Jesus has spent most of the last 24 hours under arrest and during that time he has been beaten, whipped, shuttled back and forth between the Sanhedrin, Herod and Pilate. He has been forced to carry a cross through the streets of Jerusalem, then outside the walls, and up the hill of Golgotha. It is natural that he would be dehydrated and thirsty. So why is this considered so significant that it should be noted in scripture?
Nothing is in scripture by accident, and certainly not in the Gospel of John which includes the remark that “…many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” There is something more than simple thirst here.
Do you recall that last time that we heard Jesus had something to drink? It was the day before in the upper room. Jesus told his disciples that “…I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father". Following that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
A first century Jew would hear that passage and say, “Wait a minute, that’s not right!” Because a Jew would recognize that the cup Jesus just shared with his disciples was only the 3rd of the four cups of wine that are an integral part of the Passover meal. Jesus had just shared the “Cup of Blessing.” But before the hymn, the Great Hallel is to be sung and the Passover meal concluded a 4th cup of wine is to be consumed.
It is as if a priest were saying Mass, prayed the prayer of consecration, and walked out of the sanctuary. We would be saying, “Wait a minute! It is not finished!”
The four cups of wine of the Passover Seder correspond to the four "expressions of redemption" in the Divine declaration (Exodus 6:2-8):
- "I will take you out", of
- "I will deliver you", from bondage;
- "I will redeem you", from slavery;
- “I will acquire you" as my nation. I will be your God and you will be my people.
Jesus leaves the table of the Passover without having drunk the fourth cup. The Passover is not yet complete. Matthew tells us that Jesus refused to drink when the soldiers offered him wine mixed with myrrh.
The time was not yet ripe. The Passover sacrifice was not quite finished. It is from the cross; it is with death moments away, that Jesus notes that the sacrifice is complete. He has, in a singular act of love given the last final measure. “I thirst.”
Now is the time for the fourth cup, the cup that he now longs for, the cup that will mark us forevermore and his people and He as our God.
This is the cup of consummation; the cup that marks the fulfillment of the Passover in that God has acquired us by His sacrifice and made us His people. The four cups reflecting the four expressions of redemption have now been consumed.
...but there is a fifth expression of redemption. This requires a fifth cup. This expression of redemption is reflected in God’s promise that, "I will bring you into the land."
This is the fifth cup; the cup for which we thirst; the cup we will share with Christ at the heavenly banquet when he brings us into his kingdom.
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I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of my Father." (Matthew 26:29)
ReplyDeleteWHAT WAS FINISHED
I would like to start by asking you two questions. One: Can you give an accurate definition of the phrase: "Lamb of God"?
We all know that this is one of the names used for Jesus, like Messiah, Savior, Son of Man, or Christ. But exactly what is the importance of the name "Lamb of God"?
And why is it important to me as a Catholic? The second question I would like to ask you is: Why the Catholic Church would offer The Holy Eucharist every day at every Mass throughout the world in over 3000 languages.
What knowledge do they have that would make them feel compelled to do this for thousands of years?
In answering this question, we'll see why the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life.'" (CC 1324)
Continue> > >
For "Lamb of God" I would refer you to Genesis 22 and the story of the binding of Isaac. In verse 28 we are told that God himself will provide the sheep for the offering, and He did in the person of his only Son. Jesus is the perfect offering of which the lamb of the Passover in Exodus is a type. The Hebrews were saved by the blood of the Paschal lamb, the world is saved by the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.
ReplyDeleteThe Mass is only offered once. Each Mass joins the one eternal sacrifice of Calvary. In the liturgy we join ourselves to the eternal heavenly banquet described in Revelation.
Correct that Genesis citation to Ch 22, verse 8 -- alas, I have fat fingers
ReplyDelete