“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me,
and I in him.” (John 6:56, NKJV)
In Luke 22:20, with the last Passover and the instating of the rite of communion, Jesus makes this amazing statement – “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’” One is so accustomed to these familiar words that its full meaning is sometimes obscured. In the light of what was said in the previous two teachings, also keep in mind that this rite took place during the festival of Pesach (Luke 22:7-9). The festival of Pesach, the festival of unleavened bread and the festival of first fruits were celebrated together to commemorate the trek out of Egypt (see Ex 11-12). It commenced on the 14th day of the first month and lasted a week. This first festival of the Israelites was primary instated as a commemoration of how God had saved the Israelites from the land of slavery, and put them on the road toward the land of promise. Thus God had made this ordination – “Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.”
The symbolism surrounding the feasts of Pesach and the feast of the unleavened bread is obvious – Christ our Passover lamb, without sin (leaven), blood on the doorposts (Jesus is the door – John 10, which makes our redemption possible). 1 Cor 5:7-8: “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
The Godly synchronization is evidenced by the way in which parallel events during which the Old and New Covenants were respectively made thus align. As the blood of the Passover lamb brought a covering for Israel, likewise the blood of Jesus brings a covering for all who receives it.
But the New Covenant, which has no external manifestation as is the case with the Old Covenant, requires a further internalization – you have to drink the blood! In John 6:53-55 Jesus spells it out clearly – “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.’” Then, in the next verse, He makes this amazing statement – “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” Besides the importance of communion which this clearly signifies (also see teachings of Day 89-96) it has far greater meaning too. An example – John 15 immediately unfolds when John 6:56 is read. But more on this later.
- Sela: In the light of the teaching and John 15, can you surmise a deeper meaning behind the rite of communion?
- Read: Lev 12; Neh 9; Isa 52
- Memorise: Isa 52:11
- For a deeper understanding: Read Watchman Nee’s Back to the cross to better understand this facet of the cross and its crossover to the next facet.
