All have sinned and stand in need of God's forgiveness. Our sinfulness and the troubles, sorrows, difficulties and stresses of our life in this fallen world are all reasons we need the Lord’s Supper. As great as is our need, even greater is the life-giving meal He has provided! It is a very personal way God works in our life to save us, to strengthen us and to keep us close to Him. Jesus promised to be with us always, to the very close of the age (Matt. 28:20). Through His precious Word and Sacraments, our Lord continues to fulfill His promise.
Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of the Altar with these words: “This is My body, given for you. This cup is My blood of the new testament, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-25).
The Lord’s Supper “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink” (Small Catechism).
We do not try to explain how Jesus is present under the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, rather we believe, teach, confess, and rejoice that He is present. We Lutherans let the words of Jesus stand without arguing about their possibility or trying to explain how they are true, as Jesus’ Word is sure and certain. The Holy Spirit gives us faith to trust in and believe Jesus’ words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Christ’s words of institution retain their validity and power, and thus, by virtue of these words, the body and blood of Christ are truly present, distributed, and received.
