"A New Covenant" - Luke 22:14-23

In Old Testament times, God agreed to forgive people's sins if they brought animals for the priests to sacrifice. When this sacrificial system was inaugurated, the agreement between God and His people was sealed with the blood of animals. But animal blood did not in itself remove sin (only God can forgive sin), and animal sacrifices had to be repeated day after day and year after year. Jesus instituted a "new covenant" or agreement between God and His people. Under this new covenant, Jesus would die in the place of sinners. Unlike the blood of animals, his blood (because He is God) would remove the sins of all who put their faith in Him. Jesus' sacrifice would never have to be repeated; it would be good for all eternity. The prophets looked forward to this new covenant that would fulfill the old sacrificial agreement, and John the Baptist called Jesus 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).