8. The Lord’s Supper instituted by Christ at the last Passover (Matthew 26)
Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples one last time and instituted Holy Communion. The Lord’s Supper is a participation in the symbols of the body and blood of Jesus as an expression of faith in Him as our Lord and Saviour. The Master also instituted the service of foot-washing to suggest renewed cleansing, a willingness to serve one another with Christian humility.
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” Luke 22: 19-20
The Passover was ordained as a commemoration of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. God had directed that year by year, as the children should ask the meaning of this ordinance, the history should be repeated. Thus the wonderful deliverance was to be kept fresh in the minds of all. The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was given to commemorate the great deliverance wrought out as the result of the death of Christ. Till He shall come the second time in power and glory, this ordinance is to be celebrated. It is the means by which His great work for us is to be kept fresh in our minds. Counsels for the Church p. 298.3 EG White
