The Last Supper and the Institution of Communion
The Last Supper, a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative, transcends a mere meal; it stands as the profound occasion where Jesus Christ, on the night of His betrayal, instituted the sacred ordinance of Communion. This final Passover shared with His disciples before His crucifixion is not only a historical event but a prophetic act, foreshadowing His atoning sacrifice and establishing a perpetual memorial for believers throughout the ages. Understanding this divine institution requires a journey back to its Old Testament roots, through the very words of Christ, and into the practice of the early Church, as preserved for us in the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures.
The Passover Context: A Shadow of Things to Come
To grasp the depth of the Last Supper, one must first appreciate its setting within the Jewish Passover celebration. The Passover, commanded by God in Exodus 12, commemorated Israel's deliverance from bondage in Egypt, marked by the shedding of a lamb's blood and its application to the doorposts, causing the angel of death to "pass over" the homes of the Israelites. This ancient feast, rich in symbolism, served as a divine foreshadowing of the ultimate redemption. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was about to fulfill the very essence of the Passover, becoming the perfect, spotless sacrifice whose blood would deliver His people from the bondage of sin.
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
As the disciples prepared for this final Passover meal, unaware of its imminent transformation, Jesus was preparing them for a new understanding of deliverance—one not from physical slavery, but from spiritual death. The elements of the Passover, particularly the bread and the wine, were about to take on a profoundly new and eternal meaning.
The Institution of the Bread: His Body Broken
As the meal commenced, Jesus took bread, a staple of the Passover Seder, and performed an act that would forever alter its significance. The Gospel accounts and Paul's epistles vividly describe this moment:
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
This was no ordinary bread; it was His body, which would soon be broken on the cross. The act of breaking the bread symbolized the physical suffering and death He would endure for humanity. It speaks to the totality of His sacrifice—His very being offered up. When Jesus declared, "This is my body," He was establishing a profound spiritual truth: His physical body would be the ultimate offering, the perfect sacrifice, allowing for reconciliation between God and man. This command to "Take, eat" invites believers into a personal participation in His sacrifice, acknowledging His broken body as the source of their redemption and life.
The Institution of the Cup: The New Testament in His Blood
Following the bread, Jesus took the cup, again transforming a traditional Passover element into a powerful symbol of the new covenant. The wine, typically representing joy and celebration, now represented His lifeblood:
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Paul further elaborates on this, stating, "This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:25). The shedding of His blood is the foundation of the "new testament" or "new covenant." Under the Old Covenant, animal blood was shed to temporarily cover sins; under the New Covenant, Christ's perfect blood was shed once for all, to permanently remit sins. This act signifies complete forgiveness and the establishment of a new relationship with God, no longer based on law and ritual, but on grace through faith in His atoning sacrifice. The cup represents the cleansing power and life-giving essence of His shed blood.
The New Covenant: A Superior Testament
The phrase "new testament in my blood" is central to understanding the significance of Communion. The Old Covenant, established through Moses, was a covenant of law and animal sacrifices, which, while pointing to Christ, could not fully take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). Jesus, through His death, inaugurated a superior covenant, ratified by His own precious blood. This New Covenant is characterized by grace, forgiveness, and an intimate relationship with God, where His laws are written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). The institution of the cup at the Last Supper was the solemn declaration of this new era—an era of direct access to God through the blood of Christ, providing full and final remission of sins for all who believe.
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Communion, therefore, is a participation in this New Covenant, a constant reminder of the unmerited favour and eternal salvation secured by Christ's sacrifice.
"Do This in Remembrance of Me": The Enduring Command
A crucial aspect of Jesus' instruction regarding both the bread and the cup was the command, "this do in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). This is not merely a suggestion but a divine mandate for believers to continually observe this ordinance. The Greek word for "remembrance" (ἀνάμνησις - anamnēsis) implies more than just recalling a past event; it means to make present again, to re-actualize the significance of that event in the lives of the participants. When we partake of Communion, we are not simply thinking about Jesus; we are actively engaging with the truth of His sacrifice, experiencing His presence, and proclaiming His work.
This command ensures that the Church never forgets the central truth of its faith: that salvation is found solely in the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is a perpetual act of worship, gratitude, and reaffirmation of our faith in His finished work on Calvary.
The Purpose and Significance of Communion
The institution of Communion serves multiple vital purposes for the believer and the Church:
- Remembrance of Christ's Sacrifice: It continually points us back to the cross, reminding us of the immense cost of our salvation and the depth of God's love.
- Proclamation of His Death: As Paul states, "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come" (1 Corinthians 11:26). Communion is a public declaration of the Gospel truth.
- Fellowship with Christ and Believers: Partaking together signifies our unity in Christ and our shared identity as His body. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16).
- Self-Examination: Paul urges believers to "examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28). This encourages introspection, confession of sin, and a right heart before the Lord.
- Anticipation of His Return: The phrase "till he come" reminds us that Communion is also a forward-looking ordinance, a joyful anticipation of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb when Christ returns to gather His Church.
The Lord's Supper in the Early Church
The practice of the Lord's Supper was central to the worship and fellowship of the early Christian community. The book of Acts records that the early disciples "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). This "breaking of bread" undoubtedly refers to the regular observance of Communion.
The Apostle Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, provides detailed instructions and warnings regarding the proper observance of the Lord's Supper. He recounts the very institution of the Supper, emphasizing its divine origin and sacred nature (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul strongly admonishes against partaking "unworthily," warning of judgment for those who do not discern the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). This highlights the solemnity and reverence with which believers should approach this holy ordinance, ensuring their hearts are right with God and with one another.
Conclusion: A Living Ordinance
The Last Supper, far from being a mere historical anecdote, stands as the blessed occasion where our Saviour instituted the sacred ordinance of Communion. It is a profound, multifaceted symbol of His sacrificial love, the establishment of the New Covenant in His blood, and a perpetual command for believers to remember Him until His glorious return. Each time we partake of the bread and the cup, we are not only looking back to Calvary but also proclaiming His present Lordship and looking forward to His future coming. May believers ever approach this divine institution with the reverence, gratitude, and self-examination it demands, upholding its truth as a central pillar of our faith and a powerful testimony to the finished work of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord.