And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Comment: In the midst of the Jewish Passover feast which celebrated the meal before the day when Israel marched out of Egypt free, Jesus performed something not proscribed as part of the Passover meal, although similar. But this new addition indicated the point to which all Old Testament typology was leading. The Lamb of God, previously foreseen by the Paschal lamb slain every year, was about to be slain, a slaying once for all – not for release from slavery in Egypt but for release from slavery to sin! Obviously the Eucharist which Jesus led did not involve His own body or blood eaten or drunk. But it makes the Sacrament meaningless if we don’t see more than just a drink of wine and a mouthful of bread! Jesus the next day like a Pascal lamb was to be bruised, whipped, and nailed to a Cross, His blood was to be shed from His whipped body, His crucified limbs and His speared torso. He was to be separated from His Father (“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”). The Eucharist indicates for the believer much more than the Passover meant to the Jews, although that was enormous! It indicates that those who are taking it with the background of repentance and faith are thanking God for a restored Father/Child relationship with Him. Thanking Him for sins forgiven; for a clean conscience; for a real new life saved from Hell as its destiny and a new promised entry at death into the Presence of God as a child!! As Paul says it is not be eaten ‘lightly’. It is not magical but it is at the centre of all history. The Easter Event is the Power, the Eucharist is the Sign, not to be treated insignificantly!
1 Cor 11: 23-28 -For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Prayer: Thank You, Jesus!
As I read it! 