The New Sacrifice

Just as of old, after Jesus’ death, the sacrifice was not complete until it was shared in a communal meal (Lev 10:12, 17). This is why we too must all share in communion together- to be united as one Church in Christ, “one bread, one body” (1 Cor 12:27). All throughout salvation history, God was showing His people how they were to worship Him. He was preparing future generations to worship Him similarly, but with the New Covenant of Jesus Christ.

We complete the sacrifice. It is our duty to finish what Christ our Lord started and to enter into the unifying meal of the sacrificial lamb. He is the ultimate sin offering, the atonement for many (Lev 4:13, 20). But it does not end with Him.

We should cherish, relish and revel in each moment spent in His True Presence. The flame of the red candle burns to remind us He is the new eternal flame like the sacrifices of old, always burning at the altar, “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” (Lev 1:9, 13, 17; Lev 2:9), never to go out (Lev 6:5).

Jesus is the new, lasting sacrifice, made in one moment for all of time to share. He spoke the words, “it is finished” (Jn 19:30), as He drank from the fourth cup on the cross. The veil is torn, split from top to bottom. God has passed through heaven and earth, forging the new bond, the new covenant (Gen 15:17-18).

Jesus is the New Covenant, the New Adam. His sacrifice is enough, but it is not complete. We must eat His flesh and drink His blood if we want to have life within us (Jn 6:51-58). Once again, our God has provided the sacrifice, just as He did on mount Horeb with Abraham and Isaac (Gen 22:8).

And, just as He provided manna in the dessert (Ex 16:12-15), God has given us the New Bread come down from heaven, the New Passover Lamb, the final sacrifice to repay the trust that was broken in the garden, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He restores our chance at life everlasting.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, fulfills all prophesies and promises. We must partake of the sacrifice to unify ourselves to Him. He is our God and He is Almighty who can do all things, but He gives us the chance to choose to complete the sacrifice. For all are called to the wedding feast but not all will come.

“One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4) Jesus is the Word of God who became flesh for the sake of the life of the world, the “bread of life (Jn 6:48) who “came down from heaven” (Jn 6:41). And, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (Jn 6:53) for the blood is the life of the sacrifice (Lev 17: 11).

God has provided the sacrifice.
He is finished, but it is not complete.
All we have to do is partake.