“And it came to pass that Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine unto him. And while they were gone for bread and wine, he commanded the multitude that they should sit themselves down upon the earth. And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread, and brake and blessed it, and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. And when they had eat and were filled, he commanded that they should give unto the multitude. And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said unto the disciples, Behold, there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it, and give it unto the people of my church, unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in my name. And this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done, even as I have broken bread and blessed it, and gave it unto you. And this shall ye do in remembrance of my body which I have shewn unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my spirit to be with you.
And it came to pass that when he had said these words, he commanded his disciples that they should take of the wine of the cup and drink of it, and that they should also give unto the multitude that they might drink of it. And it came to pass that they did so, and did drink of it and were filled. And they gave unto the multitude, and they did drink and they were filled. And when the disciples had done this, Jesus said unto them, Blessed are ye for this thing which ye have done, for this is fulfilling my commandments, and this doth witness unto the Father that ye are willing to do that which I have commanded you. And this shall ye always do unto those who repent and are baptized in my name; and ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me, ye shall have my spirit to be with you. And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things, and if ye shall always do these things, blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock. But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation. And when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell is already open to receive them. Therefore, blessed are ye if ye shall keep my commandments which the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you. Verily, verily I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the Devil and ye are led away captive by him. And as I have prayed among you, even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold, I am the light; I have set an example for you.” (NC 3 Nephi 8:6–7, LDS 3 Nephi 18:1–16)
Jesus gives bread and tells his disciples, “this shall ye always observe to do, even as I have done”. After blessing and giving wine, he says “I have set an example for you”. He also warns that, “whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock“. How did Jesus give bread and wine in remembrance of him?
Each time Jesus breaks bread and gives wine to his disciples in remembrance of him, it is only he that blesses both the bread and wine. He tells them that this can be done by others and he will give power to one among them to do so when he says, “there shall one be ordained among you, and to him will I give power that he shall break bread and bless it”. One is to have power break bread and bless it, as Jesus is doing among them.
When Jesus is the one who is giving bread and wine in remembrance of his own body and blood, it may be more apparent that he is doing this to represent his own sacrifice in the breaking of his body and shedding of his blood that those who take it into themselves will become like him. When one stands in to give bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus giving his body and blood, it can be striking that he can be representing Jesus giving his flesh and blood.
Only one sacrificed his flesh with power to justify those who believe. That same one also gave his blood with power to sanctify those who follow him. Jesus offers bread in remembrance of his flesh and wine in remembrance of his blood to represent what he hopes will be done with the actual sacrifice of his body and blood, that we might take it into ourselves and allow it to become a part of us. Those who appropriately remember him will always have his spirit to be with them.
When others are involved in this act of remembering the sacrifice of Jesus’ flesh and blood, it is the disciples who eat first and after they have eaten, they then give to the multitude to eat.
Other places that give an account of Jesus giving bread and wine in remembrance of him are at: KJV Matthew 26:26–28, KJV Mark 14:22–26, LDS 3 Nephi 20:2–9.
Looking at other examples can show what is common in each example, and what differs. A study of other examples shows that on each occasion it is Jesus alone who blesses bread and wine. The disciples eat and drink and then give to the multitude to eat and drink. Are there other details that are common? Are there details that differ?
On the occasion given above, Jesus commands the multitude to sit themselves down upon the earth and then he proceeds to give them these emblems in remembrance of him. The next day when Jesus is among them, he prays for his disciples and for those who believe. He then, “commanded them that they should arise and stand up upon their feet. And they arose up and stood upon their feet. And it came to pass that he brake bread again and blessed it” (NC 3 Nephi 9:6, LDS 3 Nephi 20:2–3). The people sit upon the earth on the first day and stand upon their feet the second day. When the Nephites later partake of bread and wine in remembrance of his body and blood, “they did kneel down with the church“ (NC Moroni 4:1, LDS Moroni 4:2).
These examples also demonstrate that this rite can be observed more than just once in a week.
How closely is this example of Jesus to be followed to remember him? Are there details that are present but not necessary to follow? Are there things that should be followed but are not given? Is there enough that is given to be sufficient to follow?
If you had been there when Jesus gave bread and wine to remember him, what would you later do to try to duplicate that experience with others? What can be done now to duplicate the experience of Jesus giving bread and wine in remembrance of him?