No. 751
“I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 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.” (John 6:48-51)
The annual observance of our Lord’s death occurs this year after 6 p.m., April 5. The date is determined by this method: The moon nearest the Vernal Equinox becomes new in Jerusalem on March 24 at 11:28 a.m., thus establishing 6 p.m. March 23 as the beginning of Nisan 1. Counting forward to the beginning of Nisan 14, we arrive at 6 p.m., April 5. Any time that evening after 6 p.m. would be proper for the celebration.
From our opening text we see that the manna of the wilderness was a type of our Lord Jesus, the true manna for our souls, feeding upon which we may attain eternal life. We sympathize with the Jews who heard the Master’s words, realizing that in their fleshly condition, unenlightened by the Holy Spirit which was not yet given, it was impossible for them to comprehend the significance of the deep things of God contained in them. Indeed, we see that the majority of Christians today but faintly comprehend their meaning.
How is our Lord’s flesh the bread of life to those who eat it? Bread is called “the staff of life” to mankind, a basic or necessary food on which this present life depends. Hence it is an appropriate symbol of our Lord and the graces and virtues in Him which sustain new life. Our Lord’s flesh was uncontaminated, free from sin – “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 7:26) This was necessary because our Father Adam, having been created in a similar condition of sinless flesh, transgressed the divine law and became a sinner: his flesh came under the divine sentence of death and became corrupt, both morally and physically.
It was necessary for there to be the man Christ Jesus, whose sinless flesh could be accepted as the ransom price, the offset, the full equivalent in place of Adam and his flesh which had become defiled through sin. The Scriptures explain that it was for this purpose that our Lord Jesus left the glories and honors of the higher nature and condition: “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) Note our Redeemer’s own words: “The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)
Thus we see that the giving of our Lord’s unblemished flesh was a corresponding price for father Adam’s condemned flesh; it constituted the purchase price which not only redeemed father Adam, but also the entire race in his loins at the time of his transgression. We praise God for the undefiled flesh of our Redeemer. The various claims to the effect that a knowledge of the historic Christ and of His sacrifice for sins is unnecessary to salvation are untrue. None can have eternal life except by partaking of His broken body: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” (John 6:53)
THE PASSOVER LAMB
There has only been one Passover night, the one in Egypt when the Angel of Death passed through Egypt slaying every firstborn of man and beast. The annual observance of the Jewish Passover is simply a memorial of that great event. When we look back to that event, we note the types and antitypes: Egypt was a type of the world; Pharaoh, Egypt’s king, was a type of Satan, the prince of this world; the bondage of the Israelites was a type of the bondage of the human race to sin and death; Moses was a type of Christ, head and body; the deliverance of the Israelites under the leadership of Moses was a type of the ultimate deliverance in the next age of all who love God and who desire to do sacrifice to Him, under the leadership of Christ; the destruction of Pharaoh and his hosts was a type of the final overthrow of Satan and his servants.
The passing over or deliverance of Israel’s firstborn from death in the night before all the people went forth from the bondage the next day was a type of how God has passed over, spared, given life to, a certain class during the Gospel Age, the “night” before the full introduction of His Millennial Kingdom when all who love and seek righteousness will be delivered. The class delivered, spared, passed over during this night, while God’s people are in the world and under the evil influence of the prince of this world, is merely and only the firstborn – the Church – the “church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven.” (Heb. 12:23)
In order that the firstborn in the type might be passed over, it was necessary for every household to kill a lamb without blemish, sprinkle its blood upon the door-posts of their houses, and eat its flesh within with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This Passover lamb was a type of Jesus, as John the Baptist pointed out when he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) The antitypical firstborn, the elect Church, must eat of the flesh of the Lamb, as the literal firstborn of Israel ate of the flesh of the typical lamb. Their hearts also must be sprinkled with the precious blood from all consciousness of evil, from all willful association with sin. The “bitter herbs” signify the trials, oppositions, persecutions, difficulties and crosses of the human will and are necessary to their feeding upon our Lord’s flesh which was given for the life of the world.
