Mark 14:22-25, Institution of the Lord's Supper

²² And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it [saying, “Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bringest forth bread from the earth”] broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” [The Passover ritual had its own words of explanation of the food and drink. These are unfamiliar words—although quite familiar to us—that Jesus adds, giving new meaning to the old Passover, creating a new Christian meal. Calling the bread “my body” graphically illustrates the violent death of Jesus, dashing any hopes that he would live. By telling his disciples to eat it, which only Matthew records, he is telling them that they will intimately participate in the effects of his death. See John 6:48-58 for additional ideas. If eating the Passover meal served to identify the Israelites with their redemption from Egypt, so does this eating and drinking convey the benefits of Jesus’ paschal sacrifice to those who share at his table.] ²³ And he took a cup [the third of the evening], and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. ²⁴ And he said to them, “This is my blood [sacrifice] of the [new] covenant, which is poured out for many. [God’s relationship with his people had always depended on the sacrificial shedding of blood, and this new covenant is no exception. From now on there will be a new community constituted by the sacrifice of Jesus. The Passover, which had brought about a new nation under the Sinai covenant, is remade by Jesus and points to a new redemption of a true Israel distinct from the merely national community of the Old Covenant.] ²⁵ Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” [The focus on death now shifts to life. This points forward to a new life with the Father where there will be a feast with the new wine of the Messianic banquet.]