Luke 22:19, And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

I remember sitting in my seminary Early Church History class in 1978 with Professor Ross Mackenzie…a true Scotsman with the brogue to go with it.  We were talking about our role in performing the sacraments in the context of worship.  Regarding the Lord’s Supper,  he said, “Whatever words you say when repeating the words of institution associated with the Last Supper, make sure you don’t use the word “broken” as in “This is my body broken for you…” He went on to tell us that Jesus was recorded as saying, “this is my body…” in Matthew and Mark.  Luke adds the further reference seen in the text above.  While there is no recording of the Last Supper in the Gospel of John, the writer alludes to passages from the Old Testament in John 19:36 speaking to the fact that no bone shall be broken in the Passover Lamb (Ex. 12:46; Num. 9:12; Ps. 34:20).  Professor Mackenzie pointed out to us that the jury was out in terms of the language ascribed to Paul in I Corinthians 11:24 in the NKJV and KJV along with some other translations of the Bible due to the differences in some of the early manuscripts used to translate the Bible. Most of today’s translations do not use the phrase “broken for you…”. Rather, most translations use “which is for you…”  I might add that several biblical scholars have argued both sides of this coin in regards to what the early manuscripts show. With this background, I opted to not use the “broken for you” wording and use language that was more in line with the other scriptural references.

I have had the privilege of belonging to a number of churches since my departure from active ministry back in the mid 90’s. I would say that the pastors of those churches were split pretty much 50/50 on the use of “broken for you” when they celebrated Communion in worship. There also can be different understandings of what “broken for you…” may mean. I would also say that for most of the people sitting in congregations, this minor nuance is rarely noticed. My point here is that our Lord’s body was beaten, bruised, pierced, nailed, spit upon, and impaled with thorns, but no bone was broken to fulfill the prophesies to which John was alluding.  Some might say this is just semantics…that it doesn’t matter in the larger scheme of things.

So, if you are still reading, you might be saying to yourself, “this guy is just being silly” (or whatever adjective you would like to insert). Why waste time on such minutia? Does it really matter in the grand scheme of redemptive history?

Well…for me, it does…and I think it did for Jesus. He was all about fulfilling OT prophesy. With all the teaching, preaching, and miracle working He did during his brief three year ministry, He was about to perform the most sacred, critical instruction in His last hours with His disciples prior to His death and resurrection.  He knew how easily the disciples could forget what they’ve seen and heard. The ensuing chaos that would soon surround them would have them fleeing for their lives.  He wanted to give them something to hang on to when He was no longer physically in their presence…that every time they sat together to break bread, they would remember His command, “This is my body which is for you. Take, eat…do this in remembrance of me.”  In other words, remember that I am the Passover Lamb offering My body as the new and perfect one time sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin…that every time you come together to break bread and drink with your meal, remember me sharing these words with you…remembering what I have done for you…and for all those who believe and will believe in what I have offered for them.

For me…in my all-too-often flesh centered world, I desperately need the sense of the sacred…the clear eternal never changing eternally loving, always forgiving presence of my Savior…and I find Him most real…most present as I join with my brothers and sisters in Christ remembering what He did for us as our Passover Lamb…unbroken and unblemished…offering back our lives as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable because of His blood poured out for us…not because of anything we’ve done. I need the sense of the sacred to get me through the day.