When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them,“I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said,“Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said,“This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said,“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. But look, the hand of the one betraying me is at the table with me. For the Son of Man will go away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” So they began to argue among themselves which of them it could be who was going to do it. —Luke 22:14-23
“When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” —Luke 22:14-16
“Do this in remembrance of me.” —Luke 22:19
Communion is an invitation to remember the
In communion, we remember Christ’s
Luke 22:24-30, 31-34, 41-46, 54-62
In communion, we remember Christ’s
“And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said,“This is my body, which is given for you.” —Luke 22:19
Luke 22:63-65; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:11-12, 26-31, 47-56; John 19:36-37“In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” —Luke 22:20
Luke 22:41-44; Matthew 27:21; Mark 15:15; John 19:31-37“He didn’t have an impressive form or majesty that we should look at him, no appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was taken away because of oppression and judgment, and who considered his fate? For he was cut off from the land of the living; he was struck because of my people’s rebellion. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. Yet the Lord was pleased to crush him severely. When you make him a guilt offering, he will see his seed, he will prolong his days, and by his hand, the Lord’s pleasure will be accomplished. After his anguish, he will see light and be satisfied. By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many, and he will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give him the many as a portion, and he will receive the mighty as spoil, because he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.” —Isaiah 53:2-12
In communion, we remember Christ’s
“I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know me, from the least to the greatest of them” — this is the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their iniquity and never again remember their sin.” —Jeremiah 31:33-34
For further study:
Scripture: Luke 22-23; Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11
Resources: “What Is Holy Communion? Bible Meaning, Verses, and Modern Forms” (www.christianity.com)
Community Group Guide:
Do you normally see communion as an invitation to reflect on Jesus?
In remembering Christ’s love, how does it feel to know the love that existed for Israel and the disciples? How does that encourage you?
In remembering Christ’s sacrifice, how does that encourage you in your walk with the Spirit?
In remembering Christ’s power, how have you seen the power of Jesus manifested in or through your life recently?
Which of these reminders impacts you the most in this season? Is there another reminder that communion points you toward that is meaningful to you?
To prepare for next week: Good News for the World; Acts 10:34-43