This statement by Jesus during the Last Supper has profound theological significance. To fully understand it, we need to examine the context, the meaning of “covenant”, and the symbolism of the cup and blood.
The Context
Jesus made this statement during the Last Supper, the final meal he shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. The Last Supper is described in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-20. This meal occurred during the Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
As Jesus shared the bread and wine with his disciples, he imbued these elements with new meaning. The bread symbolized his body which would soon be broken on the cross. The wine symbolized the new covenant in his blood, which he was about to establish through his death.
The Meaning of “Covenant”
A covenant is a solemn agreement between two parties. It establishes a bond and imposes obligations on each party. In the Bible, God made several covenants with His people.
The old covenant was the Mosaic covenant established between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. God promised to be Israel’s God and make them His holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6). Israel’s obligation was to keep God’s law. This old covenant was conditional – dependent on Israel’s obedience. But Israel repeatedly broke the covenant due to disobedience.
Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promised a new covenant where He would write His law on people’s hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This new covenant would enable people to know God intimately and be transformed from within. God would forgive sins and all would know Him personally. This new covenant was unconditional – based on God’s grace.
By stating that the cup of wine represented the new covenant in His blood, Jesus was saying that He would establish this promised new covenant. His death would atone for sins once for all and initiate an intimate relationship between God and people.
The Symbolism of the Cup and Blood
In ancient Jewish culture, to ratify a covenant the parties would slay an animal, divide it in two, and walk between the pieces (Genesis 15:9-18). The shedding of the animal’s blood solemnized the covenant. Thus, blood represented the sealing of a covenant.
Jesus’ statement about the cup of wine representing His blood shed for the new covenant draws rich symbolism from this background. Jesus was declaring that through His upcoming sacrificial death, the new covenant would be established.
Jesus as the sinless Lamb of God would bear the penalty for sin (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7). His blood, poured out on the cross, would atone for sin and cleanse humanity before God (Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:14). By drinking the cup, the disciples were figuratively partaking of Jesus’ blood and appropriating the benefits of His sacrifice – forgiveness, redemption, and new life.
The cup also represents the intimate relationship we can have with God through Christ. We fellowship with Christ and spiritually partake of Him by faith (1 Corinthians 10:16). As Jesus told the disciples “Drink from it, all of you” (Matthew 26:27), He invites all who believe in Him into this glorious new covenant relationship.
In summary, Jesus’ statement powerfully conveys how His death would accomplish redemption and open the way for humanity to be reconciled to God. The new covenant was established through Christ’s blood so that all who believe can know God intimately and experience His transforming grace.
Further Explanation
To fully grasp the profundity of Jesus’ statement, we need to explore a few more aspects:
1. Jesus as the perfect sacrifice
Animal sacrifices under the old covenant only provided temporary atonement for sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). But Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb sacrificed Himself once for all people for all time. His blood permanently takes away sin and makes us holy before God (Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:10).
2. The bread and wine as symbols
The unleavened bread and wine were part of the traditional Passover meal. But Jesus infused them with new meaning. The bread represented His body given for us. The wine represented His blood establishing the new covenant (Luke 22:19-20). These were symbols to remember and proclaim Christ’s sacrifice.
3. A personal encounter
Drinking the cup was not just a ritual act. It signified entering into deep communion with Jesus. We spiritually partake of Christ’s benefits through personal faith in Him (John 6:53-56). The new covenant brings us into intimate relationship with God.
4. A community of faith
All the disciples drank from one cup, picturing communal participation in Christ’s new covenant. All believers are united to Christ and to each other in this new covenant (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). It establishes the church as Christ’s body.
5. A covenant meal
Jesus established communion (Lord’s Supper) to remember His death and celebrate the new covenant. When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim Christ’s death, commune with Him, and look forward to His return (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). It’s a covenant meal for God’s people.
6. A new covenant people
Through faith in Christ, Gentiles are included in the new covenant along with Jews. All distinction is erased as the redeemed in Christ become God’s people (Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 2:11-22). The new covenant creates a new community of God’s people.
Jesus’ words were revolutionary, indicating how His death would open the way for rich relationship with God for all people who put faith in Him. The new covenant is God’s gift of grace, ratified with the blood of His own Son so we can draw near to Him.
Exploring Other Biblical References
A few other biblical passages shed further light on Jesus’ statement about the new covenant:
Isaiah 53:10-12
This prophecy of the Suffering Servant describes how the Messiah would pour out Himself to death to bear the sins of many. His blood would justify many. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy through the new covenant.
Luke 24:25-27
On the road to Emmaus, the resurrected Jesus opened the Scriptures to His disciples and explained how the Christ had to suffer to bring redemption. The new covenant was integrally linked with Jesus’ suffering.
2 Corinthians 3:2-6
Paul contrasts the letter of the old covenant which kills, with the Spirit which brings life through the new covenant. The old covenant was about external law. The new covenant writes God’s law on our hearts by the Spirit.
Hebrews 12:24
This describes the new covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus. His blood “speaks a better word” than Abel’s – it brings redemption, not vengeance. Jesus’ blood brings forgiveness and inner transformation.
These and other passages enrich our understanding of Christ’s words at the Last Supper. They highlight the absolute necessity of Jesus’ sacrificial death to establish the new covenant that offers salvation, relationship with God, and new life in the Spirit to all who believe.
Implications for Us Today
What are some key truths we can apply from Jesus’ statement about the new covenant?
1. We are saved by grace
Our reconciliation with God is not based on our own merit but on Christ’s finished work. His death sealed the new covenant of grace we can enter by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
2. We have direct access to God
Through Christ we have intimate relationship with God as His dearly loved children. We can come boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 4:14-16).
3. We experience inner transformation
The Holy Spirit changes us from within as God writes His laws on our hearts. We progress in holiness (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).
4. Our sins are completely forgiven
Jesus’ blood washes away all our sins – past, present and future. His perfect sacrifice makes us perfect before God (Hebrews 10:14-18).
5. We belong to a new community
All believers are united by faith in Christ as members of God’s family, the church. We are connected to each other (Romans 12:4-5).
These glorious truths should move us to deep gratitude, joyful obedience, and a vibrant life of faith as partakers of the new covenant through the blood of Jesus.
Conclusion
Jesus’ profound statement about the cup representing the new covenant in His blood beautifully sums up how His sacrificial death accomplished redemption for humanity. It opened the way for people to be reconciled to God and know Him intimately by grace through faith.
The Lord’s Supper commemorates Christ’s body and blood given for us and signifies our participation in the new covenant. As God’s people through faith in Jesus, we celebrate and proclaim His death until He returns in glory.