And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28

While communion bread and wine did not, nor have they ever, become the literal body and blood of our Lord, the spiritual presence of the Lord is in both for communicants who receive them in faith.

That said, consider that the Lord knew full well what was ahead of Him in His crucifixion. Knowing that it was the eternal plan for His body to be broken and His blood to be shed, as He gave the symbolic elements of His body and blood to His disciples, He thanked the Lord—twice.

Jesus did so much more than give us examples to live by. He paid the penalty for our sin and saved His people from their sins. But He did give us many examples to live by. And this is one of them. When the Lord’s will for our lives includes suffering, let us follow our Savior’s example and give thanks. No matter how counter-intuitive it may appear, God’s will is always best. Even in the gravest of circumstances.

Encourage one another with these words, brethren.