And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said,
Take, eat: this is my body.
All Commentaries on Mark 14:22 Go To Mark 14
Justin Martyr
AD 165
When the president has given thanks and the whole congregation has assented, those whom we call deacons give to each of those present a portion of the consecrated bread and wine and water. They then take it to those absent. This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives according to the way Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus. For the apostles in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, thus handed down what was commanded them: that Jesus, taking bread and having given thanks, said, “Do this in remembrance of me. This is my body”; and similarly taking the cup and giving thanks he said, “This is my blood”; and gave it to them alone.
