137. Jesus Establishes the Remembrance Supper
27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you. 25Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.a 29I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”19And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body.b Do this in remembrance of me.”
(Mt. 26:27; 1 Cor. 11:25; Mt. 26:29; Lk. 22:19)
a “Do this...in remembrance of me”—This remembrance supper is the believer's symbolic rendezvous with the Master, wherein the bread and wine are partaken in remembrance of him.
The Jewish Passover celebrated the Jews' emergence from a state of racial slavery into individual freedom. Jesus is here instituting a new Passover symbolizing a new dispensation of spiritual freedom in the kingdom of heaven.
b “And he took bread...and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body.'”—Here Jesus identifies the bread with his body, his life and teachings in the flesh.
On another occasion Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.” (Ch. 56, Jn. 6:35) He also explained what he meant by “bread”: "The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the men of the world." (Ch. 56, Jn. 6:33) This bread of life is the word of the Father as revealed in the Son.
Jesus also declared: “I am this living bread, and if any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever.” (Ch. 56, Jn. 6:51) In his earth life, Jesus brought to mankind the gift of the living word of truth incarnated in the likeness of mortal flesh. Our faith acceptance of his truth gives us eternal life.
Here Jesus is instituting a new sacrament in which the bread is partaken in remembrance of his life on earth and the words of truth he spoke.
Lk. 22:19 body. (Mt. 26:26) / body which is given for you. (RSV) (179:5/1941–3)
