The Jewish day was reckoned from one sunset to another. The Passover was always eaten in the evening; and thus a new day was beginning when Jesus spake these words.
Jesus next asked the disciples, whether they had lacked or wanted anything when He sent them to teach throughout the country, taking with them neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes. They answered, that they had wanted for nothing. "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end,"—an end or object,—that is, everything which the prophets had spoken concerning the circumstances of our Saviour's Passion, was intended to fulfil some especial purpose, and therefore all must be exactly fulfilled. In answer to what Jesus said, the disciples "said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough."
Simon Peter appears still not to have understood that his Master's death was at hand, for "he said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards." Peter was not to die with his Lord; but he did afterwards follow Him indeed, for he was crucified some years after, in the reign of the Emperor Nero. Peter, as usual in his zeal and self-confidence, lost sight of the fact, that his duty was to believe and acquiesce without questioning and gainsaying: he needed the severe lesson he received afterwards, to teach him this. Now, in his love for his Master, "he said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow till thou has denied me thrice."
We now come to a very important event in the life of our Saviour, namely, His instituting another Feast, or Ceremony, to take the place of the Passover. The Passover was a means of reminding the Jews of a past bodily deliverance, and also of keeping them in remembrance of the promised Messiah, who was to come, and deliver them from spiritual bondage.
When the Messiah had actually come and finished His work, it would no longer be right to keep the Passover, as given to Moses. Jesus therefore, in doing away with this Feast, gave to His disciples another, which was for ever to remind men of all He had done for them. This Holy Feast we call "The Lord's Supper," "The Eucharist," or giving of thanks, "The Communion" of His blessed body and blood. "The Lord's Supper" is one of the Two Sacraments which Christ hath ordained in His Church. The other is Baptism, whereby we are admitted into Christ's Church. This is only partaken of once; just as in the natural world a child can only be born once. The Lord's Supper, on the contrary, should be partaken of constantly; just as we daily eat and drink to keep ourselves alive. But children do not partake of this Sacrament until they are old enough to understand its nature, and to fight for themselves against the world, the flesh, and the Devil.
The Four Gospels do not give us exactly the same account of what took place at the institution of the Lord's Supper. Some mention one thing, and some another; and therefore it is difficult to say the order in which the events took place: that is however, of little consequence, since we are sure that everything they do tell us, did happen during the Last Supper which Jesus ate with His disciples.
"As they were eating,"—probably at that part of the Feast when the master of the family broke one of the unleavened cakes (see 5, p. 123),—"Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
They were to look upon this bread as the body of Christ, sacrificed for them; and in the same spirit they were to eat bread in a solemn manner, from time to time, in remembrance of all the blessings which Jesus purchased for mankind, by giving up His body, or His human life, for our redemption.
"Likewise also, after supper, he took the cup,"—probably that one called the Cup of Blessing (see 6, p. 123),—"and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament. This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins."