The new covenant in his blood (Luke 22a)

Luke 22:1-38
Key verse 22:20

I started Bible study in my freshman year in college. I studied the Bible faithfully and did not miss the Sunday worship service except one time. I attended all meetings in the church. I began to preach when I was a freshman. I gave my college life to serve the work of God. But I always suffered hypocrisy. Outwardly I was a faithful church man, but inside I suffered from sinful desires. That made my Christian life powerless, dry and habitual. You may have the same struggle I had. Today I am going to talk about how to overcome such hypocrisy and live a powerful and joyful Christian life. May God show his grace to all of us today. The title of my message is “The new covenant in his blood.”

Since he entered Jerusalem, the temple has been at the center of the stories. Now the focus is being shifted from the temple to Jesus’ death. Today’s passage is Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Eating the Passover, Jesus associates his imminent death with the Passover and teaches his disciples its meaning. I pray that we may deeply understand and accept Jesus’ death for our sins.

The Festival of Unleavened Bread, also called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were still looking for a way to arrest Jesus. Then, Judas went to see them. Why?

“4 And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”

Judas was betraying Jesus to them! The chief priests were delighted and agreed to give Judas money and Judas consented and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them. We wonder why Judas was betraying Jesus. According to Matt 26:15, Judas asked them, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” John commented on him like this: “…he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” (12:6) All this showed that Judas loved money and was concerned about himself more than others. That might have been a reason he betrayed Jesus. We should also pay attention to the fact that Satan entered into him. Satan worked behind the scenes to kill Jesus, using the religious leaders and Judas. As Jesus mentioned later, Satan was working hard among Jesus’ disciples and Judas was one who stumbled forever. In such a difficult time, what did Jesus do?

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Now it was the Passover. Unleavened Bread was followed just after the Passover and they were celebrated together. So it was called either Unleavened Bread or the Passover. The festival originated from the event when God struck down Egyptians just before Israel got out of Egypt. Even after the nine plagues, Pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the Israelites go. Then, God planned to strike all the firstborn in Egypt. However, Israel could not be exempt from this plague because it was God’s judgment for sins, including Israel’s sins. So, God told the Israelites how to avoid the judgment. They were to kill lambs and eat them and put their blood on the doorframe of each house.

“12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.” (Exo 12:12-13)

As he said, God struck down all the firstborn in Egypt but passed over the houses that had the doorframes with the blood of lamb. At last Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt. It was the day of salvation for Israel, the most important event in the history of Israel. Then, God commanded them to remember this event forever. He said,

“This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.” (Exo 12:14)

Traditionally, during the Passover, Jewish people sacrificed lambs in the temple and ate them with all their family members, remembering God’s redemption for them. Jesus also observed it from his childhood. (Luke 2:41) But this Passover would be his last Passover because he would die soon. Actually, he himself would be the Passover Lamb. Just before coming to Jerusalem, Jesus told them again about his suffering and death. But they still did not understand it. (18:34) Jesus wanted them to know the meaning of his death in relation with the Passover. So, having this last Passover meal with them was so important. But he was aware of Judas’s betrayal. (22:21) He prepared the Passover secretly so that his last Passover with his disciples would not be interrupted by Judas who was looking for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to the chief priests.

So, Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare the Passover in a secret way. They went to the city and a man carrying a jar of water met them. They followed the man until he entered a house. As Jesus instructed, Peter and John asked the owner of the house to show them a guest room for Jesus and his disciples to eat the Passover. He showed them a large room upstairs. This way Jesus arranged things so that Judas would not know the place in advance.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

It was time to eat the Passover. Jesus said that he eagerly desired to eat the Passover with them before he suffered. This would be his last time to teach his disciple the meaning of his death. He would not eat the Passover with them until it would be fulfilled in the kingdom of God because he would die and fulfill the Passover. He would see them in the kingdom of God and eat with them again.

