THE MEANING OF COMMUNION

As many will begin observing Passover and Unleavened Bread

 

Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 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.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matt 26.26-30

Jesus did this on Passover, the day the paschal lamb is sacrificed. He is telling his disciple’s that the new covenant is complete or confirmed in his death as the Lamb of God. No longer will the sacrifice of goats, bulls, or lambs be necessary for the forgiveness of sins. The new covenant is simply that. He did this on Passover in order to cement the meaning in their minds. Passover is the Lord’s feast. It is a teaching tool that God uses to instruct us on His sacrificial death and what it means to mankind.  His body is being broken, His blood is being shed, rather than an animal’s. That is the New Covenant.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” Mark 14.12

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink 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 is saying He is not going to celebrate Passover again until after His second coming and the establishment of the millennial kingdom. At that time He will again not only celebrate Passover, but along with us, teach all the nations about the meaning of the Passover and communion.

Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. Luke 22.15-20

“This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” The new covenant is His shed blood, no longer that of an animal. This is simply, the new covenant. Passover is still to be celebrated because it instructs us as to the meaning of our Lord’s death and resurrection. Communion was the transfer of the blood of animals to the blood of the Savior--a new covenant was completed.

HARD WORDS

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. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. John 6.54-59

Prior to the Passover meal and the confirmation of the new covenant in His blood, Jesus made the above statement. The law, or old covenant said that the life is in the blood and we are not to drink the blood (of animals or any blood).

THE INSTRUCTION OF THE LAW

But in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within all your gates, whatever your heart desires, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, of the gazelle and the deer alike. Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it on the earth like water. Deut 12.14-16

Only be sure that you do not eat the blood, for the blood is the life; you may not eat the life with the meat. You shall not eat it; you shall pour it on the earth like water. Deut 12.23-24 See Deut 14.23

Moreover you shall not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, whether of bird or beast. Whoever eats any blood, that person shall be cut off from his people.’” Lev 7.26-27

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’ Lev 17.11 

Many Disciples Turn Away

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6.60-63

Jesus said that whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. This was heresy! Jesus was telling them to eat flesh and drink blood. This was contrary to the law! Jesus was explaining the new covenant to them. They were to “partake” of His life. The life is in the blood--the blood He was about to shed would be “life” to man. He was pouring out His blood on the earth as the law instructs.

Jesus told them His words were spirit and life. They did not understand and He didn’t try to really explain it to them. Later, at Passover, Jesus broke the bread and shared the cup. The scripture says:

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. Luke 22.17-18

He said he would not drink of the fruit of the vine. He did not say blood. We do this in remembrance of Him pouring out His life’s blood for us. Very simple. We are not literally drinking His blood. That’s why he said do it in remembrance of me. Then he added he would not drink of this vine until the kingdom is established. He specifically said vine, indicating it was wine.

The Torah forbids drinking any blood. The scriptures say God does not change…Yeshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Nothing mystical here. Do in remembrance.

He was the fulfillment of the Passover feast. Communion was added (a new covenant) to fully explain the meaning of, and fulfillment of, the Passover feast. This is a simple reminder of Jesus’ blood sacrifice. It is a new or additional covenant.

This is why we are to celebrate Passover. It is the Lord’s feast and His way of reminding us of His bodily death and blood sacrifice on the cross--the fulfillment of this part of the law. Some translations say “confirm the covenant” where it says “new covenant” in the above Passover verses. The Lord did not abolish the Passover. The feast reminds us each year, at the appointed time, of what He accomplished for us on the cross.