The Sacrament of Eucharist 

The Sacrament of Eucharist 

The giving of the New Testament Covenant mirrors the pattern of the Old Testament Covenant. The ancient Israelites stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and made a covenant with God to follow and obey the Commandments He gave them through Moses (Exodus 20:1-17). God made the covenant not only with that generation but with everyone born after them (Deuteronomy 29:13-14). Similarly, the Church sacrament of Eucharist is central to the New Covenant. The night before Jesus was arrested, He gave instructions on how to eat the bread and drink the cup in remembrance of Him. This covenant was extended to all generations still unborn. 

The Old Testament covenant was sealed with the blood of sacrificed animals, sprinkled half on the altar and half on the people. 

Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” (Exodus 24:5-8)

The blood of Jesus sealed the new covenant spilled on the cross. Jesus was the sacrificial lamb whose blood was “sprinkled” to cover the sins of the entire world for those who were there at that time and for all generations still unborn.             

On Mount Sinai, a communal meal followed the giving of the covenant (Exodus 24:11). The Last Supper of Jesus and His disciples was conducted in the same ancient pattern. 

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup,  gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:26-30)

The Eucharist is the Church sacrament for renewal of the New Covenant, each time commemorating the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is the last sacrifice, sufficient to satisfy the just requirements of the Law of God, once and for all. He is the perfect Lamb of God, and His sacrifice redeemed all the sins of the world that were ever to be committed. Ironically, since the destruction of the second temple, the sacrificial system has ceased to exist. Over two millennia now, the blood of Jesus continues to supersede the blood of sacrificial animals. This is the “new thing” Prophet Isaiah prophesied about (Isaiah 43:19).

The “new thing” is God’s New Covenant through which He gives a new heart and puts a new Spirit in the believer. He removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). The entire world now is the beneficiary of this transformation with the only condition to accept the sacrifice of Jesus by faith. In commemoration of His work on the cross we share the Eucharistic meal. The time of God’s favor is now (Isaiah 61:2). Upon accepting the sacrifice of Jesus, one is saved, changing the course of a person’s eternal destiny from hell to heaven. When sharing an Eucharistic meal we partake in eating His flesh and drinking His blood to remember His sacrifice—the price He paid for our freedom.

The ancient Israelites became indignant when Jesus said to them,

I tell you the truth: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (John 6:53)

For all of us who have accepted Jesus’ sacrificial gift, we attest to the transformative power of new life in Him, being born again by His Holy Spirit, making a broken life whole again. The Eucharist is the highest expression of becoming EHAD with God: It is God in you and you in God (John 14:20). There are conditions for taking the Eucharist.  Apostle Paul passed to us the instructions he received from the Lord.

Therefore, 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. A man ought to examine himself before eating the bread and drinks from the cup. For anyone who eat and drink without recognizing the body of the Lord eat and drink judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. (I Corinthians 11:27-32)

We must examine ourselves! We are to examine our thoughts and practices, attitudes of heart and secret desires, passions, and relationships with others and the Lord. Otherwise, we fall under judgment, and our lives are plagued by sickness, even death (I Corinthians 11: 32). The curriculum of EHAD with GOD approach for healing from traumatic events, the entire journey on the narrow road you have undertaken for the last nine weeks, constitutes the act of “examining yourself.” You have repented, rejected, and crucified the sinful practices of the flesh. You are cleansed in His blood and filled with His Holy Spirit. You have made yourself ready for the Eucharist without the threat of judgment. This examination precedes every Eucharist meal.

Eucharist Prayer (after examination)

Lord Jesus, I have examined and found myself not lacking in standing to participate in your holy Eucharist. I take the bread - your body broken for me - and I claim that You are in me, and I am in You, and we are EHAD. I take the cup - your blood spilled for me on the cross - and I claim that You are in me, and I am in you, and we are EHAD. Amen!  

The Eucharist is the believer’s mountaintop of transfiguration, where we meet with our Lord  Christ Jesus in transparent holiness and purity. When taken without judgment, the Eucharist is the promised EHAD with God - God in you, the hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27).