Acts 2:42 records, "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." Notice the words "continued steadfastly." This mean that those early disciples attended continually. They continually devoted themselves to the four practices mentioned in this verse. One of these practices, that I will focus upon, is "the breaking of bread." The breaking of bread refers to the “Holy Eucharist” which means, grateful, thanksgiving, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, and the Lord’s Table. Holy Communion was never meant to be a mere sacrament, ordinance or religious ritual, but a time of fellowship between believers and more importantly, an intimate encounter with Christ. For the sake of time and space, I will not attempt to build a thorough study of "Holy Communion" as revealed throughout the Bible, but simply focus on "Holy Communion" in the church.
In the final hours of Jesus’ earthly ministry, on the Day of Unleavened Bread, He instructed Peter and John concerning what we call "The Last Supper." (Luke 22:14-22) Jesus did not only have a desire to celebrate this particular Passover with the apostles, but He had an overwhelming passion to do so, even though just moments away one of the twelve would betray Him (Luke 22:47-48), one would deny Him (Matthew 26: 69-74), nine would scatter (Matthew 26:31), and only one would be with Him at the cross. (John 19:25-26) However, He was about to introduce to humanity one of the most intimate acts between God and man, an act that would bring man into the presence of God as well as fellowship with one another, Holy Communion. It is apparent that the apostles did not grasp the scope of what was happening.
Though Jesus was using a typical Passover meal, He was revealing a spiritual truth that the disciples did not seem to comprehend. Jesus had already discussed this very thing with them, “And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger (The Bread) and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (The Cup). (John 6:35) To phrase it differently, “I am the bread that gives life. The one who has no reservations concerning this truth shall be perfectly satisfied and the one who places his faith in me will be completely satisfied and never be desirous of anything else.” Jesus was conveying a spiritual truth, that, unfortunately many in the church today, like the apostles', do not seem to comprehend. Jesus tells us, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe” (John 6:63-64) We see that unbelief prevented the people, even certain disciples from seeing these truths, as we see, "many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” (John 6:66) Holy Communion is a spiritual truth revealed through natural means (bread and the fruit of the vine) which involves an intimate encounter with the Lord, not a static ritual.
Luke’s gospel reveals another truth regarding the intimacy one can experience participating in Holy Communion. This truth is revealed in a meeting between Christ and some disciples during the forty-day period between His resurrection and ascension, “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.” (Luke 24:13-16) Notice that they did not recognize Jesus. Mark 16:12 tells us that Jesus appeared to these two disciples in another form, which could be the reason why they did not recognize Him.
The two proceed to tell Jesus what is troubling them (which were things concerning Him) as they were hoping that it was Jesus who was going to redeem Israel. They continue explaining that they had heard reports that Jesus had risen from the dead, and then Jesus responded, “Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:17-25) Notice that Jesus confronts their lack of faith, which is a continuous theme surrounding many Christians today. For Christians to experience intimacy with Christ in Holy Communion, they must exercise faith. Jesus then expounds to them all the scriptures from Moses and the Prophets concerning Himself. Evening comes and the two men desire to have Jesus stay with them. (Luke 24:26-29)
Next, we see a wonderful turn of events, “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:30-31) Even though their lack of faith kept these two disciples from knowing Jesus as He talked with them, notice what happened when Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him.” They knew him, that is, fully perceive; to recognize; to have a knowledge, which perfectly unites the subject with the object in the sense of the connection or union between a man and his wife. Again, we see the intimacy that can be obtained when one approaches Holy Communion from the correct perspective.
The Apostle Paul speaks to the church at Corinth concerning communion, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16) The word communion here is the same word for fellowship meaning; a partnership; to partner together as one; to participate; to communicate; to have common interest; a state of being together; communion; community; association for religious and spiritual purposes. Paul’s desire is to have the church come to the realization of the powerful effects of the blood and body of Christ upon the believer. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” (Hebrews 10:19-20) When we take the bread we penetrate the veil, that is His flesh, and we enter the Holiest with the cup which is a symbol of His blood that He gave as a once and for all sacrifice. We also see the Apostle Paul bring correction to the church for their lack of reverence and their disorderly conduct when partaking in the Lord’s Supper. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)
Finally, Paul warns the church the consequences of taking communion in an unworthily manner. Taking communion in an unworthily manner is to share in the guilt of Christ’s crucifixion. This is what the Apostle Peter said to the people in the streets of Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, “Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; (Acts 2:23). Participating in the Lord’s Supper in an unworthily manner would mean you were guilty of the same. He admonishes them to examine their hearts before they participate in communion. He also continues to point out that partaking in communion in an unworthy manner comes from a lack of discerning the Lord’s Body and is evidenced by the many who are weak, sick and have died, prematurely. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).
Today church leaders tend to separate many of the daily practices of the early church as revealed in Acts 2:42, by placing various levels of importance upon them. However, to the early church they were equally important and practiced daily which made for a growing church that did not have to resort to worldly concepts to get people to show up for a church service or function. For the most part, the church today sees Holy Communion from a foreign perspective in comparison to the early church. Upon further investigation throughout the Bible as well as church history, we would find that the early church enjoyed the Lord’s Supper as a banquet that foreshadowed the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:6-9) and that The Lord’s Supper is the primary purpose for which the church is to gather each Lord’s Day.
Believers can experience an intimate encounter with the Lord as they partake in Holy Communion, but like everything else it is an act of choice and a release of faith that sees communion beyond a mere religious act, an ordinance or a sacrament. It is a place of fellowship with fellow believers and at the same time an intimate encounter with the Lord. Let us consider this. How many marriages do we honestly think would survive if a husband and a wife only spent about fifteen minutes together one Sunday a month? Most likely, none. With that said, it is imperative that all believers see Holy Communion as a time of fellowship between each other and as a powerful and intimate time with the Lord. The church must get beyond seeing Holy Communion as mere tradition or ritual where the people engage in a stoic, repetitive act void of true meaning and intimacy. So let us throw away our religious rituals concerning Holy Communion and enjoy true Holy Communion with the Lord and one another. The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you...
