Written by Emma Burkholder
Scripture is rich with symbolism and allusions, connected in a woven tapestry of God’s goodness. In the gospel accounts, Jesus gave us the sacrament of Holy Communion at the Passover meal, though the significance of these elements is not commonly known, see Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, and John 6.
The elements of the Passover feast reminded the Jewish people of God’s great works in Egypt. The sacrificial lamb spared God’s people from death. The bitter herbs symbolized the pain of slavery and life. The unleavened bread reminded them of the hastiness of rescue and the provision to sustain the partakers as they move into freedom. By utilizing this symbol, Jesus is saying “Bread is life; My broken body will sustain you in freedom.”
A song of blessing would be sung over the cup of wine. Curiously, Jesus used the cup as a symbol of blood poured out instead of the sacrificial lamb. Being a deep purple-red, often associated with blood in ancient literature, wine also symbolized abundant blessing and goodness. The cup of blessing and sacrifice.
Jesus pulled together multiple biblical passages and symbols. God led his people out of slavery, and spared them from death. In the partaking of these symbols, we understand our past and anticipate our future.
