Confirming

Confirming

Matthew 26:26-30, NLT

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. 29Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” 30Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Mark 14:22-25, NLT

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” 23And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Setting the Scene

The blessing of the bread refers to the Jewish practice of giving thanks for bread at a meal by saying, “Blessed are you, Lord, our God, who brings forth bread from the earth.” Because bread was considered a gift from God, cutting it with a knife seemed irreverent, so Jews would tear (“break”) it with their hands. When Jesus gave the bread to his disciples, he gave this Passover practice an entirely new meaning. The Passover celebrated deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The Lord’s Supper celebrates deliverance from sin by Christ’s death.

The word covenant refers to an arrangement established by one party that cannot be altered by the other party. Thus, because God established the covenant, humans can only accept or reject it; they cannot alter it in any way. God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). He renewed this covenant with Moses (Exodus 20) and with David (2 Samuel 7:8-16). Each time, the covenant looked forward to Jesus. His sacrifice would both fulfill and confirm the covenant.

Jesus’ blessing occurred at the drinking of the third cup at the Last Supper, the cup that stands for “I will redeem.” Jesus’ words recall Exodus 24:6-8, where Moses poured half of the blood of the covenant on the altar and sprinkled the people with the other half to seal the covenant. Jesus understood his death as sacrificial, inaugurating and sealing the new covenant. Under this new covenant, Jesus would die in the place of sinners. Unlike the blood of animals, Jesus’ blood would truly remove the sins of all who would put their faith in him.

Getting Personal

Jesus shed his blood to fulfill the covenant, God’s promise to Abraham and to his people. What makes you a child of the covenant?

What other promises has God made that directly relate to you?

God has kept and will keep his promises to you. What promises have you made to him?

In Old Testament (“testament” also means “covenant”) times, the covenant was personally confirmed through the regular, bloody sacrifices of animals. These sacrifices pictured the final, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (Hebrews 7:27).

Talking to God

Thank God that he is the ultimate promise keeper. Thank him for fulfilling the covenant through the death of Christ Jesus and for drawing you personally into his family.