Hello again, dear Christian siblings. Peace and grace to you all.
I’ve intended to write on this subject for a while (some biblical command and some opinion here).
One of the primary reasons the church meets is to break bread by the command (Luke 22:19/ 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) to remember Jesus’ sacrifice, represented by the Last Supper/Lord’s Supper/Communion. The first-century church met together because of this reason, as we see in Acts 20:7a. This was done the first day of the week, the day the church recognizes by gathering together in honor of The New Covenant in the resurrected living Christ. This was seemingly done regularly, probably at least once weekly, perhaps more—every time they came together (1 Corinthians 10:16 & 21; 11:20)
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
* “they devoted themselves” is pretty strong wording
In fact, it was so critical to be sure it was done correctly that Paul had to correct those in Corinth about their participation (in 1 Corinthians 11). They, and we today, were instructed not to have unnecessary division (vs. 18). “Unnecessary” in the fact that some division was necessary to show who was genuine and who wasn’t (vs.19). Also, there was correction for patience and gathering to participate together, not acting in haste, in glutton and selfishness, neglecting those who lacked provisions, but rightly representing this communion of commemorating Jesus’ sacrifice (vs. 20-22). There is the call to participate in the bread and the cup in a worthy manner, examining himself first, discerning the body to be sure he is sincere in the faith, not participating wrongfully, not causing division, not being embittered, not in a quarrel with another, but in purity of heart (vs. 28-29). Representing Christ. Something I’ve written before goes into another aspect of this reflection, this examining. Read it here.
The Lord’s Supper is not something to take lightly.
It is crucial to follow the command and the example to participate in this command regularly, each time we come together, at the least at the beginning of every week when we meet together, and that we go by the guidelines set in Scripture.
With that said, many people have various “rituals” in how they partake. If we look at Scripture, we can better see how the Lord’s Supper should be offered.
First, the bread. Jesus, like the rest, was participating in the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matthew 26:17-20). So, the bread Jesus partook of—like we still do today—was unleavened bread (Exodus 12:14-20). Jesus is now our Passover (Mark 14:12/ Luke 22:7/ John 1:36), therefore, and as Jesus Himself declared, the bread represents His body.
“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’”
Now, sometimes, people look at this passage and see that Jesus “broke” the bread, so they like to break their individual bread/wafer symbolically to coincide. However, I wouldn’t say this is accurate. Jesus broke the bread simply because it was from one cake of bread, and He handed it out to the disciples with Him. Symbolically, as He says, the bread is His body. He is giving His body for/to everyone. Which makes it awesome to hear of Him sharing the bread Himself, giving it to the disciples, and ultimately everyone (John 3:16/ Ephesians 5:2/ Titus 2:11). Yet, NOW we partake of this bread (which has already been given) that is *His body*, and it (to my discernment and persuasion) should not be broken. Why?
“But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They will look on him whom they have pierced.’”
“He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
“And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.’”
“In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it.”
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
The Old Testament passages are of prophesy that Jesus’ body would not be broken, and the passage of John offers that prophecy fulfilled. Jesus’ body was, however, pierced (by the soldier’s spear, also by the nails and the thorns). Therefore, I like to think that when my teeth pierce the bread, it is symbolic of that Scripture and the command to partake of His body. It isn’t broken but pierced for my transgressions.
Personally, I take the time with my unleavened bread to pray first, thanking the Lord for His sacrifice, that He was pierced for my transgressions, and asking Him to forgive the ways I’ve sinned (missed the mark/fallen short), helping me to see those so to repent, to grow in holiness and maturity, and to look more like Him as His representative.
Second, the cup represents Jesus’ blood, and it was the fruit of the vine. It is important to understand this should not be alcoholic. As an Evangelist friend1 has pointed out—
“Wine has to go through a process of fermentation. The process of fermentation is actually bacteria working in the juice…Wine could never give a proper picture of the sinless Blood of Christ…New wine, unfermented grape juice (what’s used in Scripture is “oinos” which is must/new wine/unfermented juice—like when Jesus turns water into wine) is perhaps a more accurate symbol of the pure Blood of the Lord Jesus…Just as the bread is to be without leaven.”
Another dear brother in Christ pointed out also that Jesus’ blood wasn’t “spilled” out for us. To spill something is an accident. Instead, it was “shed”, done with a purpose on our behalf. This cup of the fruit of the vine, what represents Jesus’ blood, is the cup of the New Covenant. The New Covenant didn’t begin until after the blood was shed (Jesus’ death on the cross) and Jesus was resurrected (something to note when arguing Christian 
and the thief’s salvation as he hung on the cross by Jesus).
This brings to light another crucial component to remember during the Lord’s Supper. The cup and the Covenant.
In the days of Jesus, when a man wanted to betroth a woman, he offered a contract, and they drank from a cup of the fruit of the vine.
“The Mishnah Kiddushin (the section of the Talmud dealing with “dedication” or betrothal) specifies that a bride is acquired by a groom in one of three ways; one involves the groom leaving his father’s home and traveling to the bride’s home to ‘purchase’ her for a price. The groom gives a token or a dowry, and its value must be known to the bride. In all cases, the wife can only be acquired with her consent. The marriage contract, or ketubah, is then established, and from that moment on the bride is sanctified, or set apart, exclusively for her bridegroom. It is customary for the groom and bride to drink from a cup of wine over which a betrothal benediction has been said” (Got Questions).
Therefore, if the bride accepted the betrothal—the contract, she would drink from the cup to signify that acceptance.
Seeing a brilliant parallel here?
As Christ’s bride, He offers us this contract and this cup to drink from. He has purchased us with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20/ 1 Corinthians 7:23). Under His purchase price (His sacrificial death, atoning work on the cross, and His defeat of death in His victorious resurrection offering us justification), if we so accept, He is our groom, our betrothed. We are chosen (1 Peter 2:9), set apart to remain pure and spotless (James 4:4/ 2 Corinthians 11/ Ephesians 5) in ever-increasing sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11/ Acts 26:17-18/ Hebrews 13:11-12) while He prepares a place for us (John 14:2-3) and until He takes us into His home and the marriage is “consummated” (so to speak)—upon Jesus’ return we will have glorification in Him, permanently removing weakness of the flesh (sin), being in a glorified body which is more of what God intended at Creation (1 Corinthians 15:42–53/ 2 Corinthians 3:18/ Luke 24:39–40).
So when we drink of the cup, it’s a reminder of the contract we’ve accepted, the Covenant. When we fully understand how profound the Lord’s Supper really is in comparison to our marriage relationship to Christ, we can better understand Paul’s concern and correction in his letter to Corinth. We can better understand the seriousness of the command to observe this remembrance frequently. Every time we come together.
With this in mind, just before I take the cup, I praise God for the shed blood that’s purchased me and the Covenant that’s been offered. I thank Him for the sacrifice made, the victory I have over eternal death, and the reconciled relationship I’ve accepted with Him through Jesus.
I mean, to know God first humbled Himself to take on human flesh in Jesus the Christ and then sacrifice Himself in my place, defeating death in victorious resurrection… man oh man, words cannot describe. May we all look to the Lord’s Supper as a sacred communion, an intimate connection, with God through Jesus. May we keep The Lord’s Supper central in our gathering as the church. And may we participate in a worthy manner, with righteous, pure motives in repentance, growth and maturity.
References:
1Kilian, Tom. January 30, 2022. Blood.
Got Questions. 2022. Are there parallels between Jewish wedding traditions and our relationship to Christ? Retrieved from Are there parallels between Jewish wedding traditions and our relationship to Christ? | GotQuestions.org