The New Covenant

“And He said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.’ 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 given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’” Luke 22:15-20

The word testament - as used in the biblical Old and New Testaments - originates from the Greek word for covenant. According to Bible Professor Charles Ryrie, “The word covenant meant an arrangement made by one party which the other party involved could accept or reject but not alter.” The primary basis for the old covenant was the Mosaic law. The sole basis for God’s new arrangement in dealing with sinful man is the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

The elements we reverently share at the Lord’s table are visual and tangible reminders that the forgiveness of God has been extended to man at a tremendous price: the spilt blood and bruised and broken body of Jesus Christ. The blood and body of Jesus were the supreme sacrifice for sin which was the only one that God, in His holy justice, could accept.

Since Jesus laid down His life for our sins, we now can receive God’s new covenant of forgiveness. We can have peace with God because the blood of Jesus has cleansed us from all of our sin. The next time you hold the cup and bread in your hands, remember that all of the grace, love, mercy, and hope of God is now yours because of the agony experienced by Jesus on the cross.

“...we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus.” Hebrews 10:19