“I Will Drink of the Fruit of the Vine with You”

When Jesus introduced the ordinance of the sacrament at the Last Supper, He made an intriguing prophecy. After inviting His disciples to drink the wine in remembrance of His blood, He said:

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.

Matthew 26:29

In August 1830, Joseph Smith received a revelation about the sacrament in which the Lord taught him more about this future event. “The hour cometh,” He said, “that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:5). The Savior then went on to list twelve people from various eras who would participate in that future sacramental celebration: Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Adam (Michael), Peter, James, and John. (See Doctrine and Covenants 27:5-14.) Joseph had already met and interacted with at least five of these ancient prophets, and two more of them would give him priesthood keys after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. So they were real people to Joseph, not just characters in scripture stories.

Why did the Savior emphasize this future event and list all of these participants as He taught Joseph Smith about the sacrament? Yesterday, as I taught an early-morning seminary class, I asked the students that question. One of them provided the following profound response:

Every one of those ancient prophets was human. They all needed God’s grace, just as we do. By describing them partaking of the sacrament with us, the Savior emphasized that His atoning sacrifice covers everyone.

Nephi taught that God invites all of His children “to come unto him and partake of his goodness” (2 Nephi 26:33). Lehi taught that none of us is saved through our obedience to the law. We can only be saved by “the Holy Messiah”—Jesus Christ—who is “full of grace and truth” (2 Nephi 2:5-6).

Today, I will be grateful for the universal Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is symbolized by the sacrament. I will remember that His grace blesses all of us—those who seem nearly perfect as well as those who seem deeply flawed, those who lived long ago as well as those who live today and will live in the future.