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

The Passover meal (Seder) consisted of four cups of wine, the main meal, unleavened bread, and blessing and praise as follows.

·         A blessing over the first cup of wine.

·         Unleavened bread (matzah) is broken in two.

·         The Passover story is told.

·         A second cup of wine is drunk.

·         Bitter herbs are eaten.

·         The main meal. Eat the roasted lamb.

·         A blessing after the meal.

·         The half of matzah is broken into pieces and everyone eats of the bread.

·         A third cup of wine is drunk.

·         Psalms 113 to 118 are sung.

·         A fourth cup of wine is drunk.

The four cups were based on Exodus 6:6-7 and each has a different meaning:

·         The first cup – “I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

·         The second cup – “I will free you from being slaves to them”

·         The third cup – “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.”

·         The fourth cup – “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.”

Probably, the cup Jesus took here was the first cup or the second. With the cup of wine Jesus said that he would not drink the cup with them until the kingdom of God would come. And then Jesus took the bread and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

By saying these, Jesus implied his imminent departure. But his departure would be painful because he would be a lamb for the Passover. He would be tortured and shed blood. But that was to give life to his disciples and all humankind. Here Jesus associated his suffering and death with the Passover. As Israel was redeemed by sacrificing lambs when they were delivered from Egypt, Jesus should be the Passover Lamb to give them life. So John the Baptist said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” when he saw Jesus coming to him. (John 1:29)

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Here Jesus explained how his death could give them life. Jesus said that the cup of wine was the new covenant. What is the new covenant? The covenant Jesus was mentioning here was called “new” in comparison with the first covenant that was made through Moses. God made the first covenant with Israel at Mt. Sanai after he led them out of Egypt. God said that if they obeyed the law, he would make them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. They agreed to it and made the covenant with God. However, they were sinful and weak to keep the law. They committed sins continually and broke the covenant. Yet God was gracious to them. And he even had them build a tabernacle where they could be forgiven through animal sacrifices. But the blood of animal was limited so it did not completely solve their sin problem. Israel’s sin went far beyond the threshold and they were to be punished according to the covenant. So the first temple was destroyed and they were exiled. (Lev 26; Deut 28) It seemed to be the end. Yet God did not give up on them. When they were perishing, he said to Jeremiah,

“The days are coming…when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them…33 This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time…I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jer 31:31-33)

The new covenant would be different from the first one in that it would enable them to keep the law from their hearts so that they would be God’s people and God would be their God forever. God said in Ezk 36:26-29a,

“26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness.”

God promised that he would make a new covenant that would enable them to keep his words by giving them the Holy Spirit and save them from all their uncleanness. How would this be possible? It was by Jesus’ blood.

Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Jesus’ blood is very different from animal’s blood. The animal’s blood takes effect only for the people who sacrifice the animal and for their past sins. So they should go to the temple again and again whenever they sin. But Jesus’ blood is for everyone and takes effect forever! He has paid for all our sins once for all and forever by shedding all his blood. (Heb 9:12,26; 10:10) His blood was perfect enough to cover all the sins of humankind forever – past, present, and future. His blood was so powerful that we don’t need any sacrifices for our sins or any human efforts to compensate for our sins. Heb 9:12-15 say,

“12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

The new covenant has been made and sealed by Jesus’ blood. So it does not demand you to do something else. It is given by grace. This new covenant is available for everyone. Jesus said to his disciples, “Take this and divide it among you.” All we need is to take his blood and drink it and eat his flesh.

In John 6:35,53-54, Jesus said, “35 …I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty…Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Drink his blood and eat his flesh by accepting and believing his suffering and death for your sins. Anyone who drink his blood and eat his flesh shall be redeemed forever!

21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”

Jesus would not die in a decent way. Soon, Judas would betray Jesus and Jesus would be crucified. But Jesus made it clear to his disciples that his death did not take place by human schemes but according to the Scripture. However, that did not mean that Judas was not accountable for Jesus’ death. He was punished accordingly.

