The Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is the focal point of Christian worship, particularly in the Orthodox Church, where the entire Divine Liturgy leads up to the Eucharist. It is regarded as the most significant of all the Church Mysteries (Sacraments). But why is this? Why do we view the Eucharist as the most sacred Mystery?
This concept is closely linked to the reason why our Lord Jesus Christ incarnated and took on human form. The Word of the Father, who is the Creator, is also the Restorer of our fallen nature (see "On the Incarnation" by St. Athanasius). The primary purpose of His incarnation as a Man was to enable humanity to become divine. This process, known as theosis or deification, is a complex topic that may be addressed in more detail at another time. The term "Eucharist" is derived from Greek and signifies "thanksgiving." Additionally, "Liturgy" translates to "work of the people" or "public worship." Christ assumed human form so that, being divine, He could mend the relationship between God and humanity. In His essence, He is eternal and divine, incapable of mortality or cessation. To rectify humanity's fallen state, He descended from above and assumed our nature, taking upon Himself a human vessel while remaining sinless. What I aim to accomplish through this text is to illustrate from the Old Testament how Christ's sacrifice is prefigured from the outset and throughout the Old Testament, foretold by the Prophets and enshrined within the Laws. It is through His sacrificial act that we are rescued by God's grace (which is Christ), prompting His descent into creation. Our spiritually deteriorated condition leads to sin and ultimately death; the disobedience of our forebears (Adam & Eve) precipitated our spiritual and physical decline. This departure from our original state, intended by God, led to both spiritual and physical death—soul and body severed—a departure from the harmonious unity as initially conceived. Therefore, my intention is to offer a brief overview of the Old Testament, which anticipates the arrival and sacrifice of the Messiah, thereby elucidating the path towards understanding the Eucharist. I stress "brief" as the full extent of these Old Testament references would be overwhelming to encompass comprehensively in a single blog post.
Cain & Abel
Let's delve into the book of Genesis, which is rich with stories about sacrifices that prophesy and foreshadow the sacrifice brought by our incarnated God. In Genesis 4:1-2, we encounter Adam and Eve's two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain tilled the soil, while Abel tended sheep. Abel, as the righteous son, serves as a prototype of Christ in His human form. Abel's righteousness and his role as a shepherd foreshadow Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The fact that Abel was righteous aligns with the concept of being good, thus presenting two good and righteous shepherds. Jesus epitomizes the divine and ultimate standard of both righteousness and goodness, with Abel as a human representation of Him. What did Abel, the shepherd, offer to God? According to the Holy Scriptures, he offered the firstborn of his flock (Genesis 4:4). As a shepherd, he presented a spotless lamb, symbolizing Jesus as both the offeror and the offering, the Good Shepherd and the spotless Lamb. Just as Abel's offering was among the firstborn of his flock, Jesus is described as the Firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). Thus, Abel serves as a type of Jesus Christ in this context.
Notably, Abel is despised by his elder brother, Cain. Abel, alongside his younger brother Seth, symbolizes the New Covenant, signifying the New Israel (the Church). Conversely, Cain represents the Old Covenant, symbolizing the old Israel. The old Israel, like the Jews responsible for the death of Jesus, mirrors Cain's guilt in Abel's murder. Following Cain's act, God questions him about Abel's whereabouts. Instead of owning up to his crime and seeking forgiveness, Cain sidesteps the inquiry. God, in response, rebukes Cain, declaring "The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground." Just as Abel offered a lamb and shed blood that cried out to God, Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, speaking to the Father as our sole Mediator. Entombed in the ground, Jesus conquered death, providing eternal life. His sacrifice serves as the cornerstone of our salvation. The Creator, the Word of the Father, offers and restores our lives. From the outset of humanity's fall and expulsion from paradise, the need for offerings to God existed, predating even the Mosaic Law.
