Baptism and Holy Communion are considered as two important sacraments of the Protestant Churches. The word Qurbana originated from the Aramic word Korban. The Syrian churches have given the name Qurbana for the Lord’s Supper. The word Korbanmeans offering. The Catholic Church calls this as Mass. The word Mass originated from the Latin root word Mittere which means to ‘let go’. The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament that the Christian Church observes to commemorate Christ’s death on the Cross. The Passover feast that Jesus had with the Apostles is what is traditionally accepted and believed as the Lord’s Supper in the Church. The description of this last supper is given in the Gospels and the first letter written to the Corinthians (Matt. 26: 17- 29; Mark 14: 17- 25; Luke 22: 14- 21; 1 Cor. 11: 23- 26). Even though John the Baptist gives a description of a supper (John 13: 21- 30) there is no mention of the establishment of the Lord ’s Table in it. Only Luke records Jesus saying ‘do this in remembrance of me’ (Luke 22: 19). The one that the Jews did every year for Passover Festival is what Christ asked to do in remembrance of Him every time we gather together because Christ was saying the Passover lamb that was sacrificed in the earlier days is he himself (1 Cor. 5: 7). Jesus should be remembered in the Passover rituals that are yet to take place also. This was the message. Nobody who is not a Jew should celebrate it (Exodus 12: 42- 51). But when the New Testament Church started to commemorate this as a ritual this service became a means to meditate on the Lord’s death on the Cross and to come to Him with repentance.

1. Beginning of Holy Communion (Exodus 12: 1- 14)
The observance of Passover by the Jews later turned to Holy Communion. This is the main one of the many annual festivals of the Israelites. This is called as the Passover feast and also the feast of unleavened bread. But both these are different. The Passover feast is in the evening of 14th of Nissan month (April). That was the day the Angel of death passed over the tents of the Israelites. It was the Passover that is observed by the Jews for years that Jesus observed with His disciples (Matt. 26: 18, 19; Mark 14: 16; Luke 22: 8- 13). The foreigners shouldn’t observe this either (Exodus 12: 42- 51)

2. Holy Communion and the New Testament Church (1 Cor. 10: 14- 22)
Through this sacrament like how Christ is remembered, the unity, fellowship and strength in human relations should also increase. “Because there one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf” ( 1Cor. 10: 17). The first Church gave a lot of importance to fellowship with each other. There is a fellowship in the breaking of bread (Acts 2: 42, 46). In this fellowship they enjoyed gladness and sincerity of hearts (Acts 2: 46). The Lord’s Supper becomes a means for the increase in fellowship within the Church, increase in love and also maintenance of unity. In the Lord’s Supper the Church gets an opportunity to inspect and purify it. In this way disqualifications are removed and defects are recognized. God’s grace is again sought for a life of purity. Without His grace a pure life is impossible. Thus the Lord’s Supper gives a blessed message to indulge in self-introspection and to purify oneself; an opportunity to judge oneself. If we do so, we will not be judged (1 Cor. 11: 27- 33). In this way we should be able to live by being constantly reminded of God’s presence (Psalm 16: 11).

Here it is good to remember another interpretation of the Biblical passage (1 Cor. 11: 17- 34) which is considered to be the reason for the sacrament that is the Lord’s Supper. It is said that when the Church of Corinth got together some had a lot of food and some starved and so this message here was given by Paul about community meal. It is because of the crux of the message that Paul gives here that it is believed that the Holy Communion is not a Qurbana that can be had by a small portion of the people but the equality that Christ imagined is to be evident here. “So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather together to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgement” (1 Cor. 11: 33, 34). These interpretations content that his message-“ our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality” (2 Cor 8:13) is the reason behind the advice here. There are records that the in the1st Century Church, atleast for a short time this unity prevailed (Acts 2: 32- 35). So we should consider that this sacrament along with the spiritual realm has a societal dimension to it too.

3. Holy Communion – Now (Luke 22: 7- 20)
Through Holy Communion Lord’s death on the Cross and His resurrection is commemorated. The bread that we break is remembered as a communion in the body of Christ and the cup from which we drink is remembered as a sign of the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the Cross. Christ, who is invisible and imminent in each fellowship, is meditated upon (1 Cor. 10: 20, 21). The experience of us living in Christ and Christ in us becomes full of life and radiant (John 6: 53- 58). It becomes a cause for fellowship with each other and also God. The main hope of the Christian Church is the Second Coming of Jesus. From the time of Christ’s ascension the Church awaits His second coming (Acts 1: 11). Here we should remember the Church’s prayer “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22: 20). Paul argues that this sacrament declares the death of Christ until He comes again. The Holy Communion is a sign of testifying to the death of Christ until He comes again.