Flesh & Blood - Week 2: "My Blood Is True Drink"

It's the 13th Sunday After Pentecost, and we will continue learning from the lectionary what it means to live in the community of Christ. This series is focused on the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The sermon series we are working on for next week is entitled Flesh & Blood: the Mysteries of the Eucharist. We are exploring the meaning of the sacrament of Holy Communion.  

Today: The Blood of Jesus or The Cup of Salvation 

There are different traditions about what we drink during Holy Communion. In my experience, some denominations are pretty adamant about drinking wine during communion—Catholic, Lutheran, and Episcopal, for example. 

This often depends on a particular word: ecclesiology, or the study of church structure, doctrine, and practice.  

Those with a high ecclesiological view of Communion tend to stick to wine, while there are often divergences between those with a slightly lower ecclesiology.  

Practically speaking, we use grape juice here at Shepherd for several reasons, but primarily because we don't see the need to make those with whom wine is an issue uncomfortable. 

But no matter what liquid is in the cup, all Christian communities connect the cup and the blood of Christ.  

Blood tells the story of what is happening in our bodies… 

Ancient Greeks—the ebb and flow of blood, life, and consciousness. They believed that what caused us to sleep was a lack of blood in the brain.  

Ancient Jewish tradition - Torah forbade the eating of blood, and all meat had to be drained of it before being prepared.  

So when Jesus talks to a group of followers and curious listeners about “drinking his blood,” it’s both shocking and provocative. 

It still is, to be fair… Here are some old-time Gospel hymns about blood that you won't find in most mainline Protestant and Catholic hymnals: 

Are You Washed in the Blood?

Nothing but the Blood

There Is A Fountain 

There is Power In The Blood 

Covered By The Blood

When you do a quick search on the lyrics to these hymns, you'll see why.  It's odd and uncomfortable to sing about a fountain of blood or being covered in blood.  

So, what do we do with all of this?

Today, we're going to dig into the sign and symbol of the cup in Holy Communion, and here is what I want us to take away from this: 

WHAT THE BLOOD FEELS, BELIEVES, AND SAYS IS ALWAYS TRUE

John 6:51-58

Jesus says something controversial again (shocker)

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 

“Eat my flesh and drink my blood” - problematic for the Early Church

56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 

“Abide” or “Remain” meno - mutual indwelling between us and Jesus. 

This constitutes a deeper kind of relationship with Christ. 

58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

Given the nature of the understanding of blood in the ancient world, this teaching spoke to a commitment outside of religion, apart from rules and regulations—a true relationship.  

What Does This Story Teach Us 

1. The blood of Jesus - A more profound gift, freely offered to all, devoid of guilt. 
2. The inference is that we now have the “blood” of Christ within us. 
3. This indwelling of Christ guides us on how to live eternally now. 
4. The Cup becomes a sign and symbol of a life like Jesus. 

WHAT THE BLOOD FEELS, BELIEVES, AND SAYS IS ALWAYS TRUE