Jesus as God
Jesus Establishes the New Covenant in His Blood
Jesus interprets his approaching death as the sacrificial basis of God's promised new covenant.
How this passage contributes to the case:
The labels below identify the kinds of evidence for Jesus' divinity found in this passage.
Select a label for an explanation.
Strength of evidence: Supporting.
This passage is best understood as supporting evidence that strengthens a broader cumulative case rather than standing alone.
El Greco — Bible Works
Carl Bloch
El Greco — Bible Works
Juan de Juanes
Scripture
What Was Said or Done
Jesus identifies the cup as the new covenant in his blood, poured out for his disciples.
Old Testament Background
Exodus 24 supplies blood-of-the-covenant imagery, while Jeremiah 31 promises a new covenant established by God.
Exposition
Jesus places his own body and blood at the center of the covenantal saving act and institutes a meal of remembrance around himself.
Why This Points to His Divinity
This is profoundly Christological but not by itself a direct proof of deity, so it remains Supporting.
Response of the Hearers
The disciples receive the meal Jesus institutes.