Where Do We Get The Words of Institution From?

1 Corinthians 11:23 "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In most churches you will hear these words or something similar spoken before a church celebrates Holy Communion. Some churches celebrate Communion every week and some less than every week.  Paul's words today reflect what he passed on to the early church. Although Paul was not with the disciples at the Last Supper, he says he "received it from the Lord".  This could be through a direct impartation, or more likely from the other apostles.  

While we hear the spoken Word (the sermon) in a typical church worship service, Holy Communion is a time for us to receive the visible Word of God.  The Word is Jesus.  So we hear the Good News about what Jesus has done for us in the Word proclaimed, and then in Holy Communion we experience it through the bread and the wine.  I won't get into all the explanations and interpretations of how Jesus is present in the bread and wine.  Suffice it to say that it is a mystery how Jesus is present. We experience Jesus' presence in the bread broken and the wine poured through faith.  Faith in what?  Jesus' words, "This is my body given for you!"  

In the same way when we receive the wine poured for us, we remember the blood he shed for us.  The wine reminds us of God's promise that through Jesus' blood shed on the cross we are forgiven.  This is why before communion most churches lead the congregation in some type of confession followed by the words of absolution.  Receiving communion reminds us that through the body and blood of Christ we are forgiven.  The old is gone and the new has come.  

In our church we celebrate communion every week.  Why?  Because if Jesus is truly present and we experience him by faith in the bread and wine, why would we not celebrate it as often as possible. This is probably why the Catholic church offers a daily Mass where people can receive communion each day.  

In the following passage, Paul warns the Corinthians not to take communion in an unworthy manner.  In a manner not recognizing the body of our Lord. If Jesus is truly present we should come to the table in reference and thanksgiving recognizing his body. Paul warned the Corinthian church that they were of receiving Christ's body in an unworthy manner, because they had neglected those in the body who were poor and only cared for themselves.  

Celebration of the Lord's Supper connects us with Christians all over the world who are also participating in the body and blood of Christ.  Communion is a foreshadowing of the feast that will have no end in heaven. This is the wedding banquet prepared before the beginning before the world for those who have been called to be children of God.  I hope this will help you to experience communion in a meaningful way the next time you partake in it!