Much of what we read in the New Testament is fairly transparent. That is, we get the gist of what the author is saying from the context. Because we are not the original recipients, though, and are, in fact, considerably removed from them by history, culture, and language; there are details we miss. To overcome our deficiencies in this regard, we investigate those areas of difference to gain insight beyond what is apparent on the surface. The communion service we observe is part of the more extensive Passover seder (service) that God commanded Israel to keep. Jesus and his disciples, in obedience to that command, met together for the seder just before his arrest. During the service, Jesus referred to the elements in a different way, and though we have some understanding of the significance of that event, by digging a little deeper, we may grasp more clearly what it meant to the disciples and increase our appreciation of its implications for us.
The Passover seder that God instructed the Israelites to keep consisted of three essential elements: the Passover sacrifice, "along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast" (Exod 12:8). With time, other elements became customary as well, such as the four cups of wine each participant drank. As a symbol of joy, wine was part of every festival, including the weekly Sabbath. Why Passover should have four cups, while other festivals had only one, is uncertain. Was it because that holiday, celebrating as it did God's deliverance, was the most important of the feasts, or because the lengthy recounting of the story and the singing of so many psalms made the celebrants thirsty? We do not know. According to tradition (j Pes 10:1; 37b-c), the four cups (two before the meal and two after) represent the four acts of God in Exod 6:6-7.
Exod 6:6 "...say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7a I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God."
Each cup has a different designation in the Passover liturgy that corresponds to what God accomplished in the exodus.
- From the phrase "I will bring you out" comes the Cup of Sanctification, because by removing Israel, God initiated the separation (or sanctification) of His people from the Egyptians and from all other nations.
- From the phrase "I will free you" comes the Cup of Praise, because by delivering Israel, God did so much more for His people than ease their bondage that they can never cease to praise Him.
- From the phrase "I will redeem you" comes the Cup of Redemption, because by purchasing Israel's freedom, God acquired servants, though with an unusual intent (which I shall explain in a moment).
It is, appropriately, the third cup, the Cup of Redemption, that Jesus invests with further significance at his last seder before the crucifixion. After the meal...
Matt 26:27 ...he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying.... 28 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
The similarity of these two events adds significance to the celebration of Passover for Jesus' disciples.
- Both the exodus and the crucifixion result in deliverance.
- The one effects a physical deliverance from slavery.
- The other effects a spiritual deliverance from sin.
- Both the exodus and crucifixion involve a payment; redemption, by definition, costs something.
- The payment for physical freedom was the death of Egypt's firstborn sons.
- The payment for spiritual freedom was the death of God's firstborn son
For Jesus' disciples, the Cup of Redemption has dual significance, because it represents two of God's great accomplishments on their behalf. This includes us as well, for by becoming followers of Jesus, God has grafted us into Israel that we might partake of the same heritage.
The similarity of these two events extends also to their implications. I mentioned earlier that by purchasing Israel's freedom from slavery, God acquired the Israelites as His servants. An early Jewish commentary on Deuteronomy asks...
Why is the Exodus from Egypt mentioned in connection with every commandment? The matter can be compared to a king, whose friend's son was taken prisoner after the father's death. For the sake of his friend, the king ransomed the young man, though not as a son but as a slave, so that if he should disobey the king at any time, the king could say, "You are my slave." When the lad returned, the king said, "Put on my sandals for me and take my clothes to the bath house," but the young man protested. Then the king took out the bill of sale and said, "You are my slave."
So it was when God redeemed the children of Abraham, His friend, He redeemed them not as children but as slaves. If He imposed decrees upon them and they did not obey, He could say, "You are my slaves." When they went into the desert, He gave them some light and some heavy commands (e.g., Sabbath, sexual purity, fringes, phylacteries), but they began to protest. Then God said, "You are My slaves. I redeemed you on the condition that I would command and you would obey." (Adapted from Sfre in Montefiore 1974:117-118)
Paul says that spiritual redemption has similar implications.
Rom 6:17 [Y]ou used to be slaves to sin.... 22 But...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God.
Rom 8:12 Therefore—we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
For followers of Jesus, the Cup of Redemption reminds us that we are obligated to God all the more, for by redeeming us physically and spiritually He has an even greater claim on our obedience.
That same Jewish commentary points out a wonderful difference between Israel's slavery to Egypt and Israel's slavery to God. It says that...
God's slaves are not like man's slaves, because God's ways are not like "those of flesh and blood." For a man acquires slaves that they may look after and sustain him, but God acquires slaves that He may look after and sustain them.
When God redeemed the Israelites from Egypt, He promised to provide for their physical needs and to protect them. God extends those promises into eternity for those He redeems from sin. In other words, just as our spiritual redemption obligates us to God all the more, so our spiritual redemption benefits us from God all the more.
In Jesus' last seder, he invests the Cup of Redemption with even greater significance than it previously had, for it now represents spiritual as well as physical deliverance. As if that were not enough, Jesus uses the occasion to intimate yet another event when he says,
Matt 26:29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.
Paul echoes this sentiment.
1 Cor 15:26 For whenever you...drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Beyond the physical redemption of the exodus and the spiritual redemption of the cross, there is yet a final redemption when Jesus will return to establish the Kingdom of God, to celebrate the seder with his followers again, and to bring that for which "we wait eagerly...the redemption of our bodies" (Rom 8:23). It is, indeed, amazing how much a single cup can hold.
For the Bibliography and Endnotes see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs