8-24-2024 Eucharist, the Body and the Blood of Jesus

Matthew 26:26-29 is the ‘institution’ of what is referred to as the Lord’s Supper, Lord’s Table or Eucharist.

In this passage, Jesus gives His disciples, where He establishes, something for the apostles and disciples to remember Him by.

“Take, eat, this is My body.”

“Drink all of it.  This is MY blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

Most fellowships observe the ‘Body & Blood’ of our Lord Jesus.  Some churches call it the ‘Lord’s Table’, ‘some The ‘Lord’s Supper’ and others the ‘Eucharist’.  So just what does Eucharist mean?  Basically, Webster’s defines it as communion, remembering that Jesus gave us His body and shed His blood for our sin (took our place on the cross).  Scripture does not use the term ‘Eucharist’ in either the old or New Testament, but as we see in Matthew, it is clearly defined and is easily correlated with the ‘Lord’s Supper’ as Jesus was eating a meal with His disciple.   

1 Corinthians 11:24-25

“… do this in remembrance of Me.”

Notice that Paul says this after both the cup and the bread.

No argument that we recite these words in observance of the “Lord’s Table”.  We are to remember what Jesus did or us.  Again there should be no disagreement whether said after each element or after both. 

But just what is Jesus telling us to do?

Just what is the body and blood of the Lord?  The disciples received a piece of bread and ate.  Then a cup of wine was passed among them and they each drank some. 

There are those who believe the ‘blessed’ bread and wine become the literal body and blood of our Lord.

In 750AD, a priest experienced a terrible temptation to doubt the True Presence while He was saying Mass. As he pronounced the words of consecration, the host and the wine transformed into what appeared to be flesh and blood.

 

In 1970, more than 1,200 years later, the archbishop of Lanciano, with Rome’s approval, requested a thorough scientific examination of the miraculous relics by Dr. Edward Linoli, director of the hospital at Arezzo and professor of anatomy, histology, chemistry, and clinical microscopy. His report, submitted on March 4, 1971, detailed the following results:

·         The coagulated substance is human blood, AB blood type, with the same protein distribution as found in normal, fresh blood

·         The host is human muscular striated tissue of the myocardium, left ventricle (heart); arteries, veins, branch of vagus nerve, and adipose tissue all can be identified

·         Like the blood, the flesh is also fresh, living tissue, because it “responded rapidly to all the clinical reactions distinctive of living beings” as if the flesh and blood samples had been taken that day

·         Histological tests revealed no sign of preservation techniques of any kind.

 

Some modern cases exhibiting the ‘miracle of the Eucharist are: 992 and 1996, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2006, Tixtla, Mexico, 2008, Sokolka, Poland and 2013, Legnica, Poland. 

Each of these occurrences received intensive study with highly advanced technology. In several cases, doctors did not know the source of the material. And yet, in all the cases, the same results were found, and are consistent with the results of Lanciano, providing even more details due to more advanced science:

·         The blood is human, AB blood type; human DNA was found; white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and mycrophages were present, indicating fresh blood; in the Tixtla miracle, the blood clearly emanated from within, because the blood on the surface had begun to coagulate but the interior blood was still fresh, as with a bleeding wound

·         The flesh is human myocardium tissue of the left ventricle of an inflamed heart; in the miracles from Argentina and Poland, there was evidence of trauma from the presence of thrombi, indicating repeated lack of oxygen; lesions present showed rapid cardiac spasms typical in the final phases of death

·         In the Sokolka miracle, the remaining host is tightly interconnected with the fibers of human tissue, penetrating each other inseparably – as if the bread were transforming into flesh. “Even NASA scientists, who have at their disposal the most modern analytical techniques, would not be able to artificially recreate such a thing,” affirmed Dr. Sobaniec-Lotowska, one of the examining experts.

Dr. Frederick Zugibe, a forensic doctor at Columbia University who examined the Argentinian miracle, did not know the source of the sample and told the doctor who brought it to him, “If white blood cells were present (in the heart tissue), it is because at the moment you brought me the sample, it was pulsating.” When he learned the source of the sample, he was shocked and deeply moved.  (https://media.ascensionpress.co – Catholic non-profit bible study)   

 

Remember, these situations were of ‘blessed’ Eucharist elements so I’m not trying to change anyone’s belief, but I am asking to consider this

 

Who is Jesus?  In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God (John 1:1 - an unbreakable unity).  Jesus tells us that man does not live by bread alone by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4).  Jesus says “truly, I say to you that Moses did not give that bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.  I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes on me shall never be thirsty (John 6:31-35).

 

So, when Father created everything, how did He do it?  He spoke it into existence for there was only a void up to that time (Gen. 1:1-2).  So what did God speak?  What are the sounds that come out of our mouth when we talk? “God said” (note the quotation marks) nine times in Genesis chapter one.  Along with the ‘fruit of the Spirit, nine represents God’s visitation or completeness (FYI).  According to John 1:1, Jesus IS the physical manifestation of God’s Word.

