This New Covenant uses two new symbols: bread and wine. These are significant because, for the first time, God’s Covenant with man includes the product of man’s labor! Unlike fire, and water, and blood – which have been used before and are all products of God’s creation, this time God forms a Covenant with man which includes the work of man.
Thus, Man (men and women) work with the corporation of God to produce these symbols of the New Covenant. And the principles of pruning and separation provide working metaphors for our lives. The ways in which we naturally tend to flourish must be “pruned” for us to be of real use to God, and in the end those which are useful will be separated from the “chaff” and the useless chaff will be burned in the fire. This work of man is now sanctified by God for purposes of Communion with His Man. Thus the foundation is laid for a totally new way for God to be re-united with His Man. “Receive Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you, and enjoy fellowship with God!” This really is too easy. God – in this Jesus – has done all of the work. We could not be Holy, so he was Holy. We could not be obedient, so he was obedient, even to his death. The sacrifice of a lamb was temporary, while the sacrifice of Jesus (the Lamb of God) is permanent. We no longer have anything to do except accept what He has done for us! Only God could find a way to bridge the gap created by man’s disobedience. But it still requires a decision of acceptance. This will never change. This is the language to Love.
“This New Covenant uses two new symbols: bread and wine. These are significant because, for the first time, God’s Covenant with man includes the product of man’s labor!”
From the old testament...
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” (Genesis 14:18-20 KJV)
Note that ‘bread and wine’ in the scheme of things, goes back several thousand years.