173. What do the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper symbolise?

Just as the bread and cup of the Lord are offered to me, so His body was offered for me on the cross and His blood was shed for me.

And:

Just as I receive and enjoy the bread and wine, the symbols of the body and blood of Christ, He Himself feeds and waters my soul for eternal life through His crucified body and His shed blood.

  • I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. (John 6:51)
  • Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:54)
  • The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10:16)