The Scripture which refers to our Lord as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev. 13:8) indicates to us that all the details of the Passover were clearly in the mind and plan of God, not only since the fall of Adam under the death sentence, but from long before Adam’s creation. It thus assures us that love was in God’s heart toward His creatures from the beginning, although for centuries only the justice of God was manifest. Divine love was not manifested until the First Advent of Jesus: “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)
THE LORD’S MEMORIAL SUPPER
Being Jews, our Lord and the Apostles were obligated to keep the Jewish Passover Supper, and they kept it for the last time the night before He was crucified. After observing the Passover that night, Jesus instituted the “Lord’s Supper” - the bread and the wine, which was to replace the lamb and unleavened bread. When He said, “This do in remembrance of me,” He was telling His followers to discontinue the memorial of the Passover in Egypt, and to thenceforth use the bread and the wine in memory of Him. There is no record that the Apostles ever again partook of the lamb and the unleavened bread in observance of the Passover in Egypt. The Lord’s Memorial Supper was a separate institution and designed to take its place. (1 Cor. 11:23-26) In giving the symbols of the bread and the fruit of the vine to represent His own flesh and blood, our Lord wished us to recognize two things:
(1) He is the antitypical Lamb and the antitypical Passover is the passing over or sparing of the Gospel Church and her deliverance from death to newness of life in Christ and to a share with Him in the first resurrection.
(2) The unleavened bread and the wine emblemize the body and blood of the true Lamb and take the place of the typical Paschal lamb. The bread and the wine are not the antitypes of the lamb; rather they are the symbols, figures or representations of Jesus, the antitypical Lamb.
Consequently, partaking of the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine are matters of small importance compared with what is symbolized: our partaking of and feeding by faith upon our Lord. Many have partaken of the emblems who have never tasted that the Lord is gracious, while others may have tasted of the Lord’s grace and never had the privilege and opportunity of partaking of the emblems of His broken body and shed blood. We rejoice in our privilege to have both – the real feast in our hearts and the symbols which our Lord Himself had provided and instructed us to use.
THE SYMBOLS CONSIDERED
Consider how eating natural bread symbolizes the eating of Christ’s flesh. As the eating of natural bread involves its assimilation and absorption into our bodily systems, our eating of the flesh of Christ signifies the following:
(1) Our appreciation of the fact that He was sinless, and a suitable sacrifice on our behalf.
(2) Our faith in the fact that He did give Himself a ransom for all.
(3) Our conviction that this sacrifice was acceptable to the Heavenly Father, as evidenced by our Lord’s resurrection from the dead.
(4) Our desire that the purity and separation from sin which Christ possessed be imputed to us – the renouncing of our relationship to the first Adam, and our acceptance of the hoped-for life through the second Adam, based upon His sacrifice – His flesh given for the life of the world.
Consider further that the bread was unleavened, leaven signifying sin in the type. The Apostle explains that the bread represents our Lord’s flesh upon which we feed by faith. Further, the Church of the firstborn having fed upon it and received of His spirit are reckoned as being members together in one loaf of unleavened bread. Thus he exhorts them to remember that, as a little leaven leavens an entire batch of dough, so a little sin might accomplish a great fermentation in their midst. Hence his admonition, “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven [rank wickedness], neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness [less rank but more insidious]; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Cor. 5:6-8)
The Apostle compares advanced Christians, those who have purged their hearts of sin and consecrated themselves fully to the Lord, to a baked loaf of unleavened bread. He declares that, along with Christ, all such are members or parts of one loaf – all pledged to be broken, that they may be of life-giving power and influence to others. He says, “The bread [loaf] which we break, is it not the communion of [our participation as] the body of Christ? For we being mny are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Cor.16)
Having thus considered the significance of the bread and having fed upon it in our hearts, we give thanks to God for the bread of eternal life. In passing the bread, remember our Lord’s words: “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do I remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24)
Next we consider the fruit of the vine and see that it symbolizes death, and not only death, but also the more or less degree of suffering associated with death. We see that the grapes must be crushed, trodden, sorely pressed, before the juice can be drawn out. And as we consider the juice of the grape as a symbol for the blood of Christ, His consecrated life, and then as a symbol of the consecrated lives of all those who have become joint-sacrificers with Him, we see that it was a most beautiful and fitting symbol. “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of [our participation in] the blood of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16)
Our Lord likened Himself to the vine and His followers to the branches, and declared that it was His desire that they bring forth much fruit. The fruit of the vine which we use seems a fitting symbol of the fruitage of Christ, the vine, and the sufferings of all who would be faithful as members of His body, seeking to walk in His footsteps, spending themselves in glorifying God in their bodies and their spirits which are His. (1 Cor. 6:20)
Remember also our Lord’s response to two of the disciples of old who requested that they might sit with the Lord in His throne He informed them that they did not comprehend fully what their request implied of self-denial, saying, “Are ye able to drink of the cup [of ignominy and suffering] that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism [death] that I am baptized with?” (Matt. 20:22) Although the Apostles could not comprehend this subject fully, our Lord was evidently gratified with their promptness to make the consecration. They declared themselves willing to endure the cross to win the crown, and He in turn pledged to them that, since this was the desire of their hearts, they should indeed be able to carry it out. If they continued to have the will to suffer with Christ, they would have the opportunity to have a share in His Kingdom, although He could not designate for them the particular place, that being in the Father’s hands. This gives us the encouraging thought that, however insignificant and weak we are, the Lord by His grace is both able and willing to carry us through. If we remain faithful to Him and His spirit of sacrifice, He will bring us off conquerors, and more than conquerors. (Rom. 8:37)
Let us then render thanks to the Lord for the cup – for the sufferings of Christ on our behalf for our redemption. In passing the cup, remember our Lord’s words, “Drink ye all of it; For this ismy blood of the new testament [New Covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:27-28) Let us have fellowship in His sufferings.
