“And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” – Matthew 26:27-28
In the Bible, covenants are ratified by the shedding of innocent blood. In Hebrew, to make a covenant is literally to “cut” a covenant. The blood of animals was shed when God covenanted with Abraham and when He later covenanted with Israel. Jesus came to cut a new covenant between Holy God and sinful mankind. Jesus came to offer His blood for a new covenant of grace and forgiveness for sins that is freely given to everyone who believes in Him.
Like every biblical covenant, this new covenant required innocent blood to be shed. Jesus offered that blood Himself. It was His sinless life that was sacrificed and His holy blood that was shed on the cross to establish a new covenant free of the Law and founded on God’s amazing grace and mercy toward us. The cup of the Lord’s Supper is a vivid, visible, tangible reminder and proclamation of Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf and why He gave Himself to that death. The cup engages our senses to deepen our awareness of the cost of our freedom and forgiveness.
Rejoice in what Jesus did for you in making Himself the sacrificial lamb cut for your covenant of rightstanding before God. Rejoice and remember. Thank you, Lord Jesus!
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NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on March 8, 2022.