The memorial service was instituted by the Lord Jesus to provide his followers with a constant reminder of the New Testament sealed by his death and implemented through his resurrection. In the following we point out foreshadowings of the memorials by noting incidents when bread and wine are associated with salvation in Old Testament times.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I Cor. 10:11). The principle noted here has encouraged us to seek foreshadowings in the Old Testament related to the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus. When we look, we find they are there.
Melchizedek
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all” (Gen. 14:18-20).
This passage is commented on extensively in Hebrews 6 and 7. The special significance of Melchizedek, king of righteousness, king of peace (or king of the oath), sharing bread and wine with Abram is clearly indicated. Paul refers to the encounter as an event that certified the “promise” God had given Abram. He refers to the “oath” and the “tithes” paid while Abram’s descendants were still in his loins. The relationship between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus is elaborated in chapter seven as Jesus is “made a priest after the order of Melchizedek.”
Melchizedek, the typical high priest, shared bread and wine with Abram in celebration of victory over the captors of Lot and his people. The anti-typical high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, became what was symbolized by the bread and wine, having redeemed the spiritual children of Abraham from captivity to sin.
The prophecy of Judah
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes…” (Gen. 49:10,11).
Just prior to his death, Jacob gave a series of prophecies regarding the events and circumstances involving his sons. Here, Jacob referred to a descendant of Judah who would be identified as “Shiloh” — indicating tranquility or peace.
Note the association of ideas with Jacob’s prophecy when Jesus, prince of peace, rides into Jerusalem at the commencement of the last week. Jacob referred to a “foal,” an “ass’s colt” and Jesus comes “riding upon an ass, a colt, the foal of an ass.” Jacob says, “unto him shall the gathering of the people be” and all the people gather about to throng Jesus as he came toward the city. The prophecy refers to the washing of garments in wine and clothes in the blood of grapes and many threw their garments in the way before Jesus. Were they symbolically asking Jesus, the lawgiver, to take their garments and replace them with garments provided by him through his sacrifice?
Isaiah had said, “Wash you, make you clean…Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isa. 1:16,18). Could the people have seen this connection?
We note also the linkage of “binding his foal unto the vine” with the people and Christ. In prophecy, animals often represent individuals or groups of people. The foal of the ass upon which Jesus rode could have represented the people who would become his through his coming sacrifice. He had earlier declared that “I am the true vine:” to be saved, the people must be bound to or “abide in” this true vine (John 15:1-11).
David and Saul
“Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul” (I Sam. 16:19,20).
Is there anything to this little account? Saul knew David was “with the sheep” being the good shepherd. David loved and protected those who were his sheep. And David’s father sends him to Saul who should have been loving and protecting Israel. Jesse sent him to Saul with an ass loaded with bread, wine and a kid of the goats for sacrifice.
We can see the connections: Saul represents natural Israel which could only be saved through fellowship with God (the bread and wine) based upon sacrifice (the kid of the goats). And here was David, forerunner of the great Savior whose Father would send him to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to save His people from their sins.
The redeemed of Jacob
“Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all” (Jer. 31:1-12). We readily see the allusions back to Israel in Egypt. Israel cried for deliverance from “the hand of him that was stronger than he.” The people were redeemed by the blood of the lamb sprinkled on the door posts. The price also included the death of the firstborn of Egypt.
Israel went through the wilderness, surviving on the water “from the rock that followed them.” They had eaten the “bread in the wilderness.” Once a year, as they made their way to the temple heights they would sing their songs of deliverance. Perhaps, not even realizing it, they were singing of the time to come when Zion will once more resound with their voices of praise for their ultimate deliverance.
In the time yet to come they will eat bread and drink wine with the Lord Jesus in his kingdom, at his appearing. It will be a time of rejoicing in the fellowship of peace made possible by the blood of the lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One