Sacrifice and Communion

The Last Supper – Jesus giving His body and blood for us!

There are 71 verses in Luke 22, and this chapter is jam-packed with significant events, including:

• The plot to kill Jesus
• Jesus and His disciples prepare the Passover
• Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper
• The disciples argue about greatness
• Jesus predicts Peter’s denial
• Jesus’ instructions on wallets, bags, and swords
• The prayer in the garden
• Betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane
• Peter denies Jesus and weeps bitterly
• Jesus mocked and beaten
• Jesus faces the Sanhedrin

Encouraging Verse: Luke 22:19
NASB: “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’”

The Context

This chapter begins with the chief priests and scribes devising their evil plan to kill Jesus as the time for Passover drew near. At this same moment, Satan entered Judas, prompting him to prepare for his role in this betrayal. Jesus gave specific instructions for the preparation of the final supper, and He operated in prophetic grace, revealing the exact location and the man who would provide the room.

As He spoke, it happened. The disciples followed His instructions, and the hour arrived for the meal with His twelve apostles. Jesus shared, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:15-16). This marked the moment for His ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts

As we read these final chapters of Jesus’ earthly journey, we cannot help but approach them with a tender heart, recognizing the immense price He paid for sinners like us. Jesus left the throne of heaven to endure a brutal and painful death. This chapter begins with religious rulers plotting to kill Him—an ironic turn of events considering their sacred role.

Isn’t it shocking that the priests, who were supposed to represent God, were planning murder? In doing so, they were breaking the sixth commandment: “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17). The high priests, who had roles such as overseeing sacrifices and representing God to the people, were now being influenced by hatred—a demonic force leading them away from their divine responsibilities.

We also see Satan enter Judas (Luke 22:3). The Greek word for “entered” (eisēlthen) means “to go into” or “to enter,” signifying that Satan took possession of Judas, influencing him to betray Jesus. This highlights the importance of guarding our hearts. When we allow sin or wrong associations into our lives, we open the door for the enemy to influence us, as he did with Judas. The end result is always destruction, as we see in Judas’ tragic end (Matthew 27).

Jesus, fully God and fully man, was omniscient and omnipotent. When He spoke about the preparations for the supper, He either foresaw it prophetically or spoke it into existence as the Creator. Regardless, His power and anointing were clearly at work!

The Last Supper in John’s Account

John’s recollection of the Last Supper, found in John 13–17, is more focused on the teachings and prayers Jesus shared with His disciples during this intimate meal. Some key events include:

• Jesus washes the disciples’ feet
• Jesus predicts His betrayal
• Jesus gives a new commandment
• Peter’s denial predicted
• Jesus comforts His disciples and promises the Holy Spirit
• Jesus as the True Vine
• The world’s hatred foretold
• The work of the Holy Spirit
• Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and all believers

These powerful teachings, commandments, and prayers show Jesus’ deep care and desire to impart these truths to His disciples before His suffering. As He said in Luke 22:15, “I have earnestly and intensely desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”

The Significance of Thanksgiving and Communion

Jesus took the bread and gave thanks—just as He did before performing the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fish. Jesus, God in the flesh, had a culture of gratitude. How much more should we, as “mere mortals,” live in a state of thanksgiving? We are instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As He distributed the bread, He said, “This is My body, which is being given for you” (Luke 22:19). Jesus gave His body for us—His very life! Every time we take communion, we remember His sacrifice and what He accomplished on our behalf.

Theological Perspectives on Communion

I won’t delve into the theological debates surrounding communion practices—whether you hold to Transubstantiation (where the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ), Consubstantiation (where Christ’s body and blood coexist with the bread and wine), or the Spiritual Presence view (where Christ is spiritually present, not physically, in the elements)—we can all agree on the significance of what Jesus said. Communion is a remembrance of His body and blood given for us.

The bread represents His body, His very life, and every time we partake, we recall the precious blood of Christ, which was shed for us. As 1 Peter 1:18-19 reminds us, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

The New Covenant

In Luke 22:20, Jesus establishes a new covenant. The Greek word diathēkē refers to a formal agreement, will, or testament. This sacred agreement is sealed by Jesus’ blood and marks a pivotal moment in God’s redemptive plan.

Through this new covenant, Jesus became our Passover Lamb, establishing a new relationship between God and His people. This contrasts with the Old Covenant in several significant ways:

Hebrews 8, 9, and 10 elaborate on Jesus’ role as the High Priest, His blood, and His sacrifice. Jesus rendered the Old Covenant obsolete and inaugurated a new, permanent solution for salvation.

The Absence of Religious Requirements for Communion

Interestingly, aside from the instruction in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 to examine ourselves before partaking, there are no specific religious requirements or prerequisites in the Gospels for who may partake in communion. In Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7, we see the apostles breaking bread regularly during their gatherings, without mention of any special rituals or requirements.

This speaks to the accessibility of communion for all believers, regardless of their status or role. It is a personal act of worship, a reminder of Christ’s sacrifice, and a celebration of the new covenant He established.

Practical Application

• We need to fully understand the gravity of Jesus’ sacrifice as our sacrificial Lamb.
• We should regularly take communion in remembrance of the new covenant that Jesus established.
• We must never take communion lightly; it should be a time of reflection, repentance, and gratitude.
• Let go of religious practices that hinder you from partaking in this intimate act of worship regularly.

Your Turn 😊

What are your thoughts on Luke 22:19?
How can you apply this passage to your life?
Do you have a favorite verse or takeaway from this chapter?

Please share your insights—I’d love to hear from you!

Until tomorrow—Peace & Love,
Coach D