“Take and eat; this is my body.”

— Matthew 26:26

Jesus celebrated a ceremonial final meal with his disciples. We call it the Last Supper. At the table with them he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and passed it to the disciples, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

In the church we celebrate this new-covenant meal by breaking bread and drinking wine (or juice) together in remembrance of Jesus. We call it the Lord’s Supper. This meal replaces the Jewish Passover. There is no longer any need to bring a lamb to the altar, because Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed once for all, who takes away the sin of the world. There is no longer any need to sprinkle the blood of a lamb on doorposts, for by faith we receive the benefits of the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all sin.

Christ is our Passover Lamb. To him the patriarchs and prophets pointed. He was the hope of our spiritual fathers and the content of the preaching of the apostles. Christ is the spotless Lamb of God, the living bread that came down from heaven. With his body and his blood, he fulfilled all the requirements of God’s law, delivering us from the slavery and tyranny of sin and death forever!

Lamb of God, in you we find deliverance, salvation to new life, full and free! Be exalted in our lives each day. Amen.