Chapter 144—Ratified by Christ’s Blood
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth
the Lord’s death till come.
1 Corinthians 11:26
.
In instituting the sacramental service to take the place of the Passover,
Christ left for His church a memorial of His great sacrifice for man. “This
do,” He said, “in remembrance of me.” This was the point of transition
between two economies and their two great festivals. The one was to close
forever; the other, which He had just established, was to take its place, and
to continue through all time as the memorial of His death....
In this last act of Christ in partaking with His disciples of the bread and
wine, He pledged Himself to them as their Redeemer by a new covenant, in
which it was written and sealed that upon all who will receive Christ by faith
will be bestowed all the blessings that heaven can supply, both in this life and
in the future immortal life. This covenant deed was to be ratified by Christ’s
own blood, which it had been the office of the old sacrificial offerings to
keep before the minds of His chosen people. Christ designed that this supper
should be often commemorated in order to bring to our remembrance His
sacrifice in giving His life for the remission of the sins of all who will believe
on Him and receive Him.
In the Saviour’s death the powers of darkness seemed to prevail, and they
exulted in their victory. But from the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Jesus came
forth a conqueror.
Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until He had the
assurance that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father. He ascended to
the Heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His
atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all
might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ,
that He would receive repentant and obedient men, and would love them
even as He loves His Son. Christ was to complete His work, and fulfill His
pledge to “make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the
golden wedge of Ophir” (
Isaiah 13:12
).
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