Wine and Blood?
Wine and Blood?
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:27-29
The early Christians were persecuted and called a cult because it was believed that they drank human blood. Of course this was just a rumor spread by those wanting to erase Christianity from the area.
The Bible makes it very clear that the juice was just to be a symbol for the blood of Christ. It was something to be done as a remembrance.
Jesus called this part of a new covenant that he was making with the world. No longer was the truth and by extension salvation to be held by just a few. The chosen people, the Jews, had broken the old covenant, distorting its truth and ignoring the evangelistic outreach that was supposed to be attached to it.
Instead now, the new covenant was to be for everyone and anyone who was willing to accept it. Your blood line, birth or heritage meant nothing now. As all who accepted received the spiritual blood of Jesus, everyone was deemed worthy.
By accepting the blood, the person also accepted the sacrifice that caused the blood to be shed. By accepting the sacrifice, the person’s sins were forgiven and a new life was created. This new life would be filled with the Holy Spirit and would build up a character like Jesus himself. That is the plan and covenant that Jesus is talking about here.
Then Jesus said that he’d never drink grape juice again until all were saved and living in heaven. That day is the great feast that is mentioned in the Bible for all the saved in heaven. What’s interesting is that Jesus’ first miracle is found in a wedding feast and it will all conclude in a heavenly wedding feast. Jesus loves symmetry.
Today you have the choice to be part of that new covenant. If you think you’re not worthy, just remember that all the apostles there with Jesus, who drank that juice, would be fast asleep while Jesus needed their prayers in Gethsemane. It is the same apostles who would betray him and run away in just a few hours after this meal.
They were found worthy and so are you.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto