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On the evening of His betrayal, Jesus gathered with His disciples in an upper room to share a final meal. But this was no ordinary supper—it was a sacred moment, rich with symbolism and eternal significance. As the Passover lambs were being prepared throughout Jerusalem, the true Lamb of God sat with His own, preparing to institute a new covenant sealed with His blood. Matthew 26:26–28 records, “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup… saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Jesus used the elements of bread and wine to point to the suffering He was about to endure. The broken bread represented His body, soon to be scourged and nailed to a cross. The cup of wine symbolized His blood, which would be poured out to atone for sin. In this intimate moment, Jesus was not only preparing His disciples for His death—He was offering them a lens through which to view it: not as a defeat, but as a sacrifice. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb spared Israel from judgment in Egypt, so would His blood cover and cleanse all who believe. The old covenant was ending; a new covenant of grace was being written, not with ink, but with the blood of the Son of God.

What makes the Last Supper even more astonishing is that Jesus served and loved those who would soon fail Him. He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny Him. He shared bread with Judas, who would betray Him. He poured out love in the face of abandonment. In doing so, He revealed the heart of the gospel: that Christ came not for the worthy, but for the unworthy; not for the righteous, but for sinners. The table that night was not just for the twelve—it was for all who would believe. It was a declaration that redemption was near, mercy was available, and grace was about to flow from a Roman cross.

As we reflect on the Last Supper, may we do more than remember—we must respond. The bread and cup remind us of the price that was paid for our salvation, but they also call us to renewed devotion. Jesus gave everything. He held nothing back. How then can we live casually in the shadow of the cross? As we approach the solemn remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion, let us draw near with hearts full of gratitude and worship. The table was set, the Lamb was ready, and the hour of redemption had come. Blessed be the Savior who gave His body and shed His blood, so that we might be free.