1 Corinthians 11:25
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's so striking here is that Jesus doesn't say, "This represents the new covenant." Instead, he declares, "This is the new covenant in my blood." He's not just offering a symbol; he's announcing that this covenant, with all its promises of forgiveness and relationship with God, is now being inaugurated through his sacrifice.
Jesus is celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new, profound way to remember his sacrifice. This moment, rich with the symbolism of the old covenant, sets the stage for the new covenant established through Jesus' impending death and resurrection. The instructions he gives here are foundational for the practice of communion that the early church, and believers today, continue to observe.
Jesus didn't just institute a meal; he established a profound, unbreakable agreement between God and humanity. But what makes this covenant so revolutionary?
The Promise of a New Beginning
When Jesus says, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood,' he's pointing to a reality far greater than a simple contract. Covenants in the Old Testament were often sealed with animal sacrifice, signifying the seriousness of the agreement. But Jesus declares his own blood as the seal for this new covenant. This isn't just a renewal of the old; it's a complete, transformative shift. It ushers in an era where forgiveness is fully accessible and our relationship with God is fundamentally restored, based not on our performance, but on His finished work.
This new covenant means:
'Do this... in remembrance of me.' This command is more than just a memory exercise. What kind of remembrance does Jesus ask of us?
Active, Living Memorial
The word Jesus uses for 'remembrance' isn't a passive recalling of facts. It's an active, living memorial – a commemoration that has the power to bring the reality of what Jesus did right into the present moment. It’s not just about remembering that he died, but remembering what his death accomplished for us: the establishment of the new covenant, the forgiveness of sins, and the renewed relationship with God.
This remembrance is:
Understand the original words
diathēkē · Greek Noun
A solemn agreement or relationship established by God with His people, ratified by the shedding of blood; it signifies a new relationship based on grace and the finished work of Christ.
haima · Greek Noun
The vital, life-giving essence of a living being; in the context of the New Covenant, it represents the life of Christ poured out in His atoning death for the forgiveness of sins.
The institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus at his last meal with the disciples provides the immediate context for Paul's instructions to the Corinthian church on how to properly observe this sacred ordinance.
c. 30 AD— this verse
The Last Supper
Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples, instituting the Lord's Supper (also known as communion or the Eucharist). This event is the direct historical anchor for 1 Corinthians 11:25.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus' atoning sacrifice and subsequent resurrection are the foundation of the 'new covenant' that the cup symbolizes.
c. 33 AD onwards
Early Church Ministry of Apostles
Following Pentecost, the apostles spread the Gospel and established the early Christian communities, including the church in Corinth.
c. 50-52 AD
Paul Founds the Church in Corinth
The Apostle Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth establishing the church, which later faced internal divisions and doctrinal issues.
This passage prophesies the 'new covenant' that Jesus institutes, highlighting the continuity between God's promises to Israel and Jesus's work.
Luke 22:20This Gospel account also records Jesus instituting the cup at the Last Supper, emphasizing the same words about the new covenant in his blood.
1 Corinthians 10:16Paul connects the cup of blessing at communion with participation in the blood and body of Christ, reinforcing the idea of communion with Him.
Exodus 24:8This Old Testament passage describes the ratification of the old covenant with blood, providing a stark contrast and theological backdrop to Jesus's 'new covenant' sealed by his own blood.
What's so striking here is that Jesus doesn't say, "This represents the new covenant." Instead, he declares, "This is the new covenant in my blood." He's not just offering a symbol; he's announcing that this covenant, with all its promises of forgiveness and relationship with God, is now being inaugurated through his sacrifice.
Jesus is celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new, profound way to remember his sacrifice. This moment, rich with the symbolism of the old covenant, sets the stage for the new covenant established through Jesus' impending death and resurrection. The instructions he gives here are foundational for the practice of communion that the early church, and believers today, continue to observe.
Jesus is celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples, instituting a new, profound way to remember his sacrifice. This moment, rich with the symbolism of the old covenant, sets the stage for the new covenant established through Jesus' impending death and resurrection. The instructions he gives here are foundational for the practice of communion that the early church, and believers today, continue to observe.
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c. 55 AD
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
Writing from Ephesus, Paul addresses various problems within the Corinthian church, including their practice of the Lord's Supper.
"In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”" — What's so striking here is that Jesus doesn't say, "This represents the new covenant." Instead, he declares, "This is the new covenant in my blood." He's not just offering a symbol; he's announci…
