Sometimes I wonder what it was like to be with Jesus in the upper room on the day He shared the Last Supper with His disciples. I wonder what went through their minds as they realized the significance of this meal with Him. Did they understand that this was the last time Jesus would eat and drink with them before He suffered on the cross for the sins of the world? Did they even think about it at all—or were they more concerned with who would be the greatest among them?

I wonder if they realized the weight of what Jesus was about to do for them and for all of humanity... To be honest, sometimes I wonder if I even fully recognize the significance of remembering Christ’s sacrifice when I take Communion.

Remembering what Christ has done for us is important. Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged repeatedly to remember—such as in Deuteronomy 5:15, Psalm 77:11, Psalm 103:2, 1 Chronicles 16:12, and 1 Corinthians 11:25.

The Bible tells us in Luke 22 that remembering what Jesus did for us is one of the main purposes of taking Communion.

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you." (Luke 22:19-20 NLT)

One of the most impactful moments I had while taking Communion happened during a service I participated in with a ministry called the Walk to Emmaus. I remember being surprised that we had to get up from our seats and walk up to the front to receive Communion. This was quite different from what I had been used to. The elements were different too. There were no gold trays to pass from one person to another. Instead, each person then tore off a piece of the bread that represented the body of Christ. The person holding the bread said, “The body of Christ was broken for you, Jessica.” The realization that Jesus’ body was not only broken for everyone else, but specifically for me, caused me to tear up. When I took the piece of bread in my hand and dipped it into the chalice containing the grape juice representing the blood of Christ, the person holding the chalice said, “The blood of Christ was poured out for you, Jessica, and it gave Him great joy. Take, eat, and remember.” Not only was Jesus’ body broken for me, but His blood was shed for me. Not only did He sacrifice himself on the cross as a payment for my sins, but He was glad to do it. Whoa. That personal connection and realization of what Jesus had done specifically for me was a powerful one.

The truth is that Jesus gave up His own life and died on the cross for you. Not just the collective you of the body of Christ, but for you personally. Everything He walked through and experienced was for your benefit. He did not do it out of obligation, but out of His great love for you personally—and it gave Him great joy. Let that truth sink in. The next time you take Communion, remember everything that Jesus did just for you. His love for you is great.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ and through him, God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.