Having thus considered the symbols, we see they represent two things: First, they symbolize Christ our Passover slain for us, on account of which we keep the feast, seeking to abstain from sin and feeding upon the merit of our Redeemer. Secondly, they represent our consecration to Him and our pledge to be broken with Him for the good of others. For the Firstborns they have meant participation in His sufferings so that they may participate also in the glory that shall follow. To these are the promises: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” (2 Tim. 2:12) “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.” (Rom. 6:8)
All advanced Christians are inspired with their Master’s spirit – a spirit of love to the Father, and to those who have the Father’s likeness, and to all mankind. It is to these that the Apostle says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16) This willingness and desire to be broken for the good of others is the result of ourfirst feeding upon our Lord’s broken body and receiving of His spirit, mind, disposition, and love.
FIRST FRUITS AND AFTER FRUITS
The Scriptures call the Church of Christ the “church of the firstborn;” “a kind of firstfruits of his creatures;” and “the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Heb.12:23; Jas. 1:18; Rev. 14:4) These expressions imply that ultimately there will be others of God’s family later born; they imply after fruits. Christian people in general seem to have overlooked the implication of these Scriptures, generally believing that only those designated in the Bible as the first fruits will ever be saved – that there will be no after fruits.
But the Passover type indicates that it was God’s purpose to save all Israelites. In that first Passover, all members of the household ate of the lamb and the bread. As a nation they represented all of mankind who will ultimately come into harmony with God and be granted everlasting life in the Land of Promise. Moreover, not only the firstborns, but all Israelites by divine command and approval partook of the annual Passover Memorial, the type of the Lord’s Supper. (Exod. 12:25-27; Josh. 5:10; 2 Ch on. 35:1-19) This types that all ultimate believers – the Youthful Worthies, as well as all New Creatures – may celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
It is important to note that there were two Passovers in Egypt – the one in which only the firstborns were passed over, and another greater one at the Red Sea. There, by divine power, the whole nation of Israel was miraculously delivered and led across the channel especially prepared for them by the accentuation of winds and tides. These “passed over” on dry land and were saved, while the hosts of Pharaoh, representing all who eventually will go into the Second Death, were overwhelmed in the sea and were destroyed. The passing over at the Red Sea pictures the ultimate deliverance from the power of sin and death of every member of Adam’s race who desires to come into harmony with God and to render Him worship, all who will ultimately become a part of Israel, for not one Israelite was left behind in Egyptian bondage.
Blessed are those whose eyes of faith see that Jesus was indeed “the lamb of God.” Let all the faithful in Christ Jesus, in every place, celebrate the Memorial in remembrance of God’s Lamb who redeemed us by the sacrifice of Himself. Such, in every place should assemble together, even if there be but two or three of like precious faith. And even the solitary ones may break the bread and partake of the wine, in heart communion with the Lord and with fellow believers.
(Based on Reprints 2291 and 5869, with pertinent additions.)
