Transubstantiation

The Lord’s Supper consists of unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. We know that the bread is to be unleavened because Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper during the feast of the unleavened bread (Matthew 26:17). There would not be any leaven in the house during that time (Exodus 12:19). The fruit of the vine was likely fermented since the drink used during Passover was wine mixed with water, diluted wine was the standard drink of Jesus’ day, and Paul’s statement that some in the Corinthian church were getting drunk at their love feasts, which culminated in communion (1 Corinthians 11:21). Moreover, Passover was celebrated in the spring, which means they were using grapes harvested the previous summer. Given the hot climate and their lack of refrigeration, the grapes would have been fermented by that time. Today, most American churches use grape juice. Regardless, it should not be a fellowship issue among Christians. Both are “fruit of the vine.”

Roman Catholicism teaches that the bread and fruit of the vine are changed into the literal body and blood of Christ during the eucharistic prayer of communion. This doctrine is called “Transubstantiation,” which means “a change of substance.” Having grown up in that faith, I still recall straining my eyes trying to see this change take place. However, I now realize that Transubstantiation is not true.

When Jesus said, “This is my body” and “This is my blood,” he was speaking figuratively. The elements represent his body and blood; they are not literally those things. In fact, when Jesus instituted communion, he was there with the disciples in person. They would have understood his words to be symbolic. Otherwise, he would have been encouraging cannibalism. Hence, it is not a reenactment but a remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). Jesus was offered “once” (Hebrews 9:28), not every time communion was observed.