What does Jesus mean when he says, "This is my body" and "This is my blood"?

When Jesus says, “This is my body” over the bread and “This is my blood” over the cup, he is speaking in a picture way. The bread remains bread and the wine remains wine, but he sets them apart as signs of his real sacrifice. The broken bread points to his body soon to be given over to death. The cup points to his blood that will be poured out. As his followers eat and drink in faith, they are meant to remember, trust, and spiritually feed on Christ who died for them.

Why does Jesus tell all the disciples they will be offended and scattered that night?

Jesus tells them, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night,” and then quotes the line about the shepherd being struck and the sheep scattered. He is showing that what will happen is not an accident but the fulfilling of Scripture. When he is arrested and condemned, fear will shake their confidence and they will run. He warns them ahead of time not to crush them, but to prepare them. He also joins this warning with comfort, because right after he speaks of their fall, he promises to meet them again in Galilee after he is raised.

Why did Peter insist he would never deny Jesus, and what does his denial teach us?

Peter answers boldly that even if everyone else falls away, he never will, and even says he is ready to die with Jesus. He truly loves his Master but does not yet know how weak his own heart is under pressure. Jesus knows him better and says that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny him three times that very night. Peter’s denial shows how quickly strong words can fail when fear and danger come. It reminds us not to trust our own strength but to depend on Christ’s grace, knowing he can restore us even after deep failure.

Why does Jesus say he will not drink the fruit of the vine again until the Father's kingdom?

After giving the cup, Jesus says he will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until he drinks it new with his disciples in his Father’s kingdom. This points beyond his coming death to future joy. For now he is going to suffering and the cross, but it will not end in death. There is a coming day when he and his people will share full fellowship and gladness together. This gives hope: the Lord’s Supper not only looks back to the cross, it also points ahead to the future feast with Jesus in his kingdom.

What does it mean that Jesus’ blood is shed "for many for the remission of sins"?

When Jesus says his blood is shed “for many for the remission of sins,” he explains the purpose of his death. His blood is not shed as a mere example, but as a true sacrifice that deals with guilt. “Remission of sins” means forgiveness, the sending away of sin so it is no longer held against the person. The word “many” shows that this is not a small or narrow work, but a wide provision. Those who come to him in faith share in the benefit of his death and can be sure that their sins are really forgiven because of what he has done.

Why did Jesus command all the disciples to eat the bread and drink from the cup?

Jesus tells them, “Take, eat,” and with the cup, “Drink ye all of it.” He does not set apart only a few to share in these signs. All his disciples present are to take part. This shows that the blessings of his body and blood are offered to every believer, not to a special class. The Supper is meant to be shared as a family meal of faith, where all who belong to him remember his death together. It also reminds us that we each must personally receive Christ by faith, not just watch others do so.

What was happening when Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn and went to the Mount of Olives?

They had just finished the Passover meal, during which Jesus gave new meaning to the bread and cup. At the end, they sang a hymn, likely one of the traditional psalms used at this feast, and then went out to the Mount of Olives. This shows Jesus walking calmly toward his suffering, with praise to God still on his lips. The setting explains why the warnings about falling away and Peter’s denial come next. On that very night, in that place, he will be arrested, and everything he has just spoken about his body, blood, and their fear will quickly unfold.

How can believers today apply the Lord’s Supper and Peter’s denial to their own lives?

The Lord’s Supper invites believers to keep coming back to Christ’s death as their hope. When we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are reminded that our forgiveness rests on his body given and his blood shed, not on our performance. Peter’s denial shows how weak we can be, even when we are sure of ourselves. Yet Jesus had already spoken of meeting the disciples again after he rose. This joined picture teaches us to come humbly, confessing our need, trusting his sacrifice, and finding comfort that he restores those who have stumbled.

Why do some people read "this is my body" in different ways?

The words “this is my body” have been read more than one way. Some understand them very literally, while others see Jesus using picture language, as he often does, where a sign is called by the name of what it points to. The passage itself shows he is working with bread and wine, using them as set-apart signs of his true body and blood given for sinners. What all faithful readers agree on is that this meal is meant to draw us to Christ himself, so that by faith we share in the benefits of his death and find real spiritual nourishment in him.

Matt.26.26

Matthew 26:26

Q: What is the new covenant in Jesus’ blood and how is it different from the old one?

The new covenant in Jesus’ blood is God’s new way of dealing with his people through the sacrifice of Christ. In the old covenant, animal blood was used in sacrifices and ceremonies, pointing forward to a greater sacrifice. Here Jesus says the cup is “my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” His own blood truly brings forgiveness, not just a picture of it. This covenant does not rest on repeated animal offerings, but on his one finished sacrifice that opens the way to lasting blessings and fellowship with God.

KJV Jesus

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

The Last Supper

Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.

And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.