Article Twenty-Eight of the Articles of Religion
28. Of the Lord's Supper.
The Supper of the Lord is not only a sign of the love that Christians ought to have among themselves one to another, but rather it is a Sacrament of our Redemption by Christ's death: insomuch that to such as rightly, worthily, and with faith, receive the same, the Bread which we break is a partaking of the Body of Christ; and likewise the Cup of Blessing is a partaking of the Blood of Christ. Transubstantiation (or the change of the substance of Bread and Wine) in the Supper of the Lord, cannot be proved by Holy Writ; but is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture, overthroweth the nature of a Sacrament, and hath given occasion to many superstitions. The Body of Christ is given, taken, and eaten, in the Supper, only after an heavenly and spiritual manner. And the mean whereby the Body of Christ is received and eaten in the Supper, is Faith. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshipped.
Please read the account of the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35:
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ND, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. (Luke 24:13-35)
This passage reveals how our ignorance of God’s Word can leave us in doubt and fear. It begins on a hot, dusty road leading from Jerusalem to Emmaus – a distance of about 7.5 miles through rough, wilderness terrain. It is the first day of the week in which our risen Lord appeared to the women at the Garden Tomb. God chose these simple women as the first to see Him following His resurrection and, now, these two common men on the Road to Emmaus is His second post-resurrection appearance. These men, like the other disciples, are fearful and despondent. They do not understand how the Son of God could be treated so ruthlessly. They lacked study and understanding of the Law and Prophets, else they would have been relieved of that anxiety. They also felt deserted and alone.
It is noteworthy these men felt most deserted by God at a time when He was closer to them than ever before – in fact, walking right beside. How often our sorrows convince us of the abandonment of God when He is right beside us to comfort and enlighten. As they discussed the horrors, Jesus asked them which? They told Him of the crucifixion and open tomb, but without understanding or faith. It was at this point that our Lord revealed all that was written of Him in the Law and Prophets. Had they been sound students of the Bible, they would have known these things.
As the day dawned toward evening, they arrived at Emmaus. Jesus acted as if He would travel on, but the men insisted that He come into their home and lodge with them. He lodges with all who invite Him in. At the evening meal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave to the men. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. (Luke 24:30-31) This passage has sacramental significance. It is in the breaking of bread in the Communion Service that we have the closest fellowship with our Lord. Only friends eat together at the same Table – the Lord’s Table – and consume the same bread that signifies the spiritual Presence of the Lord with His people. The Bread represents His Body – the Church (you and me). Our eyes are opened in the knowing of our Lord.
There was a grain that fell into the earth and died 2,000 years ago when Christ died for us. Out of that grain a multitude of grains has grown into the Bread of which we partake at the Holy Communion. We are the many grains that are the fruit of that Holy Grain that was planted at the Garden Tomb. Bread is made of many thousands of grain. These are crushed and formed into the Bread of the Communion. We consume the Bread. We are part with Christ, and He of us.
His Word is the Bread of Life, and His Blood is the Life. The Holy Communion is the continuation of the Lord’s Passover. We observe that Communion as one family – One with Christ:
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ND when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1 Cor 11:24-29)
