Fruit Of The Vine

 Matthew 26:29

Fruit of the vine is Jewish for wine. No, folks, not for grape juice. This is Passover; the last grapes would have been harvested back in September or October, and they simply knew of no way of process to keep the fruit of the vine from fermenting, so yes, real wine. And Jesus speaks of the wine as something He would not drink with them again until that moment when they share it with Him new in my Father's kingdom.

When Chrysostom asks what that "new" entails, he points his congregation to a great wonder, "He will drink it new has of having an immortal and incorruptible body - a spiritual body. He will not drink out of a need for a drink, for it is not a body that suffers or has bodily needs. It was not because He needed to eat and drink after the resurrection that He spoke in this way that which was new, but to give them full assurance of His resurrection." Excellent point!

He has given them the bread that is His body. He has offered thanks over the cup that holds His blood that will win forgiveness for all. And so His death is staring them in the face. And yet He promises on the other side there's going to be feasting, and joy in the Father's kingdom for He will indeed live again, and they will share in the table of His kingdom in a hidden manner in this age, openly in the age to come. You too, and me - joy abounding.

Pr. Will Weedon