Mark 14:22
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
Mark 14:22
In Mark 14:22, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal. He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat: this is my body.” This moment is both intimate and transformative: Jesus reinterprets the bread as his body, broken for others. The act occurs within a Passover frame, yet it inaugurates a new covenant: the Son’s body given for many. The imagery would have resonated deeply with Jewish listeners who understood bread as sustenance and blessing. Jesus’ language shifts from ceremonial Passover to personal sacrifice, indicating a new identity and mission: he is the true Passover Lamb, whose broken body would soon be given for humanity. The disciples’ participation emphasizes communal memory—the church would remember Jesus’ sacrifice through sharing this meal in remembrance of him.
This verse anchors the doctrine of the Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper) in Mark’s Gospel. The body image communicates substitutionary atonement and the intimate participation of believers in Christ’s redemptive work. It also signals a covenantal shift from the old to the new testament in the blood of Christ, foreshadowed in later verses. The act embodies grace received through faith, communal unity, and a continual reminder of Jesus’ imminent suffering and death. It speaks to identity: the church is a people whose life is formed by the one who is broken for others.
Practically, the Lord’s Supper invites personal reflection and communal renewal. When you partake, consider what Jesus’ body means for your daily life: nourishment beyond physical food, strength for service, and a call to forgive as you’ve been forgiven. In personal routines, approach meals with gratitude as an act of worship, recognizing God’s provision. In community, celebrate with others, but also examine relationships that need reconciliation. The act of breaking bread can become a weekly reset for humility, generosity, and mission. If you participate virtually or in smaller settings, maintain the spirit of shared fellowship—no one eats alone in the kingdom.
Cross-References: Luke 22:17-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Isaiah 53:5; John 6:51-58; Matthew 26:26-29