The Lord's Supper: Proclaim His Death

He Came To Die | Luke 22:14-20

Good Friday isn’t just another day on the calendar. It’s the day we deliberately pause to remember the greatest act of love and sacrifice in human history: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became a real man, lived a real life, and died a real death on a real cross in our place.

That’s why we call it Good Friday. The only truly Good Man who ever lived willingly gave His life for us. This is the gospel, the good news, in its purest form. Jesus came to die. And this was never a backup plan. It was the eternal plan of God.

As a church family, one of the most powerful and regular ways we remember Christ’s death is through the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion. The apostle Paul puts it plainly in 1 Corinthians 11:26:

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

Every time we take the bread and the cup, we are proclaiming the death of Jesus. We are looking back to the cross and declaring, “This is what saved me.”

As we reflect today on the cross, let's look at how the Lord's Supper in Luke 22 points directly towards Jesus' work on the cross.

The Trap Was Set — But Jesus Was Never Surprised

By the time we reach Luke 22, the enemies of Jesus had their plan in motion. The religious leaders were plotting. Satan had entered Judas. The betrayer was already negotiating his thirty pieces of silver (Luke 22:1-2, 3, 6).

Yet Jesus was completely unfazed.

“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’” (Luke 22:14-15)

Jesus wasn’t a victim of circumstances. He was in full control. Everything was unfolding exactly according to the Father’s plan. As He Himself had taught earlier:

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Jesus came to die. And He knew it along. The death of Christ for our sins was God's Plan A to bring salvation (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

This Meal Fulfilled the Passover

Jesus had been looking forward to this moment. The Passover meal wasn’t just a tradition, it was a prophetic shadow pointing straight to Him.

“And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.'” (Luke 22:15-16)

The Passover commemorated Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. A spotless lamb was slain. Its blood was applied to the doorposts. When the angel of death passed through the land, it passed over every home covered by the blood.

That night in the upper room, Jesus was declaring that the Passover had always been about Him.

Two thousand years earlier, the blood of a lamb spared Israel from physical death. Now, the blood of the Lamb of God would flow down a different wooden post, a wooden cross, to deliver us from eternal death and the wrath of God.

Jesus came to die, so that God’s judgment would pass over us. All the sacrifices in the Old Testament, including the Passover sacrifice, pointed forward to Jesus who would die for us. As John the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

A Beautiful Picture of Redemption

Theologian Ligon Duncan has pointed out a powerful contrast in this meal:

In Genesis 3:6, Eve “took the fruit and ate it.” One act of disobedience plunged the entire human race into sin, death, and separation from God.

Now, at the Last Supper, Jesus says, “Take and eat," offering His own body.

Jesus, the second Adam, was undoing what the first Adam had done. This simple meal represents the reversal of the fall. What was lost through one man’s rebellion is restored through the obedience and sacrifice of the God-man. (Watch Dr. Ligon Duncan comment on this below)

The Elements: His Body and His Blood

Then Jesus took the bread:

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:19)

And the cup:

“And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’” (Luke 22:20)

The broken bread points us to His body, given for us.

The poured-out wine points us to His blood, which seals the new covenant, the promise of forgiveness, cleansing, and eternal life for all who trust in Him. As the author of Hebrews states, "without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).

Come to the Table

As followers of Jesus, we are invited to this table. When you come to the table of mercy, this covenant meal, remember that you are proclaiming the death of Christ for our sins. It was the plan all along. Jesus couldn't wait to share this meal with his disciples and tell them its true meaning. He was the lamb that would be slain.

Jesus came to die, for you, for me.

And because He died, we can live.

Take. Eat. Remember. Proclaim.

The Lord’s Supper is our ongoing declaration: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.