06/17/2018
There is great mystery in the blood of Jesus, a newness that isn’t seen anywhere else in the Bible. The symbolism in the blood of communion is beyond rich, and gives us more than purification and forgiveness... it changes our lives completely, and cuts us off from the old life we were once living. The blood of Jesus requires that we make a choice... to continue on as we have been, or to drink of it and be called out... made other.
“"If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people.”
Leviticus 17:10 ESV
God warned all people against ingesting blood, and yet during the first communion Jesus asked that His disciples do exactly that. How is it that God said He would cut us off from the people we have been a part of, and yet Jesus said “drink”? What were the disciples doing when they took the cup, were they risking God’s wrath, and eternal death as they showed the ultimate faith in Jesus? What are we doing today?
“And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:27-28 ESV
So the disciples drank, we drink, and the covenant is established. We have consumed what God had once reserved for Himself alone. We have accepted from Jesus not only symbolism, but life, forgiveness, and the peace of God.
Into ourselves we have brought life, and not just any life, but the life of God’s own Son. What had once been considered an act that would warrant God’s anger, now bathes us in His love. The blood (life) that was once reserved for the altar is now within us. The very thing that God had denied Adam and Eve by driving them from Eden, we now have access to through the blood of Jesus Christ... eternal life. By entering into this Covenant we go even further; we are being separated from our old way of life that had death as its reward, and taking in its place separation, and eternity. We are setting ourselves apart from who we once were and consecrating ourselves to God. We are assuming a holy life.
It might taste like wine, or juice, but that is just the flavor left on our tongue. When Jesus makes this Covenant with us it is much more than a simple taste, the sweet nectar of the vine, it is to be the wholeness of His life, made complete within us; even as the blood of temple sacrifices made complete the peace with God with the Jews of Israel. In this remembrance we internalize eternity, and separate ourselves unto God... we accept His holiness.
So as we take communion and consume the elements, it is more than a simple action, it is Covenant, and not to be entered into lightly. We are told to do this in remembrance of Jesus, but doing so doesn’t mean a superficial “Oh yeah, this is Jesus.” It is to remember the price involved in this blood Covenant, to remember the entirety of the gospel, remember the force of Christ’s life within us, remember our sanctification, remember our holiness, remember this blood brings us forgiveness, remember the peace of God, and accept eternity in the presence of the divine. In this moment of Communion we are accepting the mystery, majesty, mercy, and grace, embodied in Christ Jesus, and feeling His life force course through us.
Are you ready for communion? Are you ready to embody the mystery of the cross?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of your Son Jesus Christ, but also for every beat of his heart, Word He spoke, and the blood covenant He made with us. Thank you Holy Father for Jesus being in you and you in Him, and also for His being in us, and we in Him as well. Through Jesus we are redeemed and joined with you LORD, and by His blood we are forgiven, and set aside for you. Teach me Gracious Father what it means to remember Jesus in Communion, and what you meant when you said that by consuming blood we would be cut off from our people. Prepare me for Communion Lord, and lead me to your table in the fullness of spirit needed to accept what is offered there. Give me purpose in my taking of the body and blood of Jesus, and help me to internalize all that this moment brings forth. Holy is your Son Gracious Father, and Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who holds eternity in your outstretched hand.
Rich Forbes