Just about all Christians celebrate two rituals no matter what church denomination they belong to: (1) water baptism once and (2) communion service often. Jesus instituted the latter at the so-called Last Supper, which was the Passover meal. All three synoptic gospels of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—tell about it. The Gospel of John does not record it, and this omission suggests that its author knew that previous writings had been circulating among believers—such as perhaps one or more of the synoptics—that included this account about Jesus instituting communion, which also has been called “the Lord’s Table.”
Jesus Institutes the Communion Service
The Gospel of Matthew relates it as follows: “While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from 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 never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom'” (Matthew 26.26-29 NRSV). In this tremendous and blessed ritual symbolizes Jesus’ atoning death on the cross that we believers might be forgiven of our sins and receive the promise of eternal life at the resurrection.
So, Jesus said he would drink in that future kingdom. And when he does, his body will previously have been resurrected and thus be immortal. Those who truly believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior—whom the Bible sometimes calls “saints” and who will die—will be resurrected from the dead at the end of the age, when Jesus returns in the clouds from heaven to earth with his kingdom accompanying him. Those saints, too, will afterwards eat and drink with Jesus in that kingdom. For he said early in his ministry, “I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8.11; cf. Luke 13.29).
Isaiah Affirms Resurrection and a Banquet
Jesus is not original in saying these things. Isaiah the prophet already had made this clear. He wrote concerning those glorious, yet future, days, “Then the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem” (Isaiah 24.23). He adds, “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. … he will swallow up death forever” (25.8). Isaiah also adds, “Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awaked and sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth those long dead” (26.19). This is one of the few places in the Old Testament that affirms the future resurrection of the saints.
Marriage Supper of the Lamb
That great banquet is called “the marriage supper of the Lamb,” referring to Jesus. For, the author of Revelation relates concerning God at Jesus’ return, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb,” referring to Jesus (Revelation 19.9).
In conclusion, when Jesus returns at the end of the age, he will resurrect his people and celebrate with them at a sumptuous banquet in his kingdom earthly kingdom, where there will be eating and drinking and much joy.
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