“This Cup Is My Blood” — Jesus’ Words at the Last Supper in Their True Biblical & Historical Light

By Rich Amick

When Jesus lifted the cup at His final meal with the disciples and said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28; cf. Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20), He was not creating a brand‑new ritual detached from historical significance but consciously fulfilling and reinterpreting the covenant story of Scripture already in place.

He was speaking directly into the heart of a Passover celebration that His followers had known all their lives, deeply rooted in the Exodus deliverance, the Sinai covenant, and centuries of Jewish tradition. Seen from that vantage point, the institution of the Lord’s Supper exposes just how shocking—and how profoundly fulfilling—His words really were to His disciples.

Passover in the First Century: A Meal of Covenant Remembrance

Passover wasn’t just a holiday—it was a living memorial of God rescuing Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12:27). The meal included:

• Retelling the Exodus story (commanded in Exodus 12:26-27)
• Unleavened bread and bitter herbs (specified in Exodus 12:8; cf. Exodus 12:39 and Exodus 1:14)
• Multiple cups of wine with blessings (rooted in Exodus 6:6-7's four redemptive promises), later formalized in tradition
• Emphasis on God's unbreakable covenant faithfulness (echoed in Exodus 24:8 and Deuteronomy 7:9)

The Four Cups: Echoing God's Four Promises in Exodus 6:6-7

Jewish tradition linked four cups of wine to the four “I will” promises God made to Israel:

1. Cup of Sanctification — “I will bring you out” (setting Israel apart)
2. Cup of Deliverance — “I will deliver you” (rescue from slavery)
3. Cup of Redemption — “I will redeem you” (with an outstretched arm)
4. Cup of Praise/Restoration — “I will take you to be My people” (covenant relationship)

Each cup traced a step in God’s saving plan. They weren’t random—they carried deep theological weight.

The Key Cup: The One "After Supper" (Luke 22:20)

Luke notes Jesus took “the cup after they had eaten” (Luke 22:20; cf. 1 Corinthians 11:25). In the Passover sequence, this points to the third cup—the Cup of Redemption.

Tied directly to “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (Exodus 6:6), this cup recalled the Passover lamb’s blood that spared Israel from death.

When Jesus held that cup and said, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood” (Luke 22:20; cf. Matthew 26:27–28; Mark 14:23–24), He made an explosive claim: His impending death would be the ultimate redemption.

From Exodus to the New Covenant: Jesus Fulfills the Promises

The Exodus 6 promises weren’t just ancient history—they defined God’s people. Jesus reframed them around Himself:

• “Bring you out” → Freedom from sin’s slavery
• “Deliver you” → Rescue from darkness (cf. Colossians 1:13)
• “Redeem you” → Bought by His own blood (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14, 20)
• “Take you as My people” → A new family sealed in the new covenant 

The old redemption pointed forward. Jesus declared: “I am the fulfillment”—as the mediator of a new covenant (Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24).

What This Meant to the Disciples: Shocking & Life-Changing

Jesus' words hit like thunder:

• He claimed to be the true Passover Lamb — His blood, not a lamb’s, averts judgment. Paul later wrote, “For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7; cf. John 1:29).
• He announced a new covenant — Echoing Moses’ blood ceremony (Exodus 24:8), but now sealed with His life, not animals’ (Hebrews 9:11–15, 18–22; 10:29).
• He redefined redemption — God’s greatest act wasn’t the Red Sea; it was the cross, where His blood was poured out “for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28).
• He invited them in — “Drink from it, all of you” meant sharing in His sacrifice and belonging to His new people. 

Paul captured this beautifully: “Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). And he passed on the tradition: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25; cf. 11:23–26). 

Conclusion: A Cup That Still Redefines 

Everything Jesus didn’t just share a meal—He transformed Passover’s deepest symbol.

The Cup of Redemption found its ultimate meaning in His blood, poured out to launch the new covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15), to forgive sins (Matthew 26:28), and to form a redeemed community that includes us today (Hebrews 12:24). 

What echoes of the Exodus do you hear when you take communion? How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment—our Passover Lamb and mediator of the new covenant—change the way you approach the Lord’s Supper?