1. Jesus Christ took on flesh in order to
institute the New Covenant
The
sixth reason why Jesus Christ took on flesh was to institute the terms of the
New Covenant, and so we have been admonished saying; "And for this reason
He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may
receive the promise of the eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15).
We
are told that, "where there is a testament, there must also of necessity
be the death of the testator for a testament is in force after men are dead,
since it has no power at all while the testator lives" (Hebrews 9:16-17).
Therefore,
the new covenant which Jesus Christ instituted was, when He took bread, blessed and broke it,
and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink
from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins." This new covenant became effective
after His death.
Remember,
before the Lord instituted this new covenant on one occasion He said;
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.
I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are
dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven that one may eat of it and
not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of
this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6:47-51).
On
hearing this, the Jews quarreled among themselves saying; "How can this
Man give us His flesh to eat?" This saying also caused many of His
disciples to retrieve and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the
twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him,
"Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life" (John
6:52, 66-68).
Now
instead of making any apologies Jesus reiterated His statement by saying;
“Truly, truly I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is (real)
food indeed, and My blood is (real) drink indeed: he who eats My flesh and
drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I
live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me’
(John 6:53-57).
If
anyone had any misgivings as to how one could eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drinks His blood, Jesus continued by saying; “This is the bread which came
down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread
will live forever.” Signifying that the way one can eat His flesh is by eating
the bread which represents His body.
There
is therefore no ambiguity as to how one can eat the flesh of the Son of Man and
drink His blood and the rationale for this new covenant is simply the new and
living way by which one can draw near to the Father which is made possible only
by the three that bear witness on earth: which are, the Spirit, who is Jesus
Christ our High Priest, the water (flesh), represented by the unleavened bread,
and the blood represented by the wine and these three agree as one.
The
apostle Paul could not have put it more simple than this when he wrote;
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the
blood of Jesus, by the new and living which He opened for us through His flesh,
and since we have a great High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near
with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean
from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews
10:19-22).
Remember,
Jesus Christ said unequivocally, “I am the way [the flesh], the truth [the Spirit-The
Lord our eternal High Priest], and the life [the blood- for the life of every
creature is in the blood]; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6).
Another
component of this new covenant is having the laws of God placed in the mind and
written on the heart . For thus says the Lord; “This is the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel after those days: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their
hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (Jeremiah
31:31; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).
And the rationale for having the law placed in the mind and written on the heart it is for us to be always remember and be mindful of it and to love and cherished it.
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To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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