Matthew 26:26-29, Institution of the Lord's Supper

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

Comments

The Passover ritual had set words for the food and drink. Jesus’ unfamiliar words—although quite familiar to us—gave new meaning to the old Passover, creating a new Passover meal we now call Holy Communion. Calling the bread “my body” graphically illustrated his impending violent death, dashing any hopes he would live. By telling his disciples to eat his body, which only Matthew records, he explained that they (and we) would intimately participate in the effects of his death. If eating the Passover meal served to identify the Israelites with their redemption from Egypt, so does this eating and drinking convey the benefits of Jesus’ paschal sacrifice to those who share at his table.

God’s relationship with his people had always depended on the sacrificial shedding of blood, and Jesus’ new covenant was no exception. It created a new community constituted by his sacrificial death. The Passover, which had brought about a new nation under the Sinai covenant, was remade by Jesus, pointing to a new redemption of open to everyone, not merely the national community of the Old Covenant. Jesus pointed forward to a new life with God the Father where there will be a feast with the new wine of the Messianic banquet.

Prayer

Lord Christ, who said, “Do this in remembrance of me”: help us at every communion service to look back, and remember your death for us on the cross; to look up, and know that you are the risen savior among us; to look around, and rejoice in our fellowship with one another; and to look forward in hope to the coming of your kingdom and the heavenly banquet. For your name’s sake.

(Llewellyn Cumings)