The same was true of the cup of wine. Jesus said: “This cup means the new covenant by virtue of my blood, which is to be poured out in your behalf.”​—Luke 22:20.

In Matthew’s account, Jesus said regarding the cup: “This means my ‘blood of the covenant,’ which is to be poured out in behalf of many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) Jesus was using the wine in the cup as a representation, or symbol, of his own blood. His shed blood was to be the basis of “a new covenant” for spirit-anointed disciples, who would rule as kings and priests with him in heaven.​—Jeremiah 31:31-33; John 14:2, 3; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Revelation 1:5, 6; 5:9, 10; 20:4, 6.

The wine in the cup also serves as a reminder that Jesus’ shed blood would be the basis for providing “forgiveness of sins,” thus opening the way for the partakers to be called to heavenly life as joint heirs with Christ. Understandably, those with this heavenly calling​—a limited number—​are the only ones who partake of the bread and the wine at the Memorial.​—Luke 12:32; Ephesians 1:13, 14; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:3, 4.

What, though, about all those followers of Jesus who are not in the new covenant? These are the Lord’s “other sheep,” who look forward, not to ruling with Christ in heaven, but to enjoying eternal life on a paradise earth. (John 10:16; Luke 23:43; Revelation 21:3, 4) As “a great crowd” of faithful Christians “rendering [God] sacred service day and night,” they are delighted to be appreciative observers at the Lord’s Supper. Their words and deeds in effect declare: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”​—Revelation 7:9, 10, 14, 15.

[Box/Pictures on page 6]

“THIS IS MY BODY” OR “THIS MEANS MY BODY” WHICH?

When Jesus said, “I am the door” and, “I am the true vine,” no one thought that he was a literal door or a literal vine. (John 10:7; 15:1) Likewise, when The New Jerusalem Bible quotes Jesus as saying: “This cup is the new covenant,” we do not conclude that the cup itself was literally the new covenant. So, too, when he said the bread ‘was’ his body, there can be no question that the bread meant, or symbolized, his body. Thus, the Charles B. Williams translation says: “This represents my body.”​—Luke 22:19, 20.