Why did Jesus instruct us to “eat His body and drink His blood?” (Matt 26:26-29)

Jesus referred to Himself as though He were food (Jn 6:55 NIV). Obviously, it is a metaphor. Throughout His ministry, Jesus often used metaphoric language and likened Himself as the bread of life (Jn 6:35), life giving water (Jn 4:14), the light (Jn 8:12), Shepherd (Jn 10:14a), to name a few. When Jesus invites us to eat His body and drink His blood, He is using a metaphor to draw our attention to a parallel between the Mercy Tree of Calvary and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The Tree on Calvary

The Cross is often referred to as the Tree on Calvary (also called the Mercy Tree). It was upon that tree that Christ hung from His nailed body, died and was resurrected on the third day (Jn 3:14b). Note, if the Cross is referred to as a tree. Think, what hangs from a tree and is used for food? FRUITS.

The Fruit of The Mercy Tree

The symbolism of Christ hanging on the Cross (the Tree on Calvary) resembled a fruit hanging from a tree. This symbolism is reminiscent of another tree and takes us back to Genesis in Eden to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil with its forbidden fruit hanging from its branches (Ge 2:16-17). A parallel is created here between these two trees both dealing with “fruits” and with “eating.”

Whereas in Eden, God warned Adam & Eve “…DO NOT EAT the fruit from the tree… or you will die” On Calvary Christ says “EAT [the fruit] my body and drink my blood…” and you will live eternally (Jn 6:53-57).

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

The fruit from this tree was not only forbidden but it was deadly (Gen 3:3). Our fore parents disobeyed, and “ATE” the forbidden fruit and suffered the consequence of their sin – the curse of death.

Here is where the need for a Redeemer originated. It is the starting point where God, by His grace, put into motion His redemptive plan for mankind which was fulfilled by Christ on Calvary through His substitutionary death when His nailed body “hung” (like a fruit) on the Mercy Tree.

Just as the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil (with its fruit) was a cursed tree for man, The Mercy Tree on Calvary was a cursed tree for Christ (Gal. 3:13).

BUT if The Tree on Calvary was a cursed tree for Christ; for man, it is a blessed Tree, a life-giving Tree with life-giving Fruit which is Christ Himself. And when man “eats” of this “new fruit” on the Mercy tree, he receives eternal life through Christ, by Christ and in Christ.

The Legacy of The Two Trees

Our foreparent, Adam & Eve having eaten of the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil handed down a legacy is death (Gen 3:1-19).

However, Christ’s body hanging from the Mercy Tree like a fruit is a ‘new fruit’ that is unlike the fruit from the cursed Tree in Eden, which brought death. This “new fruit” (Christ’s body) on the Mercy Tree brings eternal life.

Christ fulfilled the mandate of the law “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23 NIV) and through His substitutionary death, all those who receive Him (act of taking Him in – eating of the fruit) as personal Savior have died and are resurrected with Him (Gal 2: 20) unto eternal life.

The Parallels

The Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil (its fruit) and The Mercy Tree on Calvary (with its fruit) parallel each other and reach across the chasm of time to connect with the promise and fulfillment of a Redeemer (Ge 3:15c) Jesus Christ.

Both trees have ‘fruits hanging’ from them. One is deadly and one is life giving.

Both trees have instructions. One tree “Do not eat of it.” The other “eat of it”

Both trees have consequences: one is death, the other is life Gen 2:17

Both trees deal with the advent of a Redeemer: at one tree, it is promised, at the other tree, it is fulfilled.

Both trees have a mandate: one tree “DO NOT EAT… or you will die.”

                                            The other tree, “EAT” and you will live eternally

At the Foot of the Mercy Tree on Calvary

Every time you take Holy Communion in remembrance of Christ (where you eat His body and drink His blood) also remember that the forbidden fruit eaten by our fore parents brought us death, but the “new fruit” which is Christ on the Mercy Tree brings us eternal life.

Christ invites mankind to come to His Cross on Calvary and symbolically “eat” the “new fruit” (His body and His blood during Communion) that “hangs” on The Mercy Tree.

Let us freely “eat, drink…” and partake of it!!! Amen!

Recommended music for this study: The Mercy Tree by Anthony Evans