6. READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23-26 AND 1 CORINTHIANS 10:14-17
b. What does the drink represent?
Answer: The drink--"the cup of thanksgiving"--represents the blood of Jesus, which purchased the new covenant. We believers become participators in the blood of Christ, (1 Corinthians 11:25-26 and 1 Corinthians 10:16).
The "cup of thanksgiving" was one of the cups drunk at the Jewish Passover, at which time the Lord's Supper was instituted.
This is NOT a literal drinking of His blood. When the Lord's Supper was instituted, Christ had not yet poured out His blood. The Lord's Supper is to remind us of Him. Those who come to Jesus are partakers of, have fellowship in, participate in the blood of Christ. Without His shed blood, our sins could not be washed away:
John 6:53-57: "Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the Truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever 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 and My blood is real drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.'"
Ephesians 2:13: "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ."
Hebrews 9:14: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"
1 Peter 1:18-19: "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."
Revelation 1:5: "To Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father--to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen."
Only God's true children--those who through faith in Jesus Christ have obeyed His commands and live in Him--can remember, participate in and proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again.