-
The Year’s Greatest Celebration—Will You Be There?The Watchtower—1972 | March 15
-
-
What did Jesus mean when he handed the bread and wine to his disciples, saying, according to the Authorized Version, “this is my body . . . this is my blood”? (Matt. 26:26, 28) In relating what Jesus here said, Matthew uses the Greek word es·tinʹ, commonly translated “is,” but he uses it in the sense of “signifies,” “stands for,” “imports,” “represents,” or “means.” Hence the New World Translation, in agreement with Moffatt, reads, “this means my body . . . this means my ‘blood.”’ The Charles B. Williams translation says this “represents my body . . . this represents my blood.”a
-
-
The Year’s Greatest Celebration—Will You Be There?The Watchtower—1972 | March 15
-
-
Therefore, Jesus next passed his disciples a cup of wine, saying, “this means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matt. 26:27, 28) As with the old Mosaic Law covenant, so also the “new covenant” mediated by Christ Jesus would become operative only with the shedding of blood. Also, and in connection with that new covenant, without the pouring out of that precious blood of Jesus, mankind could have no forgiveness of sins. (Heb. 9:17-20, 22; Ex. 24:7, 8) The memorial cup of wine represents and calls to mind this wonderful provision that Jehovah has made for the salvation of mankind, by and through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ.—Heb. 9:12, 14, 15; 10:28, 29.
-