Why did early Christians continue celebrating the Eucharist after Jesus’ death?

Early Christians continued celebrating the Eucharist after Jesus’ death primarily because they believed they were following his direct instruction to repeat the ceremony in his memory. According to the Gospel accounts and the writings of the Apostle Paul, Jesus instituted the rite at the Last Supper as a way for his followers to share in his sacrifice.12

The practice served several significant purposes for the early church:

• Memorial and Sacrifice: The rite functioned as an anamnesis, or a memorial before God, of Jesus' sacrificial offering on the cross.32
• Presence of Jesus: The bread and cup were understood to signify the presence of Jesus among his disciples.32
• Anticipation: Early Christians viewed the celebration as an anticipation of the future joys of the banquet in the kingdom of God.12
• Community: Originally, the ritual was enacted as a common meal, symbolizing the unity of the community of believers.32