When we partake of the Lord’s supper, we receive the bread and the cup. But what does this mean?
The bread comes from the Passover meal, which Jesus and his disciples were eating together. The Passover meal celebrated God’s deliverance of Israel from slavery, misery and death in Egypt. It was celebrated just before their deliverance. They were to be dressed and ready to go and afterwards they were set free. Also, this deliverance was connected to sacrificial death. While the Egyptians were judged, the blood of the lambs protected the Israelites. God passed over their homes. (Exodus 12:6-13). So the bread from this meal calls to mind deliverance from slavery through sacrificial death.
Jesus used this bread to symbolically speak of his death – “this is my body” – Mark 14:22. And just as the bread is broken when it is given out to be eaten, he is saying that through his sacrificial death, his broken body on the cross, we are set free from slavery. We are set free from slavery to the world, Satan, our sin and death and we commit to leave all this behind.
The cup is connected to the Mosaic covenant ceremony which happened after Israel traveled out of Egypt to Mt. Sinai. Jesus makes this connection when he uses the phrase “my blood of the covenant” – Mark 14:24, which comes from this event. This ceremony was about new relationship with God. When Israel entered into covenant with God, God forgave them and they agreed to obey everything in the Mosaic covenant. Also, this new relationship is connected to sacrificial death. The blood of the oxen was sprinkled on the altar and the people. It was the “the blood of the covenant.” (Exodus 24:5-8). So the cup, connected to this, brings to mind a new relationship with God through sacrificial death.
Jesus used the cup to symbolically speak of his death – “this is my blood” – Mark 14:24. And just as the cup is “poured out” (Mark 14:24) as it is received, he is saying that through his sacrificial death, through his poured out blood on the cross, we have a new relationship with God; a new covenant. Our sins are forgiven and we commit to do all that Jesus commands us.
When we receive the bread and the cup we acknowledge all this as true in our lives:
- When you eat the bread you are saying that through Jesus I am set free from the world, Satan, sin and death and I choose to leave all this behind.
- When you drink the cup you are saying that through Jesus I have a new relationship with God. I am forgiven and I commit to do all that Jesus has commanded.
These are the very things that we acknowledged at the time of our baptism. And each time we partake of the Lord’s supper we renew this baptismal testimony and commitment to God.
William Higgins
Christian teaching 