This passage reveals the institution of the Lord’s supper or communion which we, as Christians, are instructed to practice regularly. I fear many Christians don’t understand the significance of communion, but participate as a habit.Christ says in v. 15 “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”. He had participated in the Passover all of His physical life. Why was this one more important than others? Because He knows it is to be followed with the fulfillment of His mission on earth, giving His life and shedding His blood for the remission of our sins. Then He will be raised and join His Father in heaven.
As He was sharing this time with the disciples He instructed them “do this in remembrance of Me.” Paul tells us in I Cor. 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” These two statements form the basis of our regular participation in the ordinance of communion.
It is not to be a rote process for us. We are to be reminded afresh each time we take the communion of the fact that Jesus body was broken for us as He paid the price for our sins. I’m often reminded of Isaiah 53 as I participate in this part of the communion service and would encourage you to reflect on the suffering Jesus encountered on the cross. As I reflect on Christ’s shed blood I think of passages such as Luke 22:39-44 (the Garden of Gethsemane), Rom. 3:23-26 (Christ’s blood a propitiation for our sins), Rom. 5:19-21 (“as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”) and Hebrews 9:11-12, 22 (Christ as our high priest shed His own blood because “without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”).
Communion is a time for us to reflect on the tremendous sacrifice Jesus willingly made so that we might enter into a new eternal relationship with Him and to give Him praise and thanks to God for loving us so much He was willing to send His on Son to shed His blood for you and I.
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