Eucharist

 April 2005

When Jesus was in the flesh he meant literally. ‘For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him’ John 6:55-56. At that time the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among the Jews.

Upon hearing the spoken words of Jesus, the Jews were offended including His disciples. They understood that Jesus taught cannibalism. Yet after the resurrection the meaning of eating His flesh and drink His blood became clear; “What if you saw the Son of Man going up to the place where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” Joh 6:62-63 

Thus the meaning of eating His flesh and drink His blood is by meditating His Words in the scripture. ”I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Joh 15:5. The same words and meaning of "dwells in me, and I in him" occured in Joh 6:56 b.

That’s why the reformers considered the eucharist is a remembrance of Christ’s sacrificial death once for all for the sin of the whole world past present and future. As Paul expounded: “And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, after he had eaten, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do you, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” 1Cor 11:24-26

Eucharist means looking back of His death as the believers  have been sanctified once for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ and looking forward for His glorious appearing.