Lord Jesus Christ Thou Living Bread
Lord Jesus Christ, Thou living bread
Lord Jesus Christ Thou Living Bread is a hymn text by Josua Stegmann (1627) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Winfred Douglas. Found in ELH 322, elw 640, lsb 625, lw 248. Sung to AGNUS DEI.
The hymn presents Christ as both the Lamb of God whose sacrifice removes sin and the living bread of eternal life, central to Lutheran sacramental theology. It emphasizes the comfort and nourishment found in Christ's redemptive work, expressing the eucharistic mystery that Christ offers himself as spiritual food for believers.
History & Background
Written by Josua Stegmann, a German Lutheran theologian and poet, around 1627 as a eucharistic hymn emphasizing Christ as the living bread and sacrificial lamb. The text was translated into English by Winfred Douglas in 1940 and has appeared in major Lutheran hymnals including The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) and Lutheran Service Book (2006).
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 322
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 640
- Lutheran Service Book — 625
- Lutheran Worship — 248
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 312
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Lutheran pastor Josua Stegmann in 1627, this hymn pairs the medieval Agnus Dei melody with Reformation theology, making the eucharistic mystery both accessible and profound for common worship.
Preaching Connection
This hymn amplifies the scandal and comfort of the Gospel by collapsing the distance between Calvary's judgment and the altar's mercy—Christ is simultaneously the Lamb who bears our sin and the living food that sustains us in faith.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law to Gospel: acknowledgment of universal sin, appeal to Christ's sacrificial work, petition for mercy and peace
Overview
A Communion preparation hymn by Johann Rist. The communicant asks to possess Christ, the living Bread, and to be made fit by grace (st. 1); applies Psalm 23 to the Supper — the Shepherd's table and the cup of salvation for one who is 'sin, weakness, and infirmity' (st. 2); comes in contrition for full remission and asks Christ to adorn him with faith as his own preparation (st. 3); and confesses he merits nothing, finding comfort only in Christ's compassion for sinners (st. 4). The key thought: Christ himself prepares us for his table.
Central theme: Coming to Christ the living Bread as a needy sinner, prepared by his grace and faith alone
Structure
Four seven-line stanzas (8.7.8.7.8.8.7). Desire (1) — Psalm 23 (2) — contrition and faith (3) — unworthiness and comfort (4).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'sin, weakness, and infirmity am I'; 'I merit not… self-abhorred' (2, 4). Gospel: Christ's table, remission, compassion (2-4).
Confessional Connections
Worthiness is faith worked by Christ (SC VI; 'With Thine own preparation'). Contrition and faith (AC XII). The Supper for the weak (LC V.70-72).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Preparation for Communion; distribution hymn; Lent.
Historical Notes
Rist (1607-1667), pastor at Wedel. Russell translated it in 1851.
About the Tune
HERR, WIE DU WILLST (Strassburg, 1525); row 923 uses AUS TIEFER NOT.
Scripture References
John 6:35, 48-51 Ps 23:1-5 Ps 116:13 Ps 51:17 Luke 15:2 Matt 9:36 Luke 18:13 Rev 3:18
Stanza by Stanza
Lord Jesus Christ, living Bread, may I possess you as my own; I want to be fed with heavenly food; come down, refresh and bless me. Make me fit for you now, Lord; grant me the grace and mercy my heart humbly begs.
John 6:51: 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven.' 'May I for mine possess Thee' — faith's 'for me.' 'Descend' — Christ comes down to us in the Supper; we do not ascend to him. 'Make me meet for Thee' — fitness for the table is Christ's gift, not our achievement (Col 1:12, 'qualified you to share in the inheritance').
- Scripture
- John 6:35, 48-51, Col 1:12, Ps 34:8
- Imagery & language
- Bread; descending; meetness.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ prepares and feeds.
- Connection to previous
- Opening petition.
You guide me to green pastures and lead me to quiet waters; you provide your table well and feed me from your hand. I am sin, weakness and infirmity; Savior, give me the cup of your salvation.
Psalm 23 read sacramentally, as the early Church did: green pastures, still waters (Baptism), the table prepared (the Supper), the overflowing cup. 'Sin, weakness, and infirmity am I' — a stark self-description, not 'I have' but 'I am.' 'The cup of Thy salvation' — Ps 116:13, 'I will lift up the cup of salvation' — here the cup of Christ's blood.
- Scripture
- Ps 23:1-5, Ps 116:13, 1 Cor 10:16, Rom 7:18
- Imagery & language
- Pasture, water, table, cup.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — I am sin; Gospel — the Shepherd's table and cup.
- Connection to previous
- The Shepherd's feast.
Bread of heaven, my soul's delight, I come before you in prayer, sorrow and contrition, for full and free forgiveness. Adorn my soul with faith so that I may now approach your table with your own preparation.
'Full and free remission' — complete forgiveness, freely given. Contrition and faith, the two parts of repentance (AC XII). 'With faith adorn my soul' — the wedding garment (Matt 22:11-12; Rev 3:18) is faith in Christ. 'With Thine own preparation' — a key line: the preparation for the Supper is Christ's own work in us, not a precondition we produce.
- Scripture
- Ps 51:17, Matt 22:11-12, Rev 3:18, Eph 2:8, Heb 10:22
- Imagery & language
- Adorning the soul; preparation.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — faith given as preparation.
- Connection to previous
- Preparation.
Lord, I do not deserve your favor; sin lies on me; self-loathing under my burden, my spirit cries to you. In all my grief this comforts me: that you, Lord Jesus, graciously have compassion on sinners.
Confession of unworthiness: 'I merit not' (Luke 15:21). 'Self-abhorred' — Job 42:6. The comfort comes from outside: Christ's compassion on sinners (Matt 9:36; Luke 15:2). The penitent does not look inward for comfort but to Christ's heart.
- Scripture
- Luke 15:2, 21, Job 42:6, Matt 9:36, Luke 18:13, Heb 4:15-16
- Imagery & language
- Burden; cry; compassion.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — unworthiness; Gospel — Christ's compassion.
- Connection to previous
- Concludes.
Themes
Christ as Lamb of God Eucharistic mystery Sacrificial atonement Communion with Christ Peace through redemption