It was whilst commemorating the Passover feast and eating the meal of remembrance in the upper room (being literally Jesus’ Last Supper) that Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and then gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body given for you; do this is remembrance of me.” After supper he took a cup of wine and gave it to his disciples saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20). These are hugely significant words and actions that tell us Jesus’ own view of his death. In his commentary John Stott mentions three particular truths that stand out:

  1. The first is the centrality of his death. Jesus was giving instructions for his own memorial service. It was by his death that he wished to be remembered.
  2. The second truth concerns the purpose of Jesus’ death. According to Matthew 26:28, the cup stood for “my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” This claim is that through the shedding of Jesus’ blood came the promise of forgiveness of sins.
  3. The third truth concerns the need for us to appropriate personally the benefits of Jesus’ death. It was not enough for Christ to die; we have to make the blessings of his death our own. The eating and the drinking were, and still are, a vivid acted out parable of receiving Christ as our crucified Saviour and of feeding on him in our hearts by faith. The Lord’s Supper, then, as instituted by Jesus, is a drama rich in spiritual significance.

John Stott, Through The Bible Through The Year, Oxford: Candle Books (2006), p.233

It was whilst commemorating the Passover feast and eating the meal of remembrance in the upper room (being literally Jesus’ Last Supper) that Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and then gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my body given for you; do this is remembrance of me.” After supper he took a cup of wine and gave it to his disciples saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20). These are hugely significant words and actions that tell us Jesus’ own view of his death. In his commentary John Stott mentions three particular truths that stand out:

  1. The first is the centrality of his death. Jesus was giving instructions for his own memorial service. It was by his death that he wished to be remembered.
  2. The second truth concerns the purpose of Jesus’ death. According to Matthew 26:28, the cup stood for “my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” This claim is that through the shedding of Jesus’ blood came the promise of forgiveness of sins.
  3. The third truth concerns the need for us to appropriate personally the benefits of Jesus’ death. It was not enough for Christ to die; we have to make the blessings of his death our own. The eating and the drinking were, and still are, a vivid acted out parable of receiving Christ as our crucified Saviour and of feeding on him in our hearts by faith. The Lord’s Supper, then, as instituted by Jesus, is a drama rich in spiritual significance.

John Stott, Through The Bible Through The Year, Oxford: Candle Books (2006), p.233