THIS IS MY BLOOD

Luke 22: 20 “And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.’”
1 Cor. 11:25 “In the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

The great Passover Supper, Jewish people observe, Jesus and His disciples observed. On the night in which He was betrayed....after the Matzah bread was eaten - this is the bread that had be previously broken, half hidden, was broken and eaten by everyone gathered, this is the bread that Jesus said “This is My body which is given for you” then the third cup of four is drank. It is the Cup of Redemption or Blessing, this is the one Jesus took “after supper.” This is the cup for Communion, the Lord’s Table Cup.

There are 4 cups in the Passover Meal: 1. Cup of Sanctification. 2. Cup of Plagues. 3. Cup of Redemption/Blessing. 4. Cup of Praise/Acceptance.

Jesus took the third cup, the Cup of Redemption/Blessing. Jesus declared that this cup reminds us of His blood. His blood was shed to give us redemption. By shedding His blood, He made a new covenant with mankind, the covenant of eternal salvation through Him. The Cup is a divine treaty. Where our sins are forgiven, and new life is given.

Through blood is how covenants are made. Lev 17:11 “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” Jesus gave His blood to pay the ransom price for our sin, He redeemed us. When we take the communion cup we are reminded that Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us.”

QUOTE: Spurgeon: “The blood with the flesh is life, but the blood drained from the flesh is death. The blood is represented by the wine by itself in the cup, the bread by itself represents the flesh; and the two emblems together set forth death, and a violent death, such a death as Jesus died...Never forget that the punishment for sin is not simply suffering but death.” (Communion, 20)

“Vine of Heaven, Thy blood supplies
This blest cup of sacrifice;
’Tis Thy wounds my healing give;
To Thy cross I look and live.
Thou my life, O let me be,
Rooted, grafted, built on Thee”
           - Josiah Conder (Communion, 91)

Praise God for the shed blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and new life imparted to us abundantly and eternally.