“DRINK MY BLOOD” [Matt 26b]

Matthew 26:17-56

Key verse 26:28

Recently, I have read an article titled, “Satan’s new strategies.” It reads: The world has been changing and so Satan’s strategies have been changing accordingly. Satan encourages people to go to church, give offerings, and serve others. But he says to them, “Do not believe Jesus.” He is okay with increasing church attendants but decreases the number of believers. He encourages people to enjoy the church life as a hobby. Most of all, he encourages people to use the cross as decoration but discourages them from thinking of Jesus’ blood on the cross.  

What Satan hates and fears the most is Jesus’ blood. But sadly that is what many Christians miss out. Thankfully, from this week we are going to study about Jesus’ death and resurrection through Matthew 26-28. It is a good opportunity for us to accept Jesus’ death anew. This is the first of the four lessons. In Matthew 16, Peter finally understood that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Since then, Jesus had told his disciples about his suffering and death. (16:21; 17:22-23; 20:18-19; 26:2) Finally, the appointed time has come. At the last night, Jesus offers his body and blood to his disciples and teaches them the meaning of his blood. He says to his disciples, “Eat my body. Drink my blood.” I pray that we may accept his offering anew and his blood may refresh our spirit.

I. The last Supper (26:17-30)

It was the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Before he delivered the Israelites from Egypt, God told them to take a lamb without defect on the tenth of the month (Nisan 10^th) for each household and take care of it until the fourteenth day of the month (Nisan 14^th) and then slaughter it. Then they should take some of the blood and put it on the doorframes of their houses. Why? That night God would strike down all the firstborn in Egypt and it was God’s punishment for their sins. The Israelites could not be exceptions either because they were sinners too. But God would pass over their houses and would not punish them because of the blood of the lambs on their doorframes, which was the payment for their sins. This way the Israelites were exempted from God’s judgment and set free from slavery in Egypt to serve God as their king. To celebrate God’s deliverance, God ordained them to keep the Passover (for a day) and the Festival of Unleavened Bread (for seven days) from generation to generation. Since they ate unleavened bread from the Passover night, the Passover was also called the Festival of Unleavened Bread. So, the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread here actually refers to the Passover day.

Look at verse 17. In the time of Jesus, all family members and some close relatives and friends gathered together to celebrate the Passover day. So, Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus where to celebrate the Passover.

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 

This Passover would be the last to Jesus. He wanted to have a special Passover with his disciples at a certain man’s house because he would die the next day. In the evening Jesus and his disciples were eating the Passover. It must have been a joyful time for them. The disciples reclined at the table and ate as much as they could. However, Jesus kept quiet all the time, looking at his disciples. Then, he broke his silence and told them very surprising news.

²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

At such shocking news, all the disciples were stunned and became very sad. They sensed that a bad thing was happening among them. They asked Jesus one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” This betrayed their human nature under the power of sin and death. They were not sure if they would not betray Jesus. So they wanted to make sure with Jesus that they were not the betrayer.

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”  ²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

The one who dipped his hand into the bowl with Jesus refers to a person Jesus loved and trusted. And the person was Judas. Jesus taught Judas three years with love. Judas came to know who Jesus was. But because of his materialistic idea he would betray Jesus, which was horrible and shocking to the people. Being betrayed by a trusted man is the most painful thing. Jesus’ heart was broken. He was sad that Judas would end with a cursed life. By revealing his betrayal, however, Jesus gave him an opportunity to repent. Hearing Jesus, Judas was greatly surprised. “How does he know what I am doing?” He felt again Jesus’ divinity and his love. He would have almost had a heart attack. But he did not repent. Rather, he left the place and went to the chief priest to tell him where they could find Jesus. (Jn 13:30)

This way, Jesus removed Judas among his disciples. And he let the other disciples know that he would die as it was written about him, not by Judas’ betrayal. Jesus’ death took place not by men but by God.

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

The way Jews kept the Passover in Jesus’ time was that they killed lambs in the temple before the sunset and brought the meat home and roasted and ate it with together their family members. During the Passover meal, they shared bread and four cups of wine among them, remembering God’s deliverance based on Ex 6:6-7a. While eating, Jesus took bread and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” What? Eat his body? The disciples were sad because they now knew their master would be betrayed. And now Jesus was telling them a very odd thing. How could they eat their master’s body? The disciples were getting confused. Even worse, Jesus took the cup and offered it to them, saying that that was his blood. Drink his blood? Things were getting more serious. Yes, Jesus was serious, very serious. What was the meaning of the eating of Jesus’ body and drinking of blood? Let’s think first about the next verse.

