Body and Blood.

The body and blood of Christ are clearly symbolized by the bread and the wine used in the Last Supper. Brian explains the significance.

Christ Talks About Body and Blood

In Mark 14:22-26 we read,

“And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Mark 14:22-26

Jesus’ disciples are expecting the usual Passover with a definite procedure: It included four key moments when the presider, holding a glass of wine, got up and explained the feast’s meaning. The four cups of wine represented the four promises of God in Exodus 6:6-7. 1] The promise of rescue from Egypt. 2] The promise of freedom from slavery. 3] The promise of redemption by God’s power. 4] The promise of a renewed relationship with God.

The Last Supper

Imagine how surprised the disciples must be when Jesus breaks away from the script that applied to Israel and brings everything to focus on himself. He shows them the bread and says, “This is my body.” What does that mean? Jesus is saying, “This is the bread of my suffering, because I’m going to lead the greatest exodus and bring you total deliverance from bondage.”

Just as the first Passover was observed the night before God redeemed the Israelites from slavery through the blood of lambs, this Passover meal is eaten the night before God will redeem the world from sin and death through the blood of Jesus – the Lamb of God.

The Lamb is at the Table

There is another major way that this meal changes the script. Jesus gives thanks for the bread – all Passover meals had bread. Jesus gives thanks for the wine – all Passover meals had wine. But there is no mention the main course, the key food in the Passover meal – the lamb. There is no lamb on the table because the Lamb is at the table.

Jesus sees his blood as the seal of the New Covenant as animal blood had sealed the old covenant of Moses. Verse 23 states “When he had given thanks.” Jesus takes the symbol of his death and gives thanks for it. If Jesus could give thanks for that, we can and should give thanks, even for the worst things in life.

Rinkart’s World

The following story shows how that can happen in real life.  The year was 1637, the worst of a plague in Eilenburg, Germany. The lone surviving pastor, Martin Rinkart, was performing as many as 50 funerals each day. Almost certainly, the hardest funeral that year was his wife’s. Terrible conditions. Indescribable sadness. War. Refugees. Famine. Disease. Death.

Rinkart’s world is our world, still overloaded with sadness. But his God is still our God, and that gives us hope. In the middle of this long, long trial, Martin Rinkart wrote this prayer – a prayer that we actually sing in church:

“Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed; and free us from all ills, in this world and the next!”

Martin Rinkart

Whether we sing it or say it, I hope you and I can say, “Amen” to that.

What do you think about symbols used for the body and blood of Christ?  Contact us at HopeStreamRadio,  or comment below.