In Search of Eternal Life
By John Hay
The blood of Christ is one of the most important, and yet mysterious symbols of Christianity. Why? Because the blood of Christ has always been connected to the quest for eternal life. Jesus said, ‘Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.’ John 6:53. Think about that statement for a moment. Now ask yourself this question – would you like to have eternal life? Well, read on!
In the years following Jesus’ death, something of a legend grew – a legend concerning the cup that Jesus blessed at the last supper. On that night, He took this cup, gave thanks and said, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’ Matt 26:27-29. Because of this statement, and the obvious connection to the life-giving blood of Christ, it became legend that anyone who found this cup and drank from it would be granted eternal life! It was even given a special name – the Holy Grail, and it has been the subject of numerous films and novels.
Of course, the legend of the Holy Grail is just a fanciful myth dreamed up by someone with a very good imagination. There is simply no way that a physical cup could bestow eternal life upon
anyone, regardless of what it had come into contact with. However the truth of Jesus’ statement remains – ‘Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life’. So, what if there was a vessel that actually contained the blood of Christ? And what if you could drink from it and find eternal life, just like the legend of the grail suggested? Would you drink from it?
Actually, there is such a vessel, and it will give you eternal life. Now don’t worry – I’m not going to suggest that there’s an ancient Christian artefact hidden somewhere in Adelaide that will give you eternal life. The answer to the mystery of the blood of Christ and eternal life is much simpler than that. The church is the body of Christ and it contains the blood of Christ! Now here is the best part. All those who come into the fellowship of the body have access to His life-giving flesh and blood! Jesus described these ones as ‘eagles’, sourcing eternal life from the body of Christ. “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together’. Luke 17:37
Now if the body of Christ, the church is the ‘grail’ that contains the flesh and blood of Christ, the most important question for us is this: how do we actually eat His flesh and drink His blood, thereby accessing eternal life? Jesus actually discussed this same question with those who followed Him: many of whom were quite upset with the thought of an imminent descent into cannibalism. He simply said this. ‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life’. John 6:63.
The wonderful truth that Jesus declared was this: we eat His flesh and drink His blood when we receive and obey the word of God in the fellowship of the body of Christ. Yes, it’s that simple. All we have to do is come into the body of Christ and obey God’s word and we instantly partake of His flesh and blood – we are eating and drinking our eternal life. This truth is celebrated by Christians in all the world as they gather to partake of the bread and the wine – the communion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s desire is that we would all find eternal life and He has provided a clear and simple point of access – the church, the fellowship of the body of Christ. Eternal life is not something hidden, it’s right before our eyes – we just have to believe. Are you one of the eagles, searching for eternal life? If so, your quest is nearly over. Come now and partake of the body and blood of Christ. Come and partake of eternal life.