Abraham & Isaac
We are all familiar with the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his beloved son to God, a powerful narrative with profound implications. In Genesis 22:1-19, we witness God instructing Abraham to offer his cherished son Isaac as a sacrifice. Despite Abraham having an older son, Ishmael, from Hagar, God specifically refers to Isaac as Abraham's only beloved son. This distinction stems from the fact that Isaac was the promised son through whom God would fulfill His covenant, not a son born from a lack of faith and used as a backup plan. It was crucial that the sacrifice involved the promised and beloved son, thereby imbuing it with ultimate significance. Abraham's unwavering faith and obedience are evident as he prepares to carry out God's command, even though it grieved him deeply.
As Abraham and Isaac ascend Mount Moriah for the sacrifice, poignant parallels between their journey and the Crucifixion emerge. Isaac symbolizes Jesus and carries the wood for the offering, akin to Jesus bearing His own cross to Golgotha. When Isaac realizes there is no lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham assures him that God will provide. Isaac's quiet acceptance of his fate mirrors Jesus' submission to the Father's will. The subsequent intervention of the Angel of the Lord prevents Abraham from sacrificing his son, affirming Abraham's faithfulness. At this juncture, a ram entangled in a bush becomes the offering in Isaac's place, prompting reflection on God's provision. The substitution of a ram for a lamb hints at a prophetic message, foretelling the coming Messiah who would serve as the sacrificial Lamb of God.
The narrative of Abraham and Isaac's test of faith resonates with Christ's sacrificial journey and underscores the profound connection between the Old Testament foreshadowing and the fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The parallels between Isaac's willingness to be offered and Jesus's obedient submission underscore the redemptive significance of the Sacrifice that awaited mankind. Through these intricate parallels, the story of Abraham and Isaac serves as a poignant foreshadowing of the ultimate Sacrifice provided by God in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Moses and the last plague on Egypt
The story of Moses and the tenth plague inflicted on Egypt, leading to the Passover event, offers rich foreshadowing and connections to the Eucharist. The command for the Israelites to slaughter a spotless lamb and smear its blood on the doorposts and lintel of their houses serves as a pivotal moment in their history. This sacrificial act, known as the Passover Lamb or Paschal Lamb, was a means of protection for the firstborns of the Israelites, safeguarding them from the death that befell the firstborns of Egypt.
The lamb sacrificed during the Passover event symbolizes the sacrificial nature of Christ as the Lamb of God. Just as the blood of the lamb spared the Israelites from death, Christ's sacrificial blood shed on the Cross serves as a means of salvation for humanity. The parallel between the Passover Lamb and Jesus as the Lamb of God underscores the redemptive significance of Christ's sacrifice. Those who believed in God, followed His instructions, and partook of the Passover Lamb were saved from bondage and death, much like how faith in Christ's sacrificial offering brings salvation from sin and spiritual death.
The act of smearing the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel of the Israelite's houses finds resonance in Christ's sacrificial offering, where His blood serves as a protective shield for believers. The Passover event foreshadows the ultimate deliverance brought about by Jesus through His sacrificial death and resurrection. By drawing parallels between the Passover Lamb and Jesus as the Lamb of God, the story of Moses illuminates the foundational elements of the Eucharist as a sacred remembrance and participation in the sacrificial offering of Christ for the salvation of humanity.
Isaiah 6:6-7
The last reference I wanted to make in this blog from the Old Testament to the Eucharist is that of Isaiah 6:6-7. In this passage, we read that God cleansed Isaiah by placing a burning coal from the altar on Isaiah's tongue, which cleansed and sanctified him from his iniquities and sins. Similarly, we are cleansed and sanctified from our sins and iniquities when we partake in Holy Communion or the Holy Eucharist. This passage is also recited as a prayer by the priests at the altar before they begin serving the Body and Blood of Christ. The burning coal that cleansed Isaiah from his sins symbolizes this practice in which we, as Orthodox Christians, participate by consuming the Body and Blood of Christ, Who is the exact image of God the Father, described in the Old Testament as a blazing fire.
As mentioned before, I could delve deeper into this topic, but there are ample books (which I also recommend on this website) that discuss this, as well as numerous Orthodox websites where you can explore this topic in greater theological depth. I aim to provide you with a foundational understanding and prompt your interest in the teachings of Scripture and the Orthodox Church.
I hope you have found this discussion useful for your spiritual and theological growth.
With kind regards in Christ.
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