The Dinner of the New Covenant

Reading: Luke 22:14-23
When the hour had come, He reclined at the table, and the apostles with Him. And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing. [NASB1995®]

In our reading today, Luke allows us to look at a wonderful scene. Jesus celebrates this Passover with His disciples, and these are the last moments He spends with them before His sacrifice.
Listen to His words; watch every gesture…

“I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you”… says the Lord. On this evening Jesus instituted one of the ordinances of His church: the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The bread and wine he shares with his disciples are a memorial of the sacrifice he is about to make.

The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, is about to be sacrificed. That is the importance of the Cross. And that cross was God’s plan from the beginning. From before Adam and Eve were formed in Eden, the sacrificial Lamb had already been provided. Christ resolved to give his life for ours from eternity. As we read this passage, we know that it’s about to happen. And Jesus does it voluntarily, indeed, he does it with joy.

“This is my body, which is given for you…” His sacrifice, for our fault; his death, for our life; his holiness, for our sin. “The New Covenant in My Blood…” This is God’s final and definitive covenant with men, sealed with the blood of His own Son. How can we enter into this Pact? How can we have peace with God? Look at the Cross, trust him who gave his life there.

That’s what Easter is all about. Jesus did what we cannot, in any way, do. Jesus paid the penalty for our crime; he took our place. What remains for us to do? Look at the Cross, trust him who gave his life there.
This dinner is about much more than just sharing a meal, just as the Lord’s Supper that believers celebrate is much more than a piece of bread and a sip of wine. This meal is about being with Jesus, being “in Jesus”, believing in Him, and trusting Him. And there is someone who is about to betray him. It must be so, but woe to this poor man!
Even sitting at the Savior’s table, Judas is lost. There is no more distressing destiny than not knowing Christ Jesus. Look at the Cross, trust him who gave his life there.

MEDITATE : This supper, his surrendered life, the betrayal of Judas, the cross, the slaps, the lashes, the abandonment of his disciples, the resurrection, the reencounter, the promise to return, all of this, is God’s plan being fulfilled inexorably, for our salvation. Be part of that plan. Today, tomorrow, every day. Look at the Cross, trust him who gave his life there.

Translation By: Emily Stader

Sebastián Winkler (169)

Sebastián Winkler lives in General Pinto, a small town in the interior of Argentina, and serves the Lord in the Baptist Church of his city as a teacher of Bible studies. He is a Professor of Literature, he likes music, reading and sharing the Bible with others.
He is married to Karina they have two daughters named Julia and Emilia.
He is the main author in his blog: engraciaysabiduria.com (in spanish)