But what do you think our Lord means by these four “THIS”s - what does He say they actually are, and what does He command us to actually do? (as revealed here by Paul):
“Take ye, and eat: THIS is my body, which shall be delivered for you: THIS do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: THIS chalice is the New Testament in my blood: THIS do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.”
Please, in this context, also read and be cognizant of, the last half of John 6, where Jesus even allowed his disciples to walk away forever in their free will.
Perhaps a good place to start understanding is by figuring out just what the symbolism of the foods still mean today.
"For, as for myself, I received by direct revelation from the presence of the Lord that which also I in turn passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night during which He was being betrayed took bread, and having given thanks, He broke it and said, This is my body which is [given] on your behalf. This be doing with a view to remembering me.
"In like manner also He took the cup after the partaking of the food, saying, This cup is the covenant new in its nature, a covenant which is within the sphere of my blood. This be doing as often as you are drinking it, with a view to remembering me. For as often as you are eating this bread and drinking this cup, the death of the Lord you are proclaiming until that time whenever He may come.
(Wuest, K. S. (1961). The New Testament: an expanded translation (1 Co 11:23–34). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.)
Paul stated that Christians engage in the Lord's Supper to remember Him and to proclaim Him.