Jesus’ statement must have been shocking to the disciples. “How is it possible that our Lord the Messiah will die?” They still did not understand Jesus’ death and they never imaged that one of them would betray him. They questioned among themselves which of them might do that. Though Jesus told them several times about his death (9:22,44; 12:50; 13:32-33; 17:25; 18:31-33), they didn’t understand it (12:39; 18:34). Instead, they expected the glory of Jesus’ kingdom and argued who would be considered to be greatest among them. (cf. 9:46) What did Jesus say to them?

Jesus taught them that greatness is not lording it over others. Rather, greatness lies in serving others. Even the Lord Jesus served his disciples to the point of death. The great are those who are great in the kingdom of God. Jesus conferred on them a kingdom where they would eat and drink with him and rule over nations. So they should not dispute among them as to who was greatest among them. They all would be great in Jesus’ kingdom since they had stood by Jesus in trials.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Jesus knew that Satan was trying hard to take over his disciples and separate them from Jesus. (31) So Jesus prayed for Peter not fail in faith in this trial. He was the one who should strengthen his brothers. Peter swore that he would go with Jesus even to prison or to death. No doubt he was loyal to Jesus. But Jesus said that he would deny him three times that night.

The time of trial was approaching. It would be a very difficult time for Jesus’ disciples. Jesus asked them to prepare purses, bags, and swords. As people rejected Jesus, they would reject the disciples as well. They needed to live and defend themselves without Jesus. However, they still had no idea what Jesus was talking about.

Let’s think about the disciples a little more. Why did Judas betray Jesus? Why did they dispute about who was greatest among them? Why did Peter deny Jesus three times?

Judas followed Jesus for about three years. But to him Jesus was not always in his first place. Sensing that he would not get from Jesus what he wanted, he betrayed him in pursuit of his self-interest. The other disciples loved Jesus and sacrificed their lives to follow Jesus. As Peter said, they were even willing to die for Jesus. But they were interested in the glory of the Messiah and their positions in his kingdom. The common thing for all of them was that they never wanted to accept Jesus’ suffering and death. They did not understand it. (9:45; 12:39) Rather, they tried to ignore it out of fear.

We may live a looking good Christian life. But here is the truth: we cannot have a powerful and joyful Christian life without accepting Jesus’ suffering and death for us. As I said at the beginning of this message, I suffered from hypocrisy. So I sincerely prayed about it. Then God convicted my heart and I realized that I should not have to cover my sins by myself. I wrote my life testimony sincerely and confessed my lust and pride before God and before brothers and sisters. I felt shame first but then conviction and forgiveness and freedom and peace! I drunk Jesus’ blood. I ate his flesh. Then I realized that Jesus already took all my sins with his death. There was nothing I had to hide or do for my sins. Accepting his blood for my sins was all I needed. Then I became a born-again Christian.

The same happened to Jesus’ disciples. When they finally accepted Jesus’ suffering and death as the ransom for their sins, they came to know Jesus personally and live powerful lives. Paul also said that Christ crucified is God’s power and wisdom. (1 Cor 1:23-24)

As such, only when we accept and hold to Christ crucified, we can see God’s grace, which gives us to strength to keep his word and fight against Satan and the power of sin.

Do you have Jesus’ blood in your blood? Do you have his flesh in your body? Do you have the Jesus crucified in your heart? Without it, you will never know Jesus and will never be convicted and convinced of his forgiveness for your sins. Drink his blood. Believe that Jesus has already paid for all your sins. Believe that his blood covers all your sin. And confess your sins to him. Then you will see Jesus and appreciate his blood and will be proud of him.

In today’s passage, Jesus revealed how he would fulfill the Passover and redeem his people. His blood was poured out for us to take the punishment of all your sins and my sins. He fulfilled the new covenant by his blood. He said, “Drink my blood. Eat my flesh.” And he also said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

By David Yun