us of the sandaled feet of our Savior treading dusty roads or hard cobblestones. What is onerous for us now in everyday life was also hard for him—he identified with us. He was not “unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” Dirt and dust, mud and sand troubled him as they do us, yet he suffered the indignities and disappointments without sin, pique, grumbling, or ingratitude. It’s good to be reminded that Jesus suffered without sin so he could be our spotless substitute. Like Machen, we ought to be “so thankful for the active obedience of Christ” since there is “no hope without it.”
Holding the inch-square piece of bread (so much better than the tiny communion pellets we used to purchase from Lifeway) between thumb and forefinger, my attention is drawn to my wrist. I am reminded, Christ had wrists as real as my own. Of course, my wrists have never been driven through with nails. It’s hard to think of Christ’s body without thinking of his sacrificial death. The remembrance of all these things which the bread can symbolize sustains us and helps to grow us in grace. So much for the bread.
THE WINE in the little cup is a big deal. The fragrance of it reminds us of the pleasing aroma that Christ’s bitter death was to the Father, who received it as an acceptable offering—one we could never make. Wine (and especially grape juice) can taste sweet. If the fruit of the vine is sweet, I think “What was bitter for Him is sweet for me.” The redness of the wine points to the blood, of course. The life of the flesh is in the blood, and Christ spilled his for sinners, dying a real human death.
When I was a newspaper photographer (who often took crime scene photos for the police and coroner) I learned a few things about blood. One is that fake movie blood is far more dramatic than the real thing. Real shed blood soon turns dark, like wine in a cup in a dim room, and dead bodies soon turn pale. Death quickly becomes a black-and-white matter. Our simple, somber celebration of the supper is perfectly appropriate, but the truths it tells are joyous as well: “wine to gladden the heart of man…and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
WHAT WE OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT, of course, as we partake is the whole range of biblical truths concerning Christ’s life and death. Some may be able to think in theologically precise ways at the table. Others (like me) who are easily distracted may need to stick to a few simple concepts and connections. May we all approach the table discerning the body, with knowledge, and “with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire,” remembering that the fires of the Father’s wrath were poured out upon Christ our substitute whom the grave could not hold, who death could not defeat.
…and since you brought it up…. Grape juice at communion? Did Jesus offer grape juice or did he offer wine? Why do we serve grape juice and not wine? Is there any sin more presumptuous than correcting Christ’s ethics concerning wine?