But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
This verse comes from the Last Supper — the final meal Jesus shared with his twelve disciples on the night before his arrest and crucifixion. Jesus had taken bread and a cup of wine and told his disciples these elements represented his body and blood, which would be given for them — the foundation of what Christians call Communion or the Lord's Supper. After sharing the cup, Jesus makes a striking promise: he will not drink wine again until he drinks it with his disciples in his Father's Kingdom. In other words, the next time this meal happens, it will be on the other side of death and resurrection — a reunion feast in the fullness of God's eternal Kingdom. It is a promise of future joy spoken from the very edge of the cross.
Jesus, thank You for setting down the cup with a promise rather than in silence. When the middle of my story feels too heavy to carry, remind me that You are already at the table on the other side, and that You set a place there for me. Help me live today in the light of that. Amen.
Think about what Jesus knows at this moment. He knows Judas has already left to arrange his betrayal. He knows Peter will deny knowing him before sunrise. He knows the cross is hours away. He is sitting at a table with men who are about to scatter, and He can see the whole terrible arc of what's coming. And what does He do? He promises a party. Not a vague assurance that things will be okay — a specific, future, joyful meal with everyone around the table again, the cup finally raised in the Kingdom. He sets it down and says, the next time I drink this, it will be with you. Even knowing everything He knows, He is already planning what comes after. There is something worth sitting with here: Jesus endured the cross with a table in view. The writer of Hebrews says He endured it for the joy set before Him — and maybe part of that joy was exactly this, this reunion, this cup picked up again. When you're in the middle of something that threatens to undo you — a loss without a tidy resolution, a waiting period that has gone on far longer than you expected — it can feel impossible to picture a table on the other side. But Jesus doesn't just say there will be one. He set it down as a promise. The cup He left unfinished, He will raise again. With you.
Jesus makes a specific, forward-looking promise right in the middle of imminent betrayal and suffering. What does the timing of this promise tell you about how He understood what He was walking into?
Is it easy or difficult for you to hold onto the hope of future joy when you're in the middle of present pain? What makes the difference for you personally?
Jesus makes this promise to disciples He already knows are about to fail Him — deny Him, abandon Him, scatter. What does that tell you about who gets a seat at God's table, and how does that sit with you?
Communion is practiced differently across Christian traditions. Regardless of how your community observes it, what do you think it means to regularly return to something Jesus explicitly connected to a future feast with Him?
If you genuinely believed the story ends at a table — that a real reunion and celebration with Jesus await — what would you do differently today with the fear, grief, or exhaustion you're currently carrying?
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
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Revelation 7:17
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isaiah 55:1
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
Psalms 40:3
Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
John 17:24
Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
Mark 14:25
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
AMP
I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
ESV
'But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom.'
NASB
I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
NIV
But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
NKJV
Mark my words — I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”
NLT
"I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father."
MSG