Next | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Index | Tellout
4C. The Cup of Salvation, the Blood of Christ 
Saint Augustine writes in his "Confessions," "We take for granted the slow miracles as year by year water irrigating a vineyard becomes wine. We stand amazed when the same process takes place in quick motion in Cana of Galilee."
Wine is a miracle.
The miracle at Cana shows that Jesus has power like his Father to create and recreate. Tip toeing across the laws of nature, he bends them for his glory and for our greater good. Our faith is sweetened by the perfection of the Great Wine Maker.
Jesus Transforms Human Experiences
Jesus does not play with his powers like a child in a sand pile. He uses his miracles to induce belief in his disciples, reinforcing their faith by what he does and says. Water, a tasteless clear fluid, is turned into a most delicious and aromatic red wine. Jesus took a cup of wine again at the institution of the Lord's Supper. Paul records, "In the same way after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me"(13).
The mere thought of drinking "my blood", as is suggested by this verse, would have been repugnant to Jews because of its cannibalistic overtones. The Leviticus commandment strictly prohibited such action saying, "You must not eat any fat or any blood"(14). Jews to this day will eat no meat other than that specially prepared with the blood drained from it, because they believe, "for the life of a creature is in the blood"(15). The puzzle of this blood saying is unlocked by the special sacrificial nature of Jesus' death.
Purposeful Walks with God
At the Exodus from Egypt, the blood of each household's lamb was daubed on the doorposts. As a result, God's vengeful death spirit passed over the house and the first born child was delivered. The blood on the doorpost is a sacramental picture of Christ's sacrifice for sin upon the cross so that God's righteous anger might not fall on members of his Mystical Body. Jesus' blood is the protection of members of the Mystical Body from the penalty of sins committed. The wine at Holy Communion bears the tell-tale marks of the cross of Christ.
Precious Blood of Jesus
St Peter tells us that we were redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect."(1 Peter 1.18,19). The word "blood" occurs 427 times in the Word of God, the Bible. All humans have tainted blood. We were all born in sin and we must therefore die. Jesus is the only one who can stand in our place because he is sinless.
Questions for Discussion
1. How is bread special for the Jew and the Christian?
Notes
(13) 1 Corinthians 11.25. (14) Leviticus 3.17. (15) Leviticus 17.11
"We are living members of his mystical body"
