Luke 22:14-20 - The Lord's Supper

The critical moment in the history of salvation had arrived. Jesus was about to reveal His heart. Here they were seated, reclining round a table. This historic meal that they were about to partake, is also known as the Last Supper. It was the last earthly meal that Jesus took with His disciples before His suffering. While taking this last meal, Jesus also anticipated the fulfilment of the covenant in the consummation of the Kingdom. At that moment, a meal, like that of the Passover, would be celebrated in fulfilment of the promise. Jesus said He longed for that moment, but meanwhile He had to suffer and it was looming large.

In an actual Passover meal, four cups of wine were drunk. With every cup they would actually rehearse one of the redemptive process. The first cup would mark Israel as God's chosen. The second and third cup would mark their redemption and deliverance. The fourth cup was to remind them of their hope that would follow. It's a reminder of Deuteronomy 26:18-19 that say, "The Lord has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honour; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken.”

However, only the Gospel of Luke mentions two cups. The first cup is seen in verse 17, followed by the breaking of bread. As Jesus told the disciples, He also tells us today, that the bread signifies His broken body. He did it for the remission of our sin. Following the bread they partook of a meal together. After the meal, Jesus gave them the second cup. It coincided with the moment in the Passover meal when they would rehearse Exodus 6:6 that says, "I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments."

As Jesus told His disciples as He gave them the second cup, He is also telling us today, that He is our Redeemer. His blood, represented by the cup of wine, sealed the covenant for our redemption. Every time we partake of the Lord's Supper, we are reminded that our sins are forgiven because of His broken body, symbolized by the bread. And when we drink the cup, we recall the eternal covenant between God and us, which Christ sealed with His own blood.

Beloved, we are God's redeemed people. He gave us the bread and the cup to remind us that He did it all for us. When we partake of the Lord's Supper, what we think about is important. Knowing that we are to be the salt of the earth and light to the world, is necessary for us to be effective witnesses. But to know that we are dearly loved because we are His redeemed is important because it gives us great hope for the future. May His name be forever blessed!