²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus said that his blood was “the blood of the covenant?”  “The blood of the covenant” was first mentioned in Ex 24:8.

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.”

God made his covenant with Israel through Moses after they got out of Egypt. God promised that he would make a kingdom of priests and a holy nation if they kept the law, including the Ten Commandments. To ratify the covenant, Moses sprinkled the blood on the people and said that was “the blood of the covenant.” That meant that if they kept the law, God would bless them as he promised. If they failed, God would punish them according to the covenant, which required the shedding of blood – death! In other words, the blood of the covenant refers to the death penalty for the violation of the law, which is sin. Now we understand that Jesus’ blood of the covenant is for the penalty of sin. Why is Jesus’ blood necessary then?  

Though Israel made a covenant with God, however, they could not keep the law. So, God provided them with the sacrifice system in the tabernacle for the forgiveness of their sins. In the tabernacle, they sacrificed clean animals and shed their blood for their forgiveness. Did the sacrifice resolve their sin problem? Not really! The animal blood was not able to do away with all their sins completely. The forgiveness took effect for only the people who offered sacrifices for their past sins. Most of all, their sinful nature was not changed at all. And so they repeated sinning and needed to offer sacrifice animals periodically and whenever necessary.

Now, however, God promised that he would send the perfect sacrifice so that their sins could be paid off forever. And that was his One and Only Son Jesus. Jesus came to be punished for our sins. He came to pour out his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus’ blood is not like animals. It is perfect enough to pay for any kinds of sins and for all people.

Now Jesus was offering his body and blood to his disciples. “Eat my body. Drink my blood. Then, my life will be in you and you will live.” His blood of the covenant is for not only his disciples but also many others, including you and me. Jesus is offering his blood to us. “Eat my body. Drink my blood.”

Giovanni Papini was an Italian journalist, essayist, literary critic, poet, and novelist in the 20^th century. But he was an atheist. One day, he got very ill by some disease. His mom was a Christian and was advised that she feed his son with her own flesh. So, she cut off some flesh from her thigh and cooked it and fed his dying son with it. And miraculously, he got better. And so he said to his mom that he wanted to eat the food one more time. So, while she was cutting more flesh from her body, she collapsed. The son happened to see her and cried, “It was your flesh to heal me!” And she said, “I have saved you with my sinful flesh. But Jesus was ripped and poured out his blood for you. So you must believe him. Through his mom, he learned the meaning of Jesus’ body and blood, which gives life to people. He realized that Jesus was offering him a new life through his blood that was shed for the payment for his sins. And he accepted Jesus’s blood and changed into a Christian and wrote many Christian literatures, including “Life of Christ” and “Wine and Bread,” which were based on his experience.

Jesus poured out his blood for our sins. Now Jesus is offering his blood to you to save us from our sins. He is saying, “My body will be torn apart for you. My blood will be poured out for the forgiveness of your sins. Eat my body. Drink my cup. Let me in and you may be forgiven and live.” He was punished in your place for all your sins and gave his life for your forgiveness. When you accept his blood and take him into your heart and mind as the blood of the covenant for you, his life will come into you and you will live. It is like blood transfusion. Blood transfusion is used to replace blood lost during surgery or to treat people who suffer severe diseases caused by a blood disease. Blood transfusion can be life saving. We all suffer sin-sickness, which is incurable by ourselves. But we can be healed and live by Jesus’ blood. When we drink his blood, it will replace my sin-sick blood and carry God’s life to our body. By his blood, we can be healed and forgiven. And he will be in us and God’s life and image will be restored in us.

But Jesus had to suffer and die for this. Why then is Jesus so eager to give his body and blood? It is because he loves us. Our sins cannot be forgiven without punishment. There is no other way. That is God’s justice. Yet, God loves sinners also and that is why he was punished in our place.

 ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

This means that the Passover was the last time he would partake. By Jesus’ death, they did not need further blood shedding for their forgiveness. Jesus’ blood is the final and complete solution. They would partake together in the kingdom of God.

Look at verse 30. They concluded their Passover meal with singing hymns from the Hallel, which consists of Psalms 113-118. And they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Now the death of Jesus was approaching step by step. He knew that Judas was coming to arrest him. Jesus gave his disciples a warning that they would fall away and also a hope that he would rise and see them again in Galilee. But the disciples strongly denied their betrayal. They did not know what was ahead of them and how weak they were.

II. Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane (26:36-46)

Jesus went with his disciples to Gethsemane, which was about a half mile east of Jerusalem city. It was the west side of Mt. Olives, where Jesus used to pray. Judas also knew it.

