Scripture Verse

The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread. And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me. 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. 1 Corinthians 11:23–25

Introduction

Words: Mat­thi­as Loy, in the Ev­an­gel­ic­al Lu­ther­an Hym­nal (Co­lum­bus, Ohio: 1880).

Music: St. Cris­pin George J. El­vey, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Matthias Loy (1828–1915)

Lyrics

An awe-full mys­te­ry is here
To chal­lenge faith and wak­en fear:
The Sav­ior comes as food di­vine,
Concealed in earth­ly bread and wine.

This world is love­less—but above
What won­drous bound­less­ness of love!
The King of Gl­ory stoops to me
My spir­it’s life and strength to be.

In con­se­crat­ed wine and bread
No eye per­ceives the mys­te­ry dread;
But Je­sus’ words are strong and clear;
My bo­dy and My blood are here.

How dull are all the pow­ers of sense
Employed on proofs of love im­mense!
The rich­est food re­mains un­seen,
And high­est gifts ap­pear—how mean!

But here we have no boon on earth,
And faith alone dis­cerns its worth.
The Word, not sense, must be our guide,
And faith as­sure since sight’s de­nied.

Lord, show us still that Thou art good
And grant us ev­er­more this food.
Give faith to ev­ery wa­ver­ing soul
And make each wound­ed spir­it whole.

illustration
The Last Supper
Juan de Juanes (1523–1579)