You hear every week in the words of institution that this cup is the cup of the new covenant in the blood of Christ. What is the blood of Christ to us? In coming weeks, we will consider a number of truths concerning, but let us begin with this.
This is the blood of reconciliation. The apostle teaches us in Colossians (1:21-22) that we were alienated from God. We were enemies in our minds because of our wicked deeds and works. But, he goes on to say, we have been reconciled in the body of His flesh through death. This is therefore the blood of reconciliation. It is the cup of reconciliation. That is one of the central features of this Supper.
In 1 John 2:2, we learn that Christ died as a propitiation for our sins. This means that the wrath that was resting upon our heads has been fully satisfied in the death of Jesus. Because the wrath is satisfied, because the propitiation has been accepted by God, the way is open for us to be reconciled to God.
As Thomas Watson put it, “It is one thing for a traitor to be pardoned, and another thing to be brought into favour.” In this blood of reconciliation, not only is our treachery against God forgiven, but we have been brought back into His fellowship and favor. This is reconciliation. This cannot happen without the shedding of blood. Without blood, there is no remission of sins. Without human blood, no human transgression can be forgiven. And if our transgressions cannot be forgiven, there can be no reconciliation.
We were estranged, alienated. We were in rebellion. Not only that, but we had no good reason for our rebellion—we just wanted it our way. While we were still sinners, while we were in this condition, Christ died for us. He died in order that the barrier to reconciliation, which was on our side, might be removed by Him on our behalf. He, the divine Logos, became a man that He might reconcile men. Let us therefore eat and drink.