Matthew 26

Reading for Sunday October 12, 2019
​Matthew 26

Matthew 26::27-29
And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.  But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

     Jesus directs the disciples to drink from a cup which contains wine, but which He says is His blood.  As we strive to be disciples of Christ, this command comes to us.  We take communion because Jesus instructed us to do so.  However there is debate among denominations as to what is actually occurring.  The Catholic idea of transubstantiation is that the wine actually becomes the blood of Jesus. The Lutheran idea is consubstantiation.  The blood of Christ is present "with" the wine.  Other Protestant denominations maintain that the blood is spiritually present, and Baptists believe that the wine is representative of the blood of Jesus.  There is further debate as to whether or not the wine is fermented or not, and whether communion should be open to all or reserved for those who meet varying criteria.  Here, I just want to address what I think occurs during the celebration of the Eucharist as well as what occurred 2000 years ago.  I understand that my thoughts don't align with any denomination; I welcome your feedback.
     Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana.  At the last meal He shared with the disciples, He commands them to drink wine often in remembrance of Him.  In John 4 while speaking to a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus speaks of being the "Living Water"  and how whoever He gives this "Living Water" to will have a well of water springing up in them resulting in eternal life.
John 4:10-14
Jesus answered and said unto unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?  Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life. 
     Jesus turned water into wine.  Jesus is living waters.  Jesus turned living waters into wine.  Jesus did not turn the wine into blood, but rather He turned His blood (living water) into wine.  Yes, a transubstantiation took place.  Yes, there is consubstantiation.  Yes, Jesus is spiritually present in the wine.  And Yes, we all celebrate communion in remembrance of Jesus and what He did for us.

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Meanwhile...in another part of The Bible

John 2: 9-11  (The wedding at Cana)
 And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,  and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when [men] have drunk freely, [then] that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now.  This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

John 15: 1-5
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.  Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.
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