What do we Receive in Holy Communion

”For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11: 26)

At the time of the Reformation it was established that nothing magical happens at Holy Communion. The bread and wine remain just that. We celebrate the meal to commemorate with gratitude the death of Jesus upon the Cross, where he paid the penalty that we deserve on account of our sins. Bread reminds us of his body crucified. Wine reminds us of his shed blood.

Because Christ instructed us to continue this feast until he returns, and because obedience leads to spiritual blessing, we may be sure that when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, that in some special way we feed on Christ, in a spiritual manner.

The need to know exactly how belongs more to rationalism than to Christianity. We need no magic, but there is an element of mystery in a love relationship with God.

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