Musing – What did the four cups of wine signify at the “Lord’s Supper”?

Hebraic Musing – What did the four cups of wine signify at the “Lord’s Supper”?
And why did Jesus say “I will not drink this cup again until…”?

Last week’s musing explored the original “Lord’s Supper” as a Pesach (Passover) Seder (meal) described in Luke 22:13-20  So they prepared the Passover.… Jesus … said…. “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."  … "Take this (Cup) and divide it among you.  For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."  NIV  The occasion is a Passover Seder, a complete meal replete with symbolism. But why the traditional four cups of wine?

The Torah verse being remembered and celebrated is Exod. 6:6-8 -- Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.  I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.”  The Four Cups of the Passover Seder are each based on specific phrases in Exodus 6:6-8.  Can you see the applications to us today?

First Cup — "I will bring you out…" God chose us to be His holy (separated) people. He promised salvation from the harsh labor.  He will unburden us from our enemy’s entanglements.

Second Cup — "I will free (save) you…" He promised salvation from servitude. We were set free on the day the Israelites left Egypt. We cannot release ourselves; we must trust in Him alone for salvation.

Third Cup — "I will redeem you…" which he did by splitting the sea. Only then were we completely redeemed and set free.  His work of salvation requires both divine power and acts of judgment.

Fourth Cup — "I will take you as my own people (nation)…"  And the Israelites indeed started to become a nation at Sinai. God alone can fully transform us into the holy people He has ordained. 

However, instead of partaking from this fourth cup which takes us to be His own, Jesus drank from a fifth cup!  Thus He deferred God’s protection against the death angel by saying, “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Fifth Cup – This cup was and is set up for Elijah during the second half of the Seder, but we do not drink it. This cup recognizes verse 8 above, "And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.”  While the Exodus from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish nation were permanent, we have yet to be brought to Israel on a permanent basis. Elijah will announce the arrival of the Messiah, who will bring all Jews (and Christians) to Israel, for good.  This fifth cup recognizes Jeremiah 25:15-16  “This is what the LORD… said to me: ‘Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.  When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.’”

This cup of God’s wrath is also known as Elijah’s cup because Malachi 4:5 prophesied, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes.” In the traditional ceremony, this cup is filled but not drunk — not until the coming of Elijah. But Jesus drank the fifth cup, the cup of God’s wrath against the nations. Thus, Yeshua declared himself to be the Messiah, the ultimate Savior of the world, who will drink and celebrate with us after the time of the final wrath.

This is just one explanation of events of “The Last Supper”; and the meaning behind, “I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes”.

Points to ponder

Can the NT be fully appreciated without understanding the OT and Jewish customs?

Shalom

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                                    June 10, 2014

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”
And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings” 
Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com