Flesh and Blood

The term "flesh and blood" is an idiom we often use to state that we're only merely human and that we make mistakes or to describe someone that is related to us by blood.

As we were partaking of communion a few Sundays ago I had a thought cross my mind. It made me come to the realization that this is Jesus' flesh and blood. This is not an idiom, but a picture of the sacrifice made for you and me. And Jesus asks us to do this in remembrance of him.

As a Christian I know and appreciate wholeheartedly what the blood of Christ does for me. It washes Me of my sins and makes me whole and clean before God. What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. As the grape juice is being passed I know what that represents. I have a deep reverence and respect for that blood and my mind and heart should focus on the blood of that sacrifice.

But what about the unleavened bread that represents the flesh of Christ? Why is it important to remember the flesh as well as the blood? As the cracker tray was being passed to each Christian member I wondered, what does this bread, this representation of Christ's body, mean to me? Why is it significant and why is important to remember as well as the blood?

As Jesus institutes the Lord's supper in 3 of the 4 gospels he mentions this bread that represents his body.

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22

Luke's account varies slightly, which only enhances the true sacrifice given, "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

I like that Luke makes sure to add that this body is given for them and us as Christians today, as well.

The body represents his human, fleshly, carnal side, but yet he made that choice to give that body up for God's will. Therefore the sacrifice of that flesh and body means so much to me and that is one thing I want to remember for sure as I partake of the Lord's supper.

Shortly following the last supper with his apostles Jesus goes to the garden to pray. In the garden his humanity is distraught and in anguish so much so that his sweat was like drops of blood. Yet, ultimately he wanted God's will to be done and not his own. (Luke 22:39-44). Despite Jesus' fleshly fears he went through with the sacrifice of his body. He knew this needed to be done to save the sins of OUR fleshly bodies.

We all need to be more like Christ. We all need to sacrifice our fleshly desires and ways for God's will and say, "not my will, but yours be done."

My flesh is weak. It wants to give in to those fleshly desires. I want to do things my way, follow my own path and not stand up and do what is right because it is afraid.

One of the definitions given for the original Greek term for flesh is this: "the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God." Unfortunately this flesh often wins and gives into the earthly nature. The spirit is willing, but sometimes the flesh is weaker than my spirit is willing.

That's when this sacrifice comes full circle, that's when that body of Jesus that was killed for me and the blood work together to make me whole and clean before God and have those sins forgiven.

Because Jesus said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will...we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all." (Hebrews 10:9-10)

"But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." Colossians 1:22

His flesh now lives on through the body of Christ, which is his church. That very church that communes on the first day of the week to partake of and remember the sacrifice made through Christ's body on the cross. "...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." Romans 12:5

Mind blown.

So my flesh and blood that is merely human and makes mistakes is now related to, is now a part of the flesh and blood of Jesus and is made perfect before God's eyes.

Jesus says in John 6:48 that He is the bread of life and continues in verse 51, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.