Key Passage
Then Jesus said, "This wine is my blood. My blood (death) begins the new agreement {from God to his people}. This blood is given for many people. I tell you the truth. I will not drink this wine again until that day when I drink it in the kingdom of God and the wine is new." All the followers sang a song. Then they went out to the Mount of Olives.
— Mark 14:24-26 ERV (Read Full Text)
Key Thought
Some debate what Jesus means when he says, "I will drink it new in the Kingdom of God." Some believe he is referring to sharing in the Lord's Supper with those who believe in him—in other words, when we share in the Lord's Supper as his Church, he joins us in this meal. Others think he is referring to the great reunion meal in heaven. I personally believe that his reference is all encompassing because the Lord's Supper meal we celebrate as his Church is anticipatory: we remember his death until he comes. He joins us in that meal just as he joined his followers on the road to Emmaus and shared that meal with them (Luke 24). However, we realize that as we celebrate the Lord's Supper here on earth, we do so in anticipation of the great meal in heaven with all of God's redeemed. What a great reminder! What a great way to anticipate the future! What a great way to pledge ourselves to each other and commit to help one another see that glorious day of victorious celebration with our Lord!
Prayer
Almighty God and eternal LORD, thank you for the presence of your Son as we share in the Lord's Supper. Thank you even more for the promise that we will share the victorious meal with our Savior when he returns and takes us home to you. In Jesus' name I thank you for all of your blessings. Amen.
Related Scriptures
They came near the town of Emmaus and Jesus acted like he did not plan to stop there. But they wanted him to stay. They begged him, "Stay with us. It is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them. Jesus got ready to eat with them and took some bread. He gave thanks for the food and divided it. Then he gave it to them. At that time, the men were allowed to recognize Jesus. But when they saw who he was, he disappeared. The two men said to each other, "When Jesus talked to us on the road, it felt like a fire burning in us. It was exciting when he explained to us the true meaning of the Scriptures. " So the two men got up then and went back to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem they found the followers of Jesus meeting together. The eleven apostles and those people that were with them said, "The Lord (Jesus) really has risen from death! He showed himself to Simon (Peter)." Then the two men told the things that had happened on the road. They talked about how they recognized Jesus when he divided the bread.
— Luke 24:28-35
Then a voice came from the throne. The voice said: "Praise our God, all you people that serve him! Praise our God, all you people small and great that honor him!" Then I heard something that sounded like many, many people. It sounded like the noise of flooding water and like loud thunder. The people were saying: "Hallelujah (Praise God)! Our Lord God rules. He is the All-Powerful. Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory! Give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) has come. And the Lamb's bride (the church) has made herself ready. Fine linen was given to the bride for her to wear. The linen was bright and clean." (The fine linen means the good things that God's holy people did.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Those people who are invited to the wedding meal of the Lamb are blessed (happy)!" Then the angel said, "These are the true words of God."
— Revelation 19:5-9
Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you make known the Lord's death until he comes.
— 1 Corinthians 11:26
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