The Lord’s Supper

Where the Old Covenant sacrifice required the blood of a lamb and was continually repeated for the remission of sin the New Covenant required a one time sacrifice of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus, He overcame sin and death once and for all  who would accept the salvation gift.

Jesus willingly gave up His life by death on the cross in atonement for the sins of man.

1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

In Deuteronomy 7:6, a "people holy to the LORD your God" literally means "a people of special possession." The Hebrew word segullah forms the word "special," meaning "private property or possession." The Israelites were God's property. But not in an oppressive way: It was a way of God giving them His favor. This favor was not to be taken advantage of but was to be a way of life, a way of identifying who they were in light of the God they served.

They were to honor God with their lives and continue to depend on His provision and care even in the promised land. They were to remember the God of the covenant and live according to His commands. God would expand their territory as they grew, and all the promises He made to them would come to pass. He would go before them as they conquered their enemies. Their example is for our benefit also as we live as the chosen of God. First5 

The elements of the Lord’s Supper serve as signs of the new covenant.

Matthew 26:26-29

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 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.”

Mark 14:22-25

22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:17-20

17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

The New King James Version

Jesus’ body was the final sacrifice that would atone for sins, just as the Passover lamb signified the atonement for the people’s sins every year (Leviticus 16). The Passover meal includes four (sometimes five) cups of wine; this is likely the third, the cup of blessing. In the ancient Near East, covenants often were ratified using blood (through sacrifice). At Sinai, Moses sprinkled the people with the blood of the covenant (Exodus 24:8). Faithlife Study Bible

This is My blood of the new covenant refers to the covenant that had been promised in the Old Testament. The Lord Jesus specifically said that His blood … is shed for many for the remission of sins. The word many looks back and anticipates the command to preach the Good News to all the world. 

This verse anticipates God’s kingdom when Christ will reign on the throne of David. Today He is seated with the Father on His throne and intercedes for us. The NKJV Study Bible

After giving thanks He broke it recalls Jesus’ miraculous feedings. In the Passover, God had constituted Israel as a liberated nation through a meal. Here, Jesus reconstitutes the people of God with those who receive Him and His ministry. By receiving the Lord’s Supper, Jesus’ followers accept Jesus as the Messiah who suffers and dies on their behalf. 

The only occasion in Mark’s Gospel when Jesus speaks of being in the kingdom. This could be a reference to heaven following Jesus’ ascension or to the arrival of the kingdom of God in a more powerful manner following Jesus’ resurrection. Faithlife Study Bible

Judas left the room after receiving the dipped portion of bread, prior to Jesus’ act of breaking additional bread and explaining its significance (John 13:30). 

The Lord’s Supper is for believers only and should be observed solely by those who are in right relationship with Christ. 

Some view the broken bread as representing Jesus’ body, which would soon be broken for their sins. Others interpret this statement more literally. Some interpret this is My blood metaphorically, meaning that the contents of this cup represented Jesus’ blood that would be shed for our sins. Others give the statement a more literal interpretation. 

The sprinkling of blood was required to institute the Mosaic covenant in Exodus. In the same way, Jesus’ blood shed on the cross initiated the new covenant: His blood was shed for many. He died on the cross in the place of many sinners from every nation. He paid the price for all of their sins. All those who believe in Him will receive eternal life. 

Jesus came announcing the kingdom of God, promised the disciples rulership in it and will receive and administer it with the saints.  The NKJV Study Bible

Jesus reinterprets the symbolism of the bread consumed to commemorate the Passover meal, applying it to His impending death. This  indicates the vicarious nature of Jesus’ sacrificial death. Jesus instructs His followers to commemorate His crucifixion and all the saving actions He accomplishes in His death. The early church continued this tradition. Jesus states that His imminent death enacts the new covenant centered on forgiveness. Faithlife Study Bible

A comparison of this account with John suggests that Luke has rearranged the order of events in a topical manner. Luke has the meal first and all the discourse afterward. In John’s account, Judas was gone by the time the meal was shared. Luke’s account does not mention Judas’s departure. In addition, Luke mentions two cups, while the other three Gospels mention only one. A Passover meal had four courses and four cups. Thus it is obvious that all the Gospel writers summarize the events of the meal. 

The words over the bread and cup recorded by Luke are very similar to those of 1 Corinthians. 

I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled: In the kingdom to come, when final victory is celebrated, Jesus again will eat. Jesus will abstain from celebrating a meal until His return. 

Jesus instituted a new meal which is not only a memorial of His death, but also a fellowship meal of unity. It is a proclamation and a symbol of the believers’ anticipation of Jesus’ return, when all God’s promises will be fulfilled. 

The bread of the Lord’s Supper represents the body of Jesus, offered on behalf of His disciples. The wine of the Lord’s Supper depicts the giving of life, a sacrifice of blood, which inaugurates the new covenant for those who respond to Jesus’ offer of salvation. 

This is the strongest substitutionary image in the Gospel of Luke: Jesus died on the Cross in our place and for our sins. The NKJV Study Bible

Exodus 24:8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.”

Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—

Matthew 26:29 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.”

Mark 14:25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”