Inauguration of the Holy Communion
The last supper account is recorded in Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-28, and Luke 22:7-20. This was Jesus’ final meal on earth with the apostles. This event took place on the evening before Good Friday. when the Jews celebrated the Passover meal.
Luke 22:14-20
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Luke 22:14-20
Reflection
Jesus converted the last Passover Meal or the Last Supper with the apostles to the Holy Communion. Paul called this the Lord’s supper. The Roman Catholics’ equivalent of Holy Communion is the Eucharist.
At the start of the Passover meal, Jesus took a cup of wine, prayed over it, and gave it to the apostles to drink, saying that this will be His final drink on earth before going to the cross. During the meal, Jesus took an unleavened bread, prayed over it, broke it and gave them the apostles to eat. He explained that the bread was symbolic of His body crucified at the cross on Good Friday for them. After this, He took a second cup of wine, prayed over it, and gave it to the apostles to drink. He explained that the wine was symbolic of His blood of the New Covenant, shed at the cross on Good Friday for them. Jesus commanded the apostles, and us, to celebrate in this manner is often as possible.
The first-century church of Acts celebrated Holy Communion together with a full meal. Christians today celebrate Holy Communion by eating a small piece of bread or wafer with a sip of wine or grape juice during worship, conducted by a pastor, elder, or priest. There is no meal involved.
For Jews, Passover looked backward to commemorate Exodus. To Christians, Holy Communion looked backward to commemorate Good Friday and forward to anticipate Jesus’s second coming.
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Application
This passage of scripture spelled out for us the basis of Holy Communion that Christians around the world celebrate. Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb of God that took away he sins of the world . Jesus Christ shed His sinless blood at the cross on Good Friday to be a substitutionary atonement for us, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Substitutionary atonement or vicarious atonement refers to the theology that Christ died on the cross as a substitute for our sins. His death substituted for our death. His death atoned for our sins.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Cor 5:21
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Good Friday. Thank You that Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday to be a substitutionary atonement for our sin. Thank You that Jesus rose from dead on Easter to prove that He is God. Thank You for salvation by grace and justification by faith in Christ. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
