The last evening that our Lord was with his disciples (the day we would term Thursday) was the opening night of the fourteenth of Nisan (first month of the Jewish calendar).  This would be the last meal that our Lord would eat with his 12 disciples before his crucifixion.  It was so important that he spoke of it in Luke 22:15: “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:” Jesus knew that he would not be able to eat the Passover meal on the next evening because by then he would have been offered up as a sacrifice (crucified).  He became the Passover lamb for the world as it says in 1 Corinthians 5:7,  “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”  In the scriptures below Jesus gives a new command to his disciples.

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper (Matt. 26:26-29)

“Now as they were eating (the Passover), Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Our Lord took bread and brake it as he explained that it represented his body that would be broken for them.  He then gave it to his disciples to eat with a gentle command “do it in remembrance of me” and likewise after supper he took the cup, gave thanks  and explained that it symbolized his blood that would be shed for them. 

We know that there is no power in merely eating bread and drinking wine as we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, but it is the remembering of the sacrifice he willingly made not only on our behalf but on behalf of the whole world.  The significance to the new convert is to remember that we as disciples are to celebrate the memorial of Jesus’ death.  When we annually commemorate his sacrifice, we should do it with those of the Christian faith who with heartfelt love and appreciation for the greatest sacrifice known to man, give thanks in memorial to our Lord. 

Additional Resource: Christian Questions Podcast Episode 1069: “What Happened at the Last Supper?” Revealing hidden gems of Jesus’ care for his disciples  Preview Video  CQ Rewind Show Notes