You may have been taught that Holy Communion is a way to remember Jesus. Christians certainly remember His death when they gather at His table. But is Communion more than a symbol? What if Jesus gives the very gift His words announce?

For anyone looking for the historic Christian understanding of the Lord’s Supper, the place to begin is with Jesus.

Listen to the words of the Giver

On the night when He was betrayed, Jesus took bread and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body.” He gave them the cup as His blood of the covenant, poured out for the forgiveness of sins. Read the account in Matthew 26:26–28.

These words direct our attention to what He gives. The disciples did not make the gift real by remembering well enough or feeling deeply enough. Jesus spoke. Jesus gave. They received.

St. Paul speaks the same way. In 1 Corinthians 10:16, he calls the cup a participation in Christ’s blood and the bread a participation in Christ’s body. In 1 Corinthians 11:27–29, he warns against receiving unworthily. The gift is holy because it is the Lord’s body and blood.

What Lutherans mean by the Real Presence

Lutherans confess that Christ gives His true body and blood under the bread and wine for Christians to eat and drink. His words establish the gift. Faith receives its promised benefit: forgiveness.

We do not need to explain how His body and blood are present before trusting that they are. We know who speaks. The Savior who gave Himself into death for sinners is faithful to His promise.

The LCMS explanation of Christian belief describes the Lord’s Supper as Christ’s means of giving forgiveness, with life and salvation, to those who receive in faith. This is a gift for troubled consciences. When your sin accuses you, Christ directs you to what He has done and what He gives.

A question Christians have asked for centuries

Pastor Mark Surburg’s collection of early Christian testimony about the Sacrament prompted this series. Those witnesses invite us to listen carefully to the church’s confession across the centuries. Their testimony matters, while Holy Scripture remains the authority by which we judge every teaching.

The question is personal as well as historical: Where can a sinner find a sure promise of mercy? Jesus answers with His own body and blood, given and shed for you.

Come and see at Immanuel

If you are exploring the Lord’s Supper or looking for historic Lutheran worship in Tuscola, Illinois, plan your visit to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Come hear God’s Word, pray, and bring your questions.

If you wish to receive Communion, please speak with Pastor Braaten before the service. He will be glad to explain our confession and practice. You are welcome to worship with us as you learn.