How all 5 senses are involved in Holy Communion

The bread should be touched. There is no way to get it into your mouth without touching it. Some preachers break the bread and places into the person's hand.For sanitary reasons, that doesn't happen too much anymore. Today a plate is passed and people take their own elements.Additionally, you have to touch the bread with your hands to get it into your mouth.You might be wondering to yourself how can you hear the bread and wine during the Lord's Supper.The person who is instituting the Lord's Supper holds up the goblet containing the wine high in the air for all to see. Then he pours the wine into another goblet just for the demonstration. The gurgling sound of the wine being poured can be heard even by the person in the back pew during this sacred and holy act.We know that in churches today, the elements have already been prepared beforehand. Keep in mind, however, that this is a demonstration for the hearing of the wine as it is been poured.This is done to satisfy the sense of hearing even when though the elements have been prepared in advance. During the church service, you can't help from smelling the fresh bread and wine on the communion table.As the two elements are given to you, the aroma of both elements will be quite evident. When you smell the bread, you might remember the words of Jesus when He told His disciples to eat the bread which symbolizes His broken body. When you drink the wine, you might reflect on the words Jesus said to His disciple when He told them to drink the wine that represents His shed blood. You can smell the fresh bread that was baked for the specific purpose of Holy Communion. A long time ago, the little ladies in the church took turns and looked forward to baking the bread for Holy Communion.Everyone who entered the church could smell the bread during the service. Also, people would be able to smell the wine.People have often asked about recovered alcoholics or those who didn't want wine. In a case like this, grape juice is also available. That too has a scent that satisfies the sense of smell during Holy Communion. View the list »
God created us all with five senses. They are:Sight: the act of viewing and seeing with our eyes.Hearing: the act of taking in sounds with our ears.Smelling: the act of taking in aroma with our nose.Tasting: the act of distinguishing foods and drinks with the tongue.Touching: the ability to feel with the hands or other body parts.When Christians take Holy Communion, all five senses are involved. However, with other activities, all five senses might not be used.

Western Religions newsletter

Holy Communion is a Christian sacrament or ordinance. It is reenacted in accordance with Jesus' instruction at the Last Supper as recorded in several books of the New Testament that His followers do in remembrance of Him.

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On the night of Jesus' arrest, He instituted the Lord's Supper. He took bread and broke it telling His disciples that it was His body broken for them. Then He took the wine and said it was his blood shed for the remission of sin. And then He commanded the disciples to do so in remember of Him until He returns. (Matthew 26:26-29)

Holy Communion, or The Lord's Supper, is the gospel involving all 5 senses.

Every Christian all of the world knows about Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper. And just as many have participated in that ordinance at some time.

There is much to be said about the Lord's Supper, but this article will only address how the five senses are involved in the Lord's Supper.

Jesus and His disciples had eaten a complete meal. We know this as the Last Supper. It was only after the meal was eaten did Jesus turn to His disciples and instituted the Lord's Supper that is still carried out in churches all over the world on a regular basis.

Click through the list to see how all five senses are involved when we follow Jesus' command to "eat this bread" and "drink this wine."

View the list
  • God created us all with five senses. They are:Sight: the act of viewing and seeing with our eyes.Hearing: the act of taking in sounds with our ears.Smelling: the act of taking in aroma with our nose.Tasting: the act of distinguishing foods and drinks with the tongue.Touching: the ability to feel with the hands or other body parts.When Christians take Holy Communion, all five senses are involved. However, with other activities, all five senses might not be used.
  • During the church service, you can't help from smelling the fresh bread and wine on the communion table.As the two elements are given to you, the aroma of both elements will be quite evident. When you smell the bread, you might remember the words of Jesus when He told His disciples to eat the bread which symbolizes His broken body. When you drink the wine, you might reflect on the words Jesus said to His disciple when He told them to drink the wine that represents His shed blood. You can smell the fresh bread that was baked for the specific purpose of Holy Communion. A long time ago, the little ladies in the church took turns and looked forward to baking the bread for Holy Communion.Everyone who entered the church could smell the bread during the service. Also, people would be able to smell the wine.People have often asked about recovered alcoholics or those who didn't want wine. In a case like this, grape juice is also available. That too has a scent that satisfies the sense of smell during Holy Communion. 
  • You might be wondering to yourself how can you hear the bread and wine during the Lord's Supper.The person who is instituting the Lord's Supper holds up the goblet containing the wine high in the air for all to see. Then he pours the wine into another goblet just for the demonstration. The gurgling sound of the wine being poured can be heard even by the person in the back pew during this sacred and holy act.We know that in churches today, the elements have already been prepared beforehand. Keep in mind, however, that this is a demonstration for the hearing of the wine as it is been poured.This is done to satisfy the sense of hearing even when though the elements have been prepared in advance. 
  • The bread should be touched. There is no way to get it into your mouth without touching it. Some preachers break the bread and places into the person's hand.For sanitary reasons, that doesn't happen too much anymore. Today a plate is passed and people take their own elements.Additionally, you have to touch the bread with your hands to get it into your mouth.
  • When you eat the bread no matter what kind of bread it is, you will taste it. It is acceptable today that churches use all kinds of bread (wafers, crackers, white bread, etc.).The point of Holy Communion is that all Christians all over the world are eating from that one loaf. It is not just for the few people in your church or in your city, but Christians everywhere who are eating from that broken loaf. It is hard to perceive that if you are sharing that one little piece of bread with others who are carrying out the same command of Jesus.
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Suggested by the author:

, Richmond Christian Education Examiner

Rev. Margaret Minnicks has been a licensed minister since 1995 and an ordained minister of Christian education since 1996. Rev. Minnicks received a B.A. in English from Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia in 1968, a M.A. in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian...

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