”³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Jesus took Peter, John, and James with him to pray. Suddenly, Jesus got overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. His heartbeat became faster and his muscles got rigid. He even felt difficulty in breathing. The burden of his death was so enormous that he wanted his disciples to watch with him and pray. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and began to pray, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

He prayed that God might remove the cup from him. What did the cup refer to? It was the cup of God’s judgment for the sin of the world. Now God was pouring out his wrath upon Jesus for the sins of all people. Jesus’s body would be ripped and all of his blood would be poured out to the ground. All his body was completely consumed as the Pascal Lamb. The burden and sorrow was so enormous that Jesus as a human was overwhelmed. Most of all, it was so sad that his Father would punish his son. His desire was to avoid the cup if possible. However, God did not answer, still holding the cup presented to Jesus. Jesus knew that God’s will for him was to take the cup and so he prayed to submit to God’s will, gripping his firsts fast and sweating drops of blood. (Lk 22:44)

Then Jesus returned to the three disciples and found them sleeping. They had a big meal and it was late night. They wanted to watch with Jesus, but they fell into sleep. They were not aware of the temptation they would face soon at Jesus’ trials. So, Jesus said to Peter, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Peter had said that he would never fall away on account of Jesus or deny him.” But that night he would deny Jesus three times. He should have prayed to get strength from God.

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

This time his prayer was different from the first time. In his first prayer, he struggled between God’s will and his will. But in his second time prayer, he accepted that the cup was not avoidable and that no one other than himself could drink it. Now Jesus was willing to take God’s will, overcoming his sorrow and his will. After his second round of prayer, he again found his disciples still sleeping. This time he did not say anything to them. They could not pray with him. Jesus was determined to suffer and die by himself. He went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same. Jesus prayed to God until he was ready completely.

Jesus returned to his sleeping disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

After his three prayers, he was no longer sorrowful or troubled. Now he was ready to carry out God’s will without fear. We can see his boldness and willingness to go through his imminent trials. It was because he surrendered to God’s will and submitted himself to him.

The other day, one of my friends asked me why I pioneered a new ministry. Some other missionary told me that it would be very difficult to serve a new ministry at my age. Honestly, I would like to live an easy life. I was happy with my job, my fellowship ministry, and my children. All I should do was to maintain what I had. That was my will. But I learned that God’s will for me was different. I was worried about my family and my Bible students. I prayed and prayed. And I realized that I must surrender to God’s will even if I should undergo hardship and troubles. I submitted to God’s will and God gave me peace and confidence in my heart. There is a time when we are troubled, struggling between God’s will and our will. Our will is to take an easy way. However, an easy way does not necessarily lead us to a happy life. Doing God’s will is not easy but leads us to life. Even now I have been suffering from some difficulties. Yet, I am willing to drink the cup. My prayer is “God’s will be done! Amen!”

III. Jesus is arrested (26:47-56)

While he was still speaking, Judas came with a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Judas had arranged a signal with them by kissing Jesus so that they could arrest him. A kiss was a sign of special affection among family members and close friends, or of a disciple’s honor and affection for his teacher. But Judas used kiss to betray his teacher. However, Jesus accepted him. He was not bitter or angry because he surrendered to God’s will so he could take any difficulties and even accept an evil person like Judas.

At Judas’ kiss, the men stepped forward and arrested Jesus. With that, one of Jesus’ disciples struck the servant of the high priest and cut his ear. He seemed to be courageous and loyal to Jesus. But he did it out of fear. What fear? It was fear of death. One cannot overcome fear by the sword. What did Jesus say to him?

⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

Those who use the sword look strong. But actually, they always have fear and try to defend themselves with the sword like power, money, knowledge or worldly schemes. They have fear of death deep in their mind. Such people can be successful for a while but eventually will die with their sword.

⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Jesus was arrested not because he had no power to fight back. He could have called twelve legions (about 72 thousands) of angels. But he did not fight back to fulfill the Scriptures that the Messiah should suffer and die. Jesus suffered in obedience to God’s will.

Jesus also said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” 

Jesus told the crowd that their arrest was illegal and evil and that his arrest took place to fulfill the writings of the prophets. As such, when he was arrested, Jesus took it to fulfill God’s will.

Conclusion

Jesus is the Lamb of God. Before he was arrested and died, Jesus offered his body and blood to his disciples and taught them that his blood was the blood of the covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus poured out his blood and was punished in your place.

Read 26:26-28 together.

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 

Now, Jesus is offering his body and blood to you. “Eat my body; drink my blood.” He wants to save you from God’s judgment and to give you his blood of life. I pray that we all may take Jesus’ blood and drink it so that he may live in us. Nothing can forgive, heal, and change us. Only Jesus’ blood can save us and make us righteous!
message by David Yun