Essays - The Eucharist as a sacrifice

The Eucharist as Sacrifice

Sacrifices have been a part of both pagan and Jewish religious practises since ancient times, and are often associated with the killing of animals. The nature of sacrifice is offering something to God, whether this is the ‘fruits of the earth’ or the praise of a worshipper. The main purpose of offering a sacrifice is the continuation or renewal of life.

We can look back at the first Passover meal when the Israelites had to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on the doorposts of the house, so the angel sent by God to slay the firstborn of the Egyptians would pass over their houses. The Israelites were commanded to observe the Passover every year from then on. “Obey these instructions as lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will you give you as He promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you ‘what does this ceremony mean to you’ then tell then ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord…” (NIV Exodus 12: 24-27). The blood of the Passover lambs made sure the Israelites were delivered.

In the Eucharist there are two sacrifices although they are very closely linked-the sacrifice or self offering of Jesus and the sacrifices or self offerings of the people worshipping.

Just before He was crucified Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples giving it new meaning. In the Bible we have four accounts of this meal from Paul, Mark, Matthew and Luke. Both Paul and Luke record that Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11: 25; Luke 22:19). This is more than just remembering the event the way you may recall a family occasion. ‘Remembrance’ here is the Greek word “Anamnesis’, a re-presenting or a making present again. John Macquarrie writes, “The past event is recalled and experienced so that its significance and power are known and felt as if the event were present”. The re-presenting in the Eucharist of the sacrifice of Jesus reflects a ‘non-physical’ reality. The crucifixion was not just a historical event in our space-time, because God is outside space and time, and all moments are present to Him constantly.

So, why did Jesus sacrifice Himself and how does it help us? There are several theories that try to answer this question. One suggests that Satan had been given rights over mankind which could only be taken away if he exceeded his authority. So Jesus as a perfect human being was sent by God as ‘bait’ to try and trick Satan into this. There are problems with this theory however. If we read the first four books of Genesis we can see that Adam did gave up his dominion over creation because of disobedience to God’s rules, but God is righteous and would not deceive, not even the Devil.

Another theory points out that God is a just God, and therefore demands some form of penance for the sins of mankind. “The wages of sin are death” (Romans 6: 23) Jesus as a perfect human being stood in for us and in doing so satisfied God’s sense of Justice. Again there are some problems with this theory. It doesn’t seem right for one person to stand in and bear the punishment that someone else deserves.

Peter Abelard, in his theory, suggests that the sacrifice Jesus made was not ‘necessary’, but is an illustration. Jesus’ death on the cross illustrates how much God loves us, prompting us to love God in return, and it is this (recognising God’s love and wanting to return this love) that saves us. He points out that this deeper love…. “Not only frees us from slavery to sin, but…secures for us the true liberty of the children of God, in order that we might do all things out of love rather than fear…”

We move on to the Offerings of worshippers. In Romans 12:1 Paul urges us to “present you bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (NRSV). The Message puts it like this-“Here’s what I want you to do…take your everyday, ordinary life- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him”. Every time we come to celebrate Eucharist we are offering ourselves as a living sacrifice.

As mentioned previously the self offering of Jesus on the cross and the offerings of worshippers are closely linked. When we celebrate Eucharist we experience a link or bond between those participating. “We break this bread to share in the body of Christ. Though we are many we are one body because we all share in one bread”. There is also a bond between the participants and Christ as the bread and wine become for us the ‘real presence’ of Christ. We become one with Jesus as He says in John 6:56, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them”. Because of this ‘mutual indwelling’ our own sacrifices are no longer separate offerings but ones made in union with Christ, and as part of the body of Christ.

In conclusion, we can see that the Eucharist is much more than just remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, it goes deeper than that. When Jesus celebrated the Passover just prior to His death, He gave it new meaning and introduced a new covenant. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24). Every time we celebrate Eucharist the sacrifice Jesus made is ‘re-presented’ again. For us, it is as if He is offering Himself anew, we experience its significance again: God’s love for us, making us want to love in return. And to show that love we offer ourselves as a sacrifice in worship.