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“UNDER HIS WINGS”
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psa. 91:4)
In the midst of the “perilous times” of this “evil day,” how precious are the assurances of divine protection and care and personal love! We call to mind the gracious promises of our Lord: “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” (John 16:27) “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
But words of caution and wholesome counsel are also necessary; and he is not wise who turns a deaf ear to them. The comforting assurances are designed only for those who faithfully watch and pray. (Mark 14:38) Every soldier of the cross must heed the Apostle’s warning: “Put on the whole armour of God . . . that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:11, 13) To such faithful ones are the blessed consolations of Psalm 91. While this Psalm seems to apply particularly to the Lord Jesus and the Church, especially in the end of the Gospel Age, it may be broadly applied to all faithful believers. Let us listen to its wise counsel:
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psa. 91:1) Having come to a knowledge of God’s willingness to accept us as His children, we place ourselves under the divine protection when we approach in His appointed way, through Christ our Redeemer, consecrating ourselves fully to His service. The world does not see the overshadowing wings of divine protection, but the faithful have a blessed secret realization of it. Praise the Lord!
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” (Psa. 91:2) These are the words of David. Here, as elsewhere, he personifies Jesus Christ. He thus addresses these words to His body, His Church.
“Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” (Psa. 91:3) He will deliver us from the deceptions of Satan, which will ensnare all not protected. Our Lord warned that the deceptions will be so subtle that, if it were possible, they would deceive the very elect. (Matt. 24:24) The protection is not from the destructive pestilences of physical disease, but from the moral and spiritual pestilences of false doctrine, which will destroy the faith of the unwatchful with subtle sophistry.
“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” (Psa. 91:4) His Truth, the divine plan of the ages, is an ample shield and buckler to all who in simplicity of heart receive it and prove faithful to it. It is the armor of God which the Apostle urges all the faithful to put on – to appropriate, to meditate upon. They are to store up the Truth in mind and heart that they may be able, by its use, to withstand error and evil in very form presented to them in this evil day. The Father gathers His loyal and faithful children so close to His heart that they feel the warmth of His love, and their hearts respond: “For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.” (Psa. 61:3-5)
“Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.” (Psa. 91:5) Both the Prophet Isaiah and our Lord spoke of the dark night, the time of trouble. The Prophet said, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” (Isa. 21:12) The Millennial morning will be immediately preceded by the great time of trouble, the night “when no man can work.” (John 9:4) So great will be the terror, tumult, and persecution of that night that no one will be able to work for the dissemination of divine truth. In comparison with the dark night that is coming, the present is called day. The arrow is the “bitter words” of the opponents of the Truth. (Psa. 64:3)
“Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” (Psa. 91:6) Moral and spiritual pestilence spreads; its victims are those who are in darkness, ignorant of the Truth or unfaithful to it and hence unworthy of it. All such therefore lack divine protection and are subject to the strong delusions of error, even when the light of divine truth is shining upon the faithful at “noonday.” (2 Thess. 2:11)
“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (Psa. 91:7) Although there will be a great falling away from the Truth, even among those who once received it with joy, those of uncompromising faithfulness who put on the ample armor of truth and righteousness will stand and not fall.
“Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” (Psa. 91:8) Those enlightened by the spirit of truth will see the recompense of those who reject the Truth or who prove unfaithful to it.
“Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (Psa. 91:9-10) No evils of the kind that befall the wicked will befall the shielded ones. Any other seeming trials and trouble will, under divine providence, work together for their good. (Rom. 8:28)
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” (Psa. 91:11) God will raise up some faithful messenger (pastor or teacher) to guard the faithful, watching over them as someone that must give an account. (Heb. 13:17) While it is true that false teachers will arise seeking to subvert God’s children by cunning sophistries, if they require a “Thus saith the Lord” for every element of their faith and carefully prove all things by the Word, they will be able to distinguish readily the true from the false.
“They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Psa. 91:12) The messengers will help and support against the stumbling stones of false doctrine, especially errors regarding that great fundamental rock-doctrine: the redemption through the precious blood of Christ – the “stone of stumbling” and “rock of offense to both the houses of Israel.” (Isa. 8:14)
“Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” (Psa. 91:13) Borne up in the hands of the Lord’s faithful messengers and under the constant protection of the Most High, God’s trusting, faithful children will triumph over every attempt of Satan to overpower or beguile them – whether he goes about loudly as a roaring lion or stealthily lurks serpent-like to insert his venomous poison.
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.” (Psa. 91:14) The Heavenly Father will deliver the faithful from moral and spiritual pestilence and will exalt the Church to joint-heirship with Christ.
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” (Psa. 91:15-16) The faithful may be delivered at present according to their needs but the final deliverance will be in the resurrection. They will be made to understand God’s plan and will be rewarded with eternal life. (John 10:28-29)
Praise the Lord for such assurances of His loving care! “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” (Psa. 103:1)
(Based on Reprint 3331.)
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