This post links to RAnn's Sunday Snippets
I just noticed in Palm Sunday's Gospel reading from Luke, that at the Last Supper Jesus didn't eat or drink after the words of Consecration:
"And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15* And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16* for I tell you I shall not eat it * until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." 17* And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18* for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." 19* And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."
Nor in Matthew:
"When it was evening, he sat at table with the twelve disciples... Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; 28* for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."
Nor in Mark:
"And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." 23* And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24* And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, * which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Having thought about this for several minutes (!), I believe this points to Transubstantiation. If Jesus were speaking symbolically when he said "This is my body...this is my blood," then why not share in the eating and drinking along with the Apostles? If nothing else, it would clarify that this bread and wine were no different from any they had consumed earlier in the evening; lest anyone erroneously suppose Jesus was speaking literally on this night, and also the day after the Loaves and Fishes miracle (John 6).
On the other hand, if Jesus had indeed transformed the elements into his own flesh and blood, then it would be appropriate that he not partake in consuming himself.
9 comments:
That's really interesting. I had never noticed that before.
I never thought about this either. Thanks for this post. I've learned a lot from you, especially that God shows a lot to us in the Bible without necessarily putting the exact work to it, as in "transubstantiation." I need to ask the question when reading the Bible, "What is God showing me here?"
Yeah; and like in this case one can hear or read a passage 100 times and then see something new.
I never knew this. Thanx.
God bless.
Scott Hahn addresses this 4th cup. It was completed when Jesus was on the cross and they offered him the sour wine. It is a beautiful explanation of this whole experience.
Yes. I read that way back when and learned from it the extension of the New Covenant Passover meal into the sacrifice of the Cross.
When I first read this I was curious why you only quoted from the Synoptic Gospels. Somehow I never realized that the meal part of the Last Supper wasn't in John.
John's quite the odd duck.
I too have never noticed that before. You have given us something well worth our study and contemplation. Thank you.
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