(Assembly of Yahweh)
Monthly Spiritual Manna TRUMPETS Vol.13: No.5 Mar 2013 |
The bread, the wine and the cup: Every Christian who takes part in the Lord’s Supper is familiar with these verses. We eat the bread and drink of the cup in remembrance that Messiah died for us. When we eat the bread we believe we are eating his body,’ the living bread which came down from heaven’ (John.6:51). A pure, unblemished body which was broken and sacrificed for us as atonement for our sins. Remember the suffering and agony he had to undergo. He was beaten, scourged, spat upon, mocked, had his beard plucked and was stripped naked and was crucified for our sins. This is the broken body of Messiah which we eat. The fruit of the vine, fresh grape juice which we drink, is the blood of Messiah. Just as the Sinaitic covenant was sealed with blood, similarly the New Covenant is also sealed with blood-Messiah’s blood. Messiah’s blood frees us from the power of sin (Rev.1:5). It brings us into fellowship with the Father. It gives us peace and assurance. It cleanses us from sin. It purifies us. Wine is used for cleansing and disinfecting, so it has medicinal purposes. In Luke.10:34, we read about the Good Samaritan who poured wine and oil into the wounded man’s injuries. This is exactly what the blood of Messiah does for us. We are cleansed by the blood of Messiah to make our garments white. (Rev.7:14). Holiness comes through the blood of Messiah. The significance of the wine is that it represents the new life which comes to us through the blood of Messiah. In John.6:55, the Lord says,’ my blood is drink indeed’. At the last supper before the Passover, Messiah took the cup and said,’ this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you’. (Lk.22:20). Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer (Neh.1:11). The cupbearer would sample the drink before handing it over to the king, he would die first if the drink was poisoned! The phrase ‘drinking of the cup’ symbolizes sharing the consequences of what was in that cup. The world drinks of Babylon’s cup full of abominations and fornications (Rev.17:4). Paul says, "We cannot drink of the Lord's cup and of the cup of demons" (I Cor.10:21). We have to choose between the two. In Mark.10:8, Messiah asks John and James, sons of Zebedee, whether they could drink of the cup which He drinks of. When we drink of the cup, we are willing to suffer with him and experience whatever he decrees for us. We proclaim that we are ready to walk in the same path that he trod. There is a bright side to this cup also. When we are willing to suffer for him, we will also share in his glory). If we die with Him and for Him, we shall be resurrected in His likeness and in His image at the seventh trumpet of God. For us, the "cup of the Lord" is also the blessed cup of salvation. If we endure, our cup is to also reign with Him (II Tim.2:12). Our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18). Paul advises us to ‘examine ourselves’ before taking part in the cup (I Cor.11:25-31). We should be careful not to eat the bread and drink of the cup in an unworthy manner lest we bring judgment on ourselves. When we really understand what it means to drink of the cup, then we can say with David,’ I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord’. Under the New Covenant Elohim would write his laws on human hearts. We are justified by Elohim’s grace and mercy, it is now possible to have true forgiveness of sins. The New Covenant did what the Old Covenant could not do-removal of sin and cleansing the conscience (Heb.10:22) |
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