22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
The Events of the Meal
Mark tells us that Jesus and the disciples were eating the Passover meal when Jesus did something out of the ordinary (22). The customary Passover ceremony would have begun with a blessing over the group. Then, they would drink from the first cup of wine. Next, the youngest child in the group, perhaps John in this upper room, would ask, "Why is this night different from other nights?" The host or father of the group -- Jesus in this instance -- would then retell the events of the original Passover in Exodus. The elements on the table were explained in the recounting: Lamb was eaten because the blood of the lamb on the doorpost saved them. Unleavened bread because their deliverance came so fast that they didn't have time to bake their bread correctly. A bowl of salt water because of the tears shed in their years of slavery. Bitter herbs because God had rescued them from their years of bitter living. Four cups of wine because God had made them four promises before the Passover: (1) he would bring them out of Egypt, (2) he would deliver them from the Egyptians, (3) he would redeem them with great acts of judgment, and (4) he would take them to become his people (Exodus 6:6-7). After reliving the original Passover in this way, they drank from the second cup of wine, and the meal itself began. Then, before they drank from the third cup of wine, the bread was broken. At this point, Jesus seems to have veered off in a new direction. After blessing the bread, he broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body" (22). Then he gave them all the cup. They drank of it and he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many" (23-24).
Jesus Authored a New Covenant
This is an earth-shattering moment. There the disciples are, ready to celebrate the blood of the Passover lamb, an annual reminder of God's redemption of Israel out of Egypt, and Jesus speaks of his blood of the covenant (24). In this new meal, the bread no longer reminds them of the speed of their deliverance -- no time to bake bread the right way on the night of the Passover! Now, the bread is reflective of Jesus' body. And the wine, meant to signify the blood on the doorpost of each Israelite home, now signifies Jesus' blood. He has brought a new covenant for a new people, and this new meal is meant to commemorate it. As Jesus' church, we don't have a variety of feasts, festivals, and ceremonies as ancient Israel did. We aren't a physical nation but a spiritual people among the nations. But we do have two ceremonies Christ has left us, outward symbols of internal realities: baptism and communion. Christian churches must determine how and how often they will celebrate both, but they are gifts to Christ's people. In communion, we receive much.
1. It Reminds Us of the Incarnation
First, communion reminds us of the incarnation of God the Son. Holding the bread in our hands, we remember he came in bodily form. God became one of us, taking on flesh and dwelling among us. No one has a God like ours who becomes one with his creatures. He knows us because he became us.
Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) — 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2. It Centers Us Upon the Atonement
Second, communion centers us upon the atonement. He became us to die for us. Without him, our only chance before God is the perfect keeping of the law. But the laws God wrote on stone tablets and man's conscience are always broken. God is holy, sinless perfection, and he cannot abide with sin. He must judge. So not only did we fall short of God's glory, we were destined for his judgment. But God the Son shed his blood in our place after living a perfect life. He atoned for our sins, and communion reminds us of that atonement. This is likely a good place to mention that we should see this meal as a sacrament but not a new sacrifice. Roman Catholicism has thought Christ is bodily present in the bread and cup and that each mass is a new sacrifice. But at the original meal, Jesus was in bodily form and said, "This is my body and my blood." Quite obviously, the bread and cup were not his literal body and blood. As he did at other times, he used imagery to remind us of a more profound truth. But the belief the bread and cup turn into the literal body and blood of Jesus leads to the view that he dies afresh every week. Not so. His lone sacrifice was sufficient for all time.
3. It Preaches the Importance of Personal Faith
Third, communion preaches the importance of personal faith. Jesus said, "Take; this is my body" (22). Take. The individual recipient has a decision -- will I take the bread or not? Will I receive Christ? Will I partake of him and his work for me? The bread has to be eaten. The wine has to be drunk. And no one can force you to partake. You must decide. This is how faith operates. No one can force you to become born again. You must personally receive Jesus. You must, by faith, apply the work of his body and blood to your life.
4. It Communicates the Unity of the Church
Fourth, communion communicates the unity of the church. Why do we have fellowship with one another? How have we become a spiritual family? It is not our race, sex, education, political affiliation, zip code, or income bracket that unites us. These are all lesser markers that should not divide God's people. But, as we partake of a common table and eat from the same bread and cup, we should remember our oneness in Christ. It is his blood that unites us. Next week, we’ll look at six more blessings and benefits that communion offers believers.