 

We also know that God is love (1 John 4:8).  In the flesh, Jesus is the Son of God.  According to Mark, even a centurion, standing by Jesus at the cross, remarked “Truly, this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39).  The reference to ‘son’ here is a child or close relative (G5207 hulos).  (FYI huiohesis G5206 which is adopted son).  Hulos is used, in the New Testament, when referencing Jesus.  Jesus is seen as the Son of God, not an adopted son of God.  As Christians, we are the huioheis, ‘adopted’ sons of God (Rom. 8:14-17).

 

The blood is the life of the creature (Lev. 17:14). 

So understanding that Jesus is the ‘manifestation’ of God’s love and ‘Word’.  Jesus said “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you, but he who does, has eternal life and I will raise him up at that last day”.  Indeed, My flesh is meat, indeed My blood is drink, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood dwells in Me and I in him” (John 6:53-6).

The Holy Ghost is also life.  As we walk in the Spirit, we have life and are the sons of God and we are quickened to be with him throughout eternity (Rom 8:1-17).

So, what if we ‘devour’ the ‘word’ of God, that is read and study the bible, not just to read the words, but comprehend what Father really saying to us?  Remember, Jesus spoke to the general populace in parables (Matt. 13:13).  After telling the people several parables, Jesus took his disciples aside and told them their meaning, then asked a question “Have you understood these things?” and the disciples answered “Yes’.  Consider, Jesus promised the disciples the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17).  We can receive Him because father sent Him into this world, on the day of Pentecost, 2000 years ago with the promise that we shall have the same power Jesus operated in, in us (Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-17) and the Spirit will lead us into all truth (John 16:13) and understanding (1 Corinth.2:10-16).  And don’t forget, as the Holy Ghost raised Jesus from the grave, He will quicken (raise us up) into a new life in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:11), in this life and the next.   

So, do we devour the literal body of Jesus (a blessed host) or are we to delve into the deepest understanding of the bible possible?  Jesus is the Word of God, ergo in His flesh. So do we devour Jesus’ flesh by literally eating the Word of God (the bible)?  Or by eating a piece of bread or wafer (preferably dedicated to God by priest or clergy)?  The thinking is that by taking the ‘Eucharist’ (specifically) gives us a closer relationship with God, Yes?  The question is – won’t we develop a closer relationship with Father as we prayerfully study His word, applying it into our own life, then sharing that with those with whom we come into contact?

The blood is the life of the creature, it gives us the natural ability to breathe and exist.  But isn’t the Holy Ghost life?  Ability to live in this life as we expect eternity?  Doesn’t the Holy Ghost abide within our heart (spiritually)?  Doesn’t our life-source flow from our heart throughout our whole body?  And when the Holy Ghost becomes a part or our existence, shouldn’t He flow throughout our body?  That is influence all that we say and do?  We are better off following His lead.

John 6:48-66

Jesus says her that He is the brad of life, when men eat His flesh they will not die.  He is the bread of life through which man will not die.  The Jews wondered how this could be yet Jesus went to say “Eat My flesh and drink My blood and have eternal life.”  Unlike the manna, he who eats this bread shall have eternal life.  Jesus asked whether or not He had offended the people.  The Spirit quickens, the flesh profits nothing, “the words I speak are Spirit and life… no man comes to Me except it is given him by the Father.”  Then, many no longer walked with Him. 

So why all the fuss about the Eucharist?  I’m not saying don’t observe the sacrifice.  My God!  Jesus established that we should remember all that He has done for us by observing the body and the blood.

When we observe the Eucharist, or observing the body and blood of Jesus, remember the cleansing the high priest went through before entering the Holy of Holies.  Before going before the presence of God, he had to cleanse his body and offer sacrifices representing that his spirit was also clean so that he wouldn’t die when he entered the presence of the Lord (Exod. 30:20-21, Leviticus chptrs. 8-10).  We need to remember, that in the Spirit, we are approaching God.  At the moment of Jesus’ death on the cross, the veil that separated us from God was torn in two, top to bottom, (Matt. 27:51) – giving us direct access to Father through Jesus, the Son. 

After they had disobeyed God (sinned), God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden (Gen. 3:1-24), separating them from Him because of sin.  The garden represented the presence of God (Gen. 3:8). Sin cannot coexist with God (Psalm 5:4).  When we observe the Eucharist (or Lord’s Supper), we must come before God with a clean heart.  How many churches have gotten away from cleansing our spirit before observing the body and blood of our Lord?     

When we observe the Eucharist (the Lord’s able), it isn’t about what that piece of bread or wafer does or does not become.  It is the Spirit of our action!  What’s in our heart as we observe the ‘table of Christ’?  Are we just going through the motions of some ritual?  Or are we truly observing our relationship with our Lord?  No matter what ‘elements we use for the body and blood, are we cleansing our heart and mind before partaking the ‘bread’ and the ‘wine’?  We are coming into the Holy of Holies (presence of God) when we partake of the ‘Body and Blood’.  We are coming into communion, that is a holy union with our Lord!  Is our heart right with the Lord?  Are we cleansed in what we think, say or do when we enter the presence of our Lord?

Amen