What does Luke 22:16 mean?

Along with the Twelve disciples, Jesus is eating the Passover meal. This is His last Passover—His last festival—during His ministry on earth. The Passover looks back to when God "passed over" the homes of the Israelites as He killed the firstborn males of the families of Egypt. Ironically, the next afternoon, God's only begotten Son will be killed so God's judgment can pass over those who trust Him for salvation (John 3:16–18).

Some have taken Jesus' statement to mean He does not eat the meal. In the previous verse, He says, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you" (Luke 22:15), indicating He is, in fact eating. Others claim more allegory than is necessary. The "it" He is talking about eating is not death; it is the meal. The "it" that will be fulfilled is not every promise God ever made. Nor does it refer to the Lord's Supper which begins later (Luke 22:19). It is the Passover which will be fulfilled with His death.

The pertinent question is: what is the fulfilled Passover? Jesus may be alluding to the reinstitution of feasts during the millennial kingdom. Or He may mean when He will be the guest of honor at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6–10). The church, His bride, will celebrate that they will experience no more death, sickness, or sin. The kingdom of God will have arrived.

This verse gives context to Jesus' later comment: "I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18). When Jesus is on the cross, the soldiers give Him sour wine (Luke 23:36). This leaves people confused as Jesus says He will not drink wine. He means He will not drink wine in a celebratory meal, not that He will never touch something made from grapes.