The cup

King James Version (Chapter 22)

20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

King James Version Chapter 22

28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:20, 29–30 THE CUP This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you. Luke 22:20 “A covenant of peace is only as good as either side’s keeping its word.

Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.”

1 cor. 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

” Desecration, 148 ASK MOST PEOPLE what the cup of wine represents during Communion, and they will say the blood of Jesus. But that’s not the only analogy he used. He also said that the cup represents the new covenant. Let’s look at his words: “After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This wine is the token of God’s new covenant to save you—an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you’ ” (Luke 22:20). Granted, both Matthew and Mark record his words a little differently, but the spirit is the same. What the cup represents is the covenant that was fulfilled at the spilling of Jesus’ blood at Calvary. It is a symbol of Jesus’ death, but more than that, it is a symbol of what his death did for each and everyone of us. It represents the fulfillment of God’s promise to redeem the world from sin. It’s a subtle difference but a distinct one. When we raise a glass in remembrance of Jesus’ covenant, we are doing more than reflecting on his death; we are recommitting our life. We are remembering the salvation that his blood ushered into the world. We are connecting with the greater picture of redemption. A covenant is a two-way street. Jesus is the author of the covenant, and we are the recipients. He holds out the promise of a better life and an eternal hope, but we have to accept it. And when we do, we are committing ourselves to the covenant. We are promising to remain faithful and true. And each time we lift the Communion cup we are reiterating that promise. “Just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom,” says Jesus, “I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom” (22:29–30). When we partake of the bread and the cup at the Communion table, we are doing more than remembering the sacrifice of Jesus; we are reflecting on his life and the covenant that his life brought to fruition. We are observing a small piece of heaven on earth. Communion is more than an act of symbolism; it is an agreement to share in the sacrifice of Jesus. An acceptance of our role in God’s new covenant for humanity. And that’s something that should never be taken lightly. reflection How have you embraced your role in God’s new covenant? How often do you reflect on the promise of heaven that Jesus brought at the Cross?

LaHaye, T., Jenkins, J. B., & Martin, F. M. (2004). Embracing Eternity: living each day with a heart toward heaven (p. 288). Tyndale.