In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
Luke 22:20
On that sacred night of our Lord’s last meal with His disciples, Jesus brought to reality the meaning of the “new covenant” that God would initiate through the ultimate sacrifice: His own Son. The “new covenant” fulfilled everything of the Old Testament Covenant with the Hebrew nation, and through the ultimate sacrifice of the perfect “Lamb of God,” mankind can now know peace with God through faith in the Son of God.
This real expression of the sacrifice of our Lord through the Passover meal brought the disciples in close to the true measure and meaning of salvation Jesus would bring through His own body. N. T. Wright offers a simple expression of the communion table of our Lord by reminding us that, “When Jesus wanted to explain to His disciples what His death was all about, He didn’t give them a theory, He gave them a meal.”
As the Scriptures teach, and as history reveals, the sacred tradition of the communion meal was inaugurated during the celebration of the Passover on the eve of our Lord’s death. This instituted a communion service (The Lord’s Supper) that continues today (I Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim our Lord’s death until He comes.”
If your childhood was as mine, you remember from the earliest years the ongoing observance of the Lord’s Supper. You also likely remember how the confusion of what was being said and practiced began to shift, and the experience began to make sense as you grew to understand the bread and the cup. Today, the remembrance continues. And we must always remember that the observance points to what our Savior has already accomplished on the cross.
In Luke 22, Jesus said, “this is my body for you,” as He tore the bread to symbolize that He would lay down His life to be sacrificed in a brutal death upon the cross. Jesus also said, “this is my blood poured out for you,” as He lifted the cup.
For just a moment, place yourself at the table with our Lord on that holy evening. Can you hear the voice of our Savior? Can you see His hands slowly moving with the bread and wine to demonstrate His sacrifice on the cross? Can you see crumbs of bread falling to the table as He tore through the loaf to symbolize His death? As the crumbs fell, imagine Him sitting motionless and quiet for just a moment to allow His disciples to take in this imagery. Can you visualize the chalice of wine? Can you see the crimson color foreshadowing the crimson flow that would soon stain Calvary’s hill? In that moment, Jesus imparted and instituted the divine depiction of His sacrifice for us. The deceit, betrayal, torture, grief, pain, and death following that sacred night fulfilled the message of the bread and cup with the astounding announcement of our redemption. This is the message of the table. This is the meaning of our Savior’s death.
As you continue your faith journey in this life, and as you have continued opportunity to come to the table of communion to remember, do not forget His sacrifice: His body given for you; His blood shed for you. Today, remember the bread and the cup. And, remember our Savior’s sacrifice.
Blessings.
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Read Luke 22:1-30.
