As a background to Luther's debate with Zwingli at Marburg, let us consider the Lord's table as it is seen in the Word of God and in the views of different theologians. Firstly the Lord's table is a table of fellowship. Paul calls it “a fellowship of the blood of Christ...a fellowship of the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 10: 16) .The word fellowship implies some movement of life from one to another.

We remember Him not by exercising our mentality or memory but by eating and drinking the Lord, by exercising our spirit to take Him in.

For instance, the blood that flows through the body brings the whole body into a common fellowship. In the same way, we enjoy a fellowship of the Lord's life around His table. Secondly, at the Lord's table we testify to the oneness of Christ's Body in the universe. “We who are many are one bread, one Body; for we all partake of the one bread” (I Cor. 10:17). The one bread on the table symbolizes the one Body of Christ, of which we all are members. Thirdly, we enjoy the Lord's supper to remember Him. First Corinthians 11:24 says, “And having given thanks, He broke it and said, this is My body, which is for you; this do unto the remembrance of Me.” Therefore the bread also symbolizes the physical body of Christ that was crucified for us on the cross. We remember Him not by exercising our mentality or memory but by eating and drinking the Lord, by exercising our spirit to take Him in. Fourthly, we declare Christ's death. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you declare the Lord's death until He comes” (I Cor. 11:26). At the table we declare what that death accomplished and what that resurrection achieved. Today Christ is no longer nailed on the cross. Rather, He has become the life-giving Spirit within us. This is our proclamation as we gather around His table.

Over the years there have been differing views as to what the bread and wine mean. One school says that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.

...at the Lord's table we testify to the oneness of Christ's Body in the universe.

According to this understanding, as soon as the priest or minister recites the words of consecration, the ordinary bread and wine are magically changed into the very flesh and blood of Christ. This is the teaching of the Roman Catholics today, and Lutherans hold a very similar view. The Catholics say that bread and wine are transformed into flesh and blood. The Lutherans say that Christ becomes physically present in, with, and under the bread and wine, although no actual transformation takes place. Where Christ was not present, after the words of consecration He is present in, with, and under the bread and wine. The Catholic and Lutheran views are very similar.

The contrasting view is that the bread and wine are just symbols. They remain bread and wine,

The contrasting view is that the bread and wine are just symbols.

but they signify something very important, as seen in I Corinthians. The book of Acts gives no indication of any ritual or any magical words that would change the bread and wine into Christ's physical body and blood. Nevertheless, the Lord is surely present when we gather around His table, as He promised: “In the midst of the church I will sing hymns of praise unto You” (Heb. 2:12). In the midst of us as we sing, the Son sings hymns of praise to the Father.