Supper Specifics
On the night Jesus was betrayed,
(And) he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20 bibrefluke22 bibrefluke22v19 bibrefluke22v20)
The same event is described in Matthew 26:26-28 bibrefmatthew26 bibrefmatthew26v26 bibrefmatthew26v27 bibrefmatthew26v28 and Mark 14:22-25 bibrefmark14 bibrefmark14v22 bibrefmark14v23 bibrefmark14v24 bibrefmark14v25, but only Luke uses the specific word “new” (καινὴ) to describe the covenant. Jesus instituted the first observance of the Lord’s Supper as a new covenant celebration, and Paul repeats this narrative in 1 Corinthians 11:25 bibref1corinthians11 bibref1corinthians11v25 about the cup of the new covenant in His blood as he instructs the church in Corinth about observing the Lord’s Supper.
There is more about the New Covenant in the New Testament as well. Paul also described his own work as a minister of a new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6 bibref2corinthians3 bibref2corinthians3v6). The author of Hebrews says that Jesus is the mediator of this New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15; 12:14 bibrefhebrews9 bibrefhebrews9v15 bibrefhebrews12 bibrefhebrews12v14) and the coming of the New Covenant makes the first one, the Old one obsolete (Hebrews 8:13 bibrefhebrews8 bibrefhebrews8v13).
The New Covenant is unconditional, that is, it is a promise made by God, kept by God, and for God (see Jeremiah 31:31-4 bibrefjeremiah31 bibrefjeremiah31v31, and also Ezekiel 36:22-38 bibrefezekiel36 bibrefezekiel36v22 bibrefezekiel36v23 bibrefezekiel36v24 bibrefezekiel36v25 bibrefezekiel36v26 bibrefezekiel36v27 bibrefezekiel36v28 bibrefezekiel36v29 bibrefezekiel36v30 bibrefezekiel36v31 bibrefezekiel36v32 bibrefezekiel36v33 bibrefezekiel36v34 bibrefezekiel36v35 bibrefezekiel36v36 bibrefezekiel36v37 bibrefezekiel36v38). The fulfillment of the New Covenant is not based on what the Jews do or don’t do. In fact, the fulfillment of the New Covenant will be when God does in the Jews what they have definitely not done and could not do on their own.
To say, then, that the promises of the New Covenant are fulfilled in the church is to be sloppy with all the specific Old Testament promises. Parts of it are, but not the whole, not yet.
The better answer is that Jesus inaugurated and ratified the New Covenant. There is currently a Jewish remnant who are beneficiaries of the soul-saving elements of the New Covenant. There is currently an extension in salvation blessings of the New Covenant to the Gentiles. But the full/final fulfillment of the New Covenant has not yet happened. The Lord’s Table, especially this cup, remind us that all has been purchased, and to look forward to the accomplishment of all His Word.