This is an excerpt from my book “40 Moments From Christ’s Final Days.” Click here to get it from Amazon using my affiliate link.
Find this moment in: Mt. 26:26–29, Mk. 14:22–25, Lk. 22:14–20
Churches frequently practice the Lord’s Supper, sometimes called Communion. In it, we have some bread, a drink made of grapes, and a reading of God’s word. Most Christians know what it is, but we don’t always understand why we still do it.
In the time of Jesus, it was traditional to have a full meal to celebrate the Passover. Part of this meal would include bread and wine. During Passover, Jesus used those two elements to teach His disciples something fundamental that He wanted them to repeat until He returned.
Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it. And giving it to the disciples, He said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29)
Jesus says two key things at the end of this passage. First, He says that this represents the new covenant. Second, He says He won’t share this with them until He ushers in His kingdom.
Covenants are a critical part of biblical history. In the Old Testament, God made covenants with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. All of these were promises God made to His people. Some covenants, especially the Mosaic, depend on Israel’s obedience to receive blessings or curses from God. However, they all have a one-sided promise that God alone will fulfill regardless of the other side’s obedience.
As Christ sets this new covenant, we realize that all previous covenants have led to this moment. In Genesis 8:20-22, God promised Noah He would never again destroy all living creatures, which would allow the Messiah to be born. In Genesis 12:2-3, God promised Abraham that He would make His offspring into a great nation that would bless the world, which allowed the Messiah to be born into God’s chosen people. In Exodus 19:5-6, God promised Moses that Israel would be a nation of priests, allowing Jesus, our Great High Priest of Hebrews 4:14-16, to make atonement for sins. Finally, in 2 Samuel 7:8-16, God promised David that one of His descendants would always sit on his throne, which the King of Kings will fulfill when He returns to establish His kingdom.
These covenants have brought us to Jesus Christ. And just as an outward sign always accompanied the previous covenants, Jesus says that the sign of the new covenant will be the blood He’d soon shed for the forgiveness of sins. This new covenant promises the forgiveness of sins now and eternal life with Christ forever. Just like the previous covenants, this one depends on the work of God alone to uphold, not us.
Jesus is coming back to celebrate the total fulfillment of His new covenant. Of course, it’s easy for us to forget our promised future, possible only through the shed blood of Christ, when we’re distracted by today. Jesus told His disciples to regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper so they would remember God’s promise, work, and sign in shedding His blood on the cross.
Stop and think: The Lord’s Supper is our regular reminder of what Jesus did. Christ did much, yet He specifically wants us to commemorate this moment. Why do you think Jesus never wants us to forget this new covenant?
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