“Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.””Luke 22:15-16 NKJV
Reflection: what is the significance of Communion: the Lord’s supper?
The expression found in our focus verse today, “with fervent desire I have desired”, has puzzled Bible commentators for years, as Luke here is attempting to express Jesus’ emotion longing to have this last supper, the Passover meal, with his disciples. While Jesus was deeply longing for this moment, it was also a “point of separation” with them since he was soon to be captured by the Romans. So we might wonder why he was longing to have a “last meal” with them, to leave them. Was he perhaps tired of the disciples, all their questions and stumbles, or even of all the sin and problems in world?
Why was he longing to have this meal?
Let’s read what actually happened during this meal to get a clue why Jesus longed for it. “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:17-20 NKJV.
Longing for the new covenant.
Jesus was instituting here a new covenant, in His own blood, for the forgiveness of sins. A covenant, which is a binding agreement or contract, written by God himself, in his own blood. It cannot be revoked. Jesus desired deeply to proclaim and seal this new covenant, which is why he came. To set captives of sin free; which is all of us. We just have to accept the terms of the agreement. And, notice that he also declared also His body, given for us. He was (and is) “the word”, who became flesh. As we “consume” the word, his body, we
become one with him.
More and more like him. This wasn’t a departure or separation with the disciples and all his followers; quite the opposite. It was the announcement of a joining through a blood covenant. While Jesus knew very well the horrific pain, suffering and death he had to endure, the joy of what this meant far outweighed what he had to endure. In his everlasting love for us, and with a fervent desire he had desired to share himself with each of us.
To set us free, to become one with him.
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:1-5, 10-12 ESV