But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom (Matt. 26:29).
This was our Savior's promise of reunion, as He celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. The Passover wine used by our Lord was the pure juice of the grape. The prophet Isaiah refers to it when he speaks of "the new wine...in the cluster" (Isa 65:8). Here it represents Christ's "blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). By this expression "new testament," or covenant, our Lord means the reconciliation that God has established between Himself and humankind by the atoning sacrifice of His Son upon the cross.
From what our Lord says here it is clear that the Communion itself is a pledge to all true Christians of the joy that awaits them in the kingdom of glory. Their spiritual enjoyments here are great, but to be with the Lord Himself will be "far better" (Phil. 1:23).
On a cupboard shelf in the humble cottage of a poor Highland widow was an old cracked cup covered with a glass globe. Years before on a hot day a carriage had stopped at her door, and the woman inside had asked for a drink of water, which was given to her in this very cup. Imagine the widow's astonishment when she learned that the one who had used the cup was Queen Victoria. Her lips had touched it and made it an object of priceless value to the widow.
The cup that our Master used at the Last Supper has become to all true disciples a symbol of His undying love and sacrifice. As the cup on the widow's shelf reminded her of the queen's visit, so the cup in the Communion service reminds us of our Savior's sacrifice and of His promise, "I [will] drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High" (Ps. 9:2).
This was our Savior's promise of reunion, as He celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples. The Passover wine used by our Lord was the pure juice of the grape. The prophet Isaiah refers to it when he speaks of "the new wine...in the cluster" (Isa 65:8). Here it represents Christ's "blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). By this expression "new testament," or covenant, our Lord means the reconciliation that God has established between Himself and humankind by the atoning sacrifice of His Son upon the cross.
From what our Lord says here it is clear that the Communion itself is a pledge to all true Christians of the joy that awaits them in the kingdom of glory. Their spiritual enjoyments here are great, but to be with the Lord Himself will be "far better" (Phil. 1:23).
On a cupboard shelf in the humble cottage of a poor Highland widow was an old cracked cup covered with a glass globe. Years before on a hot day a carriage had stopped at her door, and the woman inside had asked for a drink of water, which was given to her in this very cup. Imagine the widow's astonishment when she learned that the one who had used the cup was Queen Victoria. Her lips had touched it and made it an object of priceless value to the widow.
The cup that our Master used at the Last Supper has become to all true disciples a symbol of His undying love and sacrifice. As the cup on the widow's shelf reminded her of the queen's visit, so the cup in the Communion service reminds us of our Savior's sacrifice and of His promise, "I [will] drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High" (Ps. 9:2).
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