Continuing in Mark 14, we reach an account of what is called the Lord’s Supper, or Communion, or perhaps the “Eucharist” (depending on the specific church traditions that you may be familiar with). Exactly what we call it isn’t something to be dogmatic about, but each of the various names can help us remember different aspects of this important practice that Jesus gave to His followers.
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Mark 14:22-26 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.14.22-26.NIV
Now, Luke [chapter 22] writes about Jesus sharing this just before the comments about His betrayal, while Matthew [chapter 26] shares the pattern that Mark records. Remember, though, that the Bible isn’t all in chronological order, so we sometimes have to piece together clues about sequencing (or just not worry about it when the order of events doesn’t matter to our faith).
As mentioned in an earlier article on this chapter, the Passover itself was a precursor to Jesus’ sacrifice for the sins of the world. These disciples had probably participated in annual Passover celebrations every year. (As a result, I also suspect that the two disciples assigned earlier to prepare the meal [see Mark 14:16] also knew what they were doing, having participated in their share of Passover meals.)
However, just as the blood of the Passover lamb didn’t keep the firstborn sons of the Israelites alive forever, and – after the Exodus – the Israelites lost their freedom multiple times throughout history, this symbol of the Lord’s Supper was not the ultimate sacrifice. It showed what was to come (and now reminds us what happened), but it wasn’t the final answer to what was really hurting humankind.
In giving His followers a “new and improved” reason (compared even to the holy, God-given remembrance of Passover) to remember a sacrifice and a salvation, Jesus added even more meaning to this reminder. As the first-century Jewish people remembered their protection and liberation during the Passover from the time of Moses (and many still do), Christians remember their salvation – the willing death of the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ – when taking communion. The symbols and the ceremony aren’t the sacrifice themselves, but they are key reminders that the sacrifice did take place, and that we are – literally – eternally grateful that a means of salvation was provided on our behalf.
By the way, in verse 26, we find that they sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives. While the hymn wasn’t “Amazing Grace” (written more than 1700 years later), a footnote in the NASB translation says that, “Ps 113-118 were traditionally sung at Passover”. While we’re not certain whether this tradition was in place specifically in Jesus’ time [ref. Black, p.249 footnote], if you have a chance to read those six Psalms, I think that you’ll see why they are a good fit for the Passover remembrance. (I doubt that they had a piano or organ to accompany them, but maybe one of the apostles brought a little harp or something to keep them in tune!)
May we remember that symbols we have – like communion – aren’t the sacrifice themselves, but they still remind us what Jesus did for us on the cross (and what God did in preparing His path to the cross). Let’s practice good habits like the Lord’s Supper, while being careful to not put the reminder in the place of the actual event. Practices, ceremonies, and traditions can be good, but we must not get so hung up on them that we forget what they are about in the first place. Communion doesn’t save us; it just reminds us and re-connects us to the One who did.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 30, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 