We Have Seen the LordSample

His Words Rang True

Thursday of Holy week is upon us, and we look at the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples. The Passover Seder was a feast familiar to all at the table, full of symbolism with its unleavened bread and wine, the roasted Passover lamb sacrificed earlier at the Temple, and the meal’s significance in reminding the nation of how God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt. This feast is rife with theological significance and celebrated by the people of the covenant.

We find in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22 that Jesus changes how this last meal will be remembered, as He tells those who are eating with Him that He has eagerly desired to eat it with them (Luke 22:15). Much like we anticipate family meals and gatherings, Jesus had gathered with them. Taking the symbolic bread, He blessed it (Matthew 26:16), broke it, and gave it to them to eat, stating that this is His body. Then the cup of wine was blessed and passed with the declaration that this was His blood, the blood of the covenant (Matthew 26:27, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20—poured out for the forgiveness of sins and that He would not drink of the fruit of the vine again until He drinks of it with them in the Kingdom of God.

Remarkably, we do not see the disciples rise up against those words, and the Gospels record that they proceed with the festive meal and sing a traditional hymn before departing for the Garden, where Jesus will spend the next hours of His night in agonizing prayer to the Father and will then be betrayed by Judas. But what had happened that evening was a shift in the focus from the traditional Passover redemption of Israel from bondage in Egypt to the remembrance of the redemption that Jesus was bringing with His death and resurrection (Luke 22:19). The disciples had no way of knowing this for several more days until they had walked through the horror of Jesus’ crucifixion. Then they exalted in His glorious resurrection from the dead. Then, the full impact of His words rang true.

What they took in stride during a meal, we remember each time we take the bread and cup of Communion—a meal we share in remembrance of His redemptive work through His shedding of blood.

Prayer

Jesus, Your provision for us in this meal reminds us of Your redemptive work. Thank you for Your sacrifice. We rejoice in Your resurrection and eagerly look forward to the meal we will eat with You in the Kingdom of God. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Carrie Wood, Ph.D., serves as an assistant professor of Biblical Studies for the Regent University School of Divinity.