Passover was a major festival observed by the Jews to commemorate God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12–13). During New Testament times, the celebration of the Passover generally involved the practice of drinking four cups of wine in between meals, to recall the promises of God in Exodus 6:6–7.

The first cup of wine would remind them of God’s promise to deliver them: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians” (v. 6). The second cup reminded them of how God freed them from bondage: “I will free you from being slaves to them” (v. 6). The third cup reminded them of how God vindicated them: “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment” (v. 6). The final cup reminded them of how God made them His own: “I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God” (v. 7).

Mark 14:22 describes how Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to the disciples. According to ancient practice, this took place between the drinking of the second and third cups of wine. In breaking the bread, Jesus was reinterpreting the meaning of the bread to refer to His body (v. 22), and the cup to refer to His blood poured out for many (v. 24).

Significantly, it was after drinking the third cup of wine that Jesus told the disciples that He would not drink the fruit of the vine until the kingdom comes (v. 25). The group then sung a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives (v. 26). Jesus deliberately ended the meal without drinking the fourth cup. What did this mean?

By stating that He would drink the fourth cup of wine only when He came again, Jesus was indicating that the fourth promise would only be fulfilled when He returned. The entire creation is still waiting for this day, when God will take people from every tribe and nation as His own people.

As we participate in Holy Communion today, we not only look back to the finished work of Jesus on the cross, but also to His coming again. We recall the words of Paul: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). May we be ready for the second coming of Jesus. Maranatha.