Today I want to finish up my discussion concerning the Torah command to never drink blood under any circumstances AND…
…how that jives with Yeshua’s orders to his disciples to symbolically drink his blood as a remembrance of his atoning sacrifice on the cross.
The conclusion we came to yesterday is that when drinking the wine we are to think of it as being like the blood spilled for our redemption and when we eat the bread, we are to think of it as being like the manna God gave to the Israelites for their sustenance in the wilderness.
In other words, the wine and the bread are to be mere metaphorical representations of Yeshua’s blood and body, nothing more and nothing less.
Having said that, for sure Yeshua’s commands on this matter are one of the stranger things he told us to do and are indeed hard words to take in.
Even the Apostle Paul who was a hard core observant Jew struggled to understand these mysterious instructions from Yeshua.
Based on his writings, the conclusion Paul came to was that the ONLY TIME it is okay for a human being to drink wine that symbolized blood was only if it was done as a solemn and sincere act in memory of Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross.
That was the only exception to be allowed.
Paul made it very clear that Yeshua had NOT given us permission to drink blood symbolically outside of it being done in commemoration of his sacrifice.
Again, it was only permissible if done IN REMEMBRANCE of Yeshua’s atoning act.
If drinking wine symbolizing blood was done for any other purpose, we would be in serious danger of breaking God’s command to never drink blood.
I should also stress that only those who have attached themselves to Yeshua are eligible to drink wine symbolizing his shed blood.
If you are not in union with Messiah, then you are not worthy to undertake such an act.
If you do, you will be committing a high-handed sin and be charged guilty by HASHEM for doing so.
Before closing, I want to make sure you fully understand the key God-principle we studied that is just as valid today as it was in Moses’ day.
That principle is this:
The wine we drink in remembrance of Yeshua’s sacrifice is NOT in and of itself holy!
It doesn’t possess inherent holiness.
It is only that the Lord has declared that…
….the wine becomes a symbol of holiness, forgiveness and eternal life only when drunk in Yeshua’s honor.
Got it?
There ain’t nothing inherently special about the wine imbibed in honor of Yeshua.
It only carries meaning for those who have been redeemed.
And why?
Because God simply has declared it so…
…and that’s it.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“So then, whoever eats the bread
or drinks the cup
of the Lord in an unworthy manner
will be guilty of sinning against
the body and blood of the Lord.”
-1 Corinthians 11:27
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