Once and for All: The Last Supper

On the night Jesus was observing Passover with the disciples (Passover is a yearly reminder of God’s provision to save the Hebrew people from their captivity in Egypt. See Exodus 12.), at the conclusion of the meal, Jesus mentioned something new with an explanation: the bread, representing Jesus’ body that would be broken for His people, and the wine, representing the blood Jesus would spill on the cross. These elements were to serve as a reminder of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

In Hebrews, we see a clear picture of the old sacrificial system and its shortcomings (the blood of animals, repeated year after year, imperfect priests, a man-made temple), and then a picture of all that Jesus’ blood accomplished for us (perfect, righteous blood of the Son of God, completed once and for all, done by our perfect High Priest, all presented before God, and not in a temple made by human hands).

Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (which is a look back at the God’s command to Moses in Leviticus 17:11). As Jesus said in His ministry, He did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill, or complete it (Matthew 5:17). While the blood of animals covered our sins under the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament, the blood of Jesus removes our sin.

The symbolism behind the elements of the Lord’s Supper, or communion, are everything to the believer in Jesus Christ. They are that reminder that our sins are not just covered over, but that they are removed. Because of Christ’s sacrifice for us, we’re able to come before God our Father in full assurance that we know we have been washed clean (Hebrews 10:19-25). Our response is not one of begrudging submission, but one of full gratitude for what’s been done for us, though we were undeserving of such grace (Ephesians 2:8).

Jesus, thank You being the perfect sacrifice I needed for the forgiveness of my sins. I know I don’t deserve it, but because of Your great love for me, You have made me worthy. Thank You for Your broken body and spilt blood given as payment for my failures so that I could be redeemed, spend eternity with You, and that You receive all the glory for. Help me to live in a manner worthy of the sacrifice You made for me. In Your name I pray and am able to come to you, Amen.