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The commemorative wine of the Last Supper Passover Memorial was alcohol not grape juice. The word "WINE" in the New Testament is the Greek word "OINOS", which itself comes from the Hebrew word "YAHYIN". Yahyin means "to effervesce, be fermented" (Strong's ref.# 3631,3196). It is this alcohol wine which Paul advises Christians to use in small amounts "for thy stomach's sake" (I Tim. 5:23). "But", some say, "Jesus mentions 'fruit of the vine', and my preacher says that this means only grape juice". Not true! "Fruit of the vine" can be understood to mean either wine OR grape juice. So how do we know which one the Passover Wine was? For starters, those who teach that it is unbiblical to ever drink any alcohol wine are off base Scripturally simply from the above original text meanings of the word "wine". The Bible definitely tells us that Yahweh's faithful people certainly did partake of fermented wine, and that in moderation, it is actually a health benefit. It must be understood that grape juice remains unfermented only one day. After day one fermentation begins and froth begins to form on the top. Since there was no method of refrigeration in Bible days, and the Passover was six months AFTER the fall grape harvest, any juice in Palestine would have long since fermented into full wine by the time of the Spring Passover. Secular history tells us that the Judeans and Greeks considered the phrase "fruit of the vine" to be an idiom applied to alcohol wine used for ceremonial offerings. (Westminster Dictionary of the Bible, 1944 ed., page 641). Since we're more interested in a Scriptural rather than the historical analysis (even though it does lend a hand in our search), what was the connotation that Jesus Himself gave to the term "fruit of the vine"? At the Last Supper Jesus said, "I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine UNTIL that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's Kingdom". (Mat.26:29) What did He mean by this? Jesus is presently in the Heavenly Temple serving as our High Priest. (Heb.4:14) Biblically, the High Priest was instructed, "Do not drink wine (fermented Yahyin) or strong drink (shawthaw - stronger liquor) ... when ye go into the Tabernacle." (Lev.10:8-11) The Old Testament High Priest was a type of Christ. His position symbolized events yet to be fulfilled. Christ was referring to His own Priestly duties when He told those in His company that He would refrain from drinking the "fruit of the vine" until he returned as King. If he were drinking only grape juice at the Last Supper there would be no reason for Jesus to even mention His curious "drink prohibition" since grape juice itself can be consumed in any place or at any time. We know from this account that the Passover wine Jesus was drinking with the Apostles WAS INDEED ALCOHOL WINE which the High Priest could not use in the Tabernacle of Yahweh. Additionally, wine and not grape juice IS the symbol used to represent Christ's blood shed in the streets of Jerusalem and on the Cross. The Old Testament taught that real wine depicted the Messiah's blood that would be shed. Although animal sacrifices likewise depicted the Messiah's yet to come shed blood, that symbolism was also reinforced by the ceremonial drink offerings of fermented wine (yahyin) as we see in Numbers 15:10 and 28:14. Such drink offerings represented blood. (see Psalm 16:4) Christ "poured out (offered) His soul (life) unto death." (Is. 53:12), since "the life of the flesh is in the blood." (Lev. 17:11) Thus, according to the Bible it was "Yahyin", alcohol wine, which represented the blood of Messiah. Alcohol wine has a "zing" to the taste and livens/awakens the mouth. It's also a token of bodily properties that don't decay (wine keeps it's body even as it ages) reminding us of perpetuity. Grape juice to the taste is comparatively flat, not lively as a good wine, and it attracts flies when spilled, depicting a mortal blood that attracts Beelzebub, lord of dung and death. (Mat.12:24) What about the term "new wine"? Some claim that this merely means grape juice, but this claim does not stand Bible scrutiny. On the contrary, new wine usually means regular alcohol wine in the Bible as new wine can cause drunkenness (Joel 1:5), and can take away understanding (Hosea 4:11). The disciples were accused of being drunk with new wine on Pentecost. (Acts 2:13,15). This is not a property of grape juice. The conclusion that new wine refers specifically to grape juice is not supported by Scriptures. From the very first clue related to a "bread and wine" ceremony, the Scriptures teach this to be a fermented drink. The King of Salem, Melchizedek, (most likely Christ in another form), brought bread and wine (yahyin) to Abram and blessed him (Gen. 14:18,19). This "cup" recognized a type of fury and was brought to Abram just after Abram slaughtered the kings of Sodom in battle. As long as there is war with