Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
Luke 22:19 (KJV)
Context
This verse records the institution of the Lord’s Supper during the Last Supper, a Passover meal Jesus shared with His disciples before His crucifixion. The Passover meal has been eaten, and Jesus now institutes a new feast to be kept in remembrance of His sufferings and death.
Meaning
Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” The act of giving thanks before breaking the bread emphasizes gratitude and acknowledgment of God’s provision. The bread is a symbol of Jesus’ body, which is given for His followers. The phrase “given for you” indicates the substitutionary nature of Christ’s sacrifice. The command “this do in remembrance of me” establishes a memorial practice for believers.
Biblical connections
The Apostle Paul also recounts this institution in 1 Corinthians 11:24, where he writes, “This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.” The breaking of the bread symbolizes the breaking of Christ’s body on the cross.
Application
Act of Gratitude: Jesus “gave thanks” before breaking the bread. This act emphasizes the importance of gratitude and acknowledging God’s provision. It reminds us to cultivate a heart of thanksgiving in our own lives, recognizing God’s blessings even in challenging circumstances.
Bread as a Symbol: Jesus took bread, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. In this act, Jesus uses bread as a metaphor for His own body. Just as bread nourishes and sustains physical life, Jesus’ body would serve as the ultimate spiritual sustenance for humanity. This foreshadows His upcoming sacrifice on the cross, where His body would be broken for the salvation of mankind.
Sacrificial Love: Jesus states, “This is my body which is given for you.” This phrase reveals the sacrificial nature of Christ’s love. He willingly offers Himself as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of humanity. Jesus’ death on the cross becomes a powerful demonstration of God’s love and grace, highlighting the extent to which God was willing to go to reconcile humanity to Himself.
Remembrance: Jesus instructs His disciples to “do this in remembrance of me.” He wanted His followers to continue the practice of partaking in bread and wine, symbolizing His body and blood, as a way to remember and honor His sacrifice. This establishes the tradition of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, which Christians continue to observe today. It serves as a tangible reminder of Jesus’ redemptive work and the importance of our ongoing relationship with Him.
Communal Aspect: The Last Supper was shared among Jesus and His disciples, emphasizing the communal aspect of the Christian faith. The act of sharing the bread symbolizes the unity and fellowship of believers. It reminds us of our interconnectedness as members of the body of Christ, called to love and serve one another.
Reflection
The command to remember is not merely intellectual recollection but a participatory act of proclaiming the Lord’s death until He comes. Jesus, as the servant leader, personally distributes the bread to His disciples, modeling humility and service. The bread, a common element of the meal, is used to convey a profound spiritual truth about Jesus’ sacrificial death.
