Understanding the Power of Christ’s Words in the Eucharist and Scripture

“What Jesus Says, Is”

The phrase “What Jesus says, is” serves as a profound theological axiom, especially within the Christian understanding of divine speech and sacramental theology. It asserts that the words of Jesus are not merely descriptive or symbolic but ontologically creative, they bring into existence the very realities they declare. This idea has significant implications for the doctrine of the Eucharist, as well as for broader biblical narratives, where Christ’s words actively change reality. To comprehend this notion fully, one must examine its theological underpinnings and its manifestation throughout scripture, particularly in Christ’s actions and teachings.

The Power of Divine Speech in Scripture

The concept of divine speech as a force that actively shapes reality is rooted in the Bible itself. In the creation narrative of Genesis, God speaks the world into existence: “Let there be light,” and “there was light” (Genesis 1:3). This pattern of divine command leading directly to creation highlights the unique power of God’s word to alter reality, a power echoed in the words of Christ throughout the New Testament.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus is identified as the Logos, the divine Word through whom “all things were made” (John 1:3). This identification of Jesus as the Word of God reveals that his words carry the same creative and authoritative force as God’s own speech. The phrase “What Jesus says, is” thus underscores a core Christian belief: that Christ’s words are performative, they do not merely reflect truth but enact it.

Examples of Christ’s Performative Speech

Christ’s ability to transform reality through speech is vividly displayed in numerous biblical miracles. In the story of the calming of the storm (Mark 4:39), Jesus commands, “Peace! Be still!” and immediately the wind ceases and the sea becomes calm. This event illustrates the authority of Christ’s words over nature, bringing about an immediate transformation. Similarly, in the raising of Lazarus (John 11:43), Jesus calls out, “Lazarus, come out!” and the man, who had been dead for four days, rises from the grave. Here, Jesus’ words conquer death itself, altering the very nature of life and death.

In these instances, Christ’s words do not function as mere commands or requests, they directly effect the changes they declare. This performative aspect of Christ’s speech reflects a key theological principle: in Christ, the word and the reality it conveys are inseparable. His words possess the divine power to bring forth what they pronounce.

The Eucharist: “This Is My Body”

The phrase “What Jesus says, is” is central to the Christian understanding of the Eucharist, particularly within the framework of transubstantiation, as upheld by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and declared, “This is my body” and “This is my blood” (Luke 22:19–20). In this moment, Christians believe, the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ. This transformation is not symbolic but real, based on the principle that Christ’s words have the power to change the very substance of the elements.

This belief is not limited to medieval theological formulations but is deeply rooted in early Christian tradition. Ignatius of Antioch, writing in the early second century, referred to the Eucharist as “the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ”¹. The conviction that Christ’s words during the Last Supper bring about a real transformation is also articulated by Thomas Aquinas, who developed the doctrine of transubstantiation in his Summa Theologica. Aquinas argued that Christ’s words, being divine, effect the change of the substance of the bread and wine, while their appearances remain unchanged².

Faith and the Hidden Reality

Because the transformation of the bread and wine is not perceptible to human senses, the faithful are called to trust in the power of Christ’s word. The phrase “What Jesus says, is” underscores the necessity of faith in the sacraments. As Aquinas taught, it is through faith in the divine authority of Christ’s words that believers accept the reality of his presence in the Eucharist, even though the external appearance of the bread and wine remains unchanged. This is a reflection of the broader Christian understanding that divine realities often transcend human comprehension and empirical observation.

Just as in other instances of divine action, such as the raising of Lazarus or the healing of the paralytic (Mark 2:11), the power of Christ’s word is not limited by human limitations. It is the word itself, spoken by the incarnate Logos, that changes the underlying reality. In the Eucharist, this principle is made manifest, as the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ by the sheer force of his word.

Other Biblical Examples of Christ’s Transformative Words

Beyond the Eucharist, the Bible provides numerous examples where Christ’s words bring about a change in reality. In the healing of the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5–13), Jesus says, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed,” and the servant is healed at that very moment. This passage illustrates the power of Jesus’ words even at a distance, reflecting the belief that Christ’s authority transcends spatial limitations. His words alone effect healing and restoration.

Similarly, when Jesus forgives sins, as in the case of the woman in Luke 7:48, his words not only declare forgiveness but enact it. By saying, “Your sins are forgiven,” Jesus brings about a spiritual transformation, altering the woman’s relationship with God and freeing her from her past sins. Here again, Christ’s words do more than describe, they change the spiritual reality.

The Mystery of Christ’s Word

The phrase “What Jesus says, is” encapsulates a key theological truth that runs through both scripture and Christian sacramental theology. Christ’s words have the power to change reality, whether by calming storms, raising the dead, or transforming bread and wine into his body and blood. This understanding is not merely symbolic but reflects a deep conviction about the nature of divine speech. Just as God’s word brought forth creation in Genesis, so too does Christ’s word bring forth new realities in the world and in the sacraments. The Eucharist, in particular, stands as a testament to the enduring power of Christ’s words to transform, offering the faithful a participation in the divine mystery of God’s presence.

Footnotes:

¹ Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, 7.
² Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part III, Q. 75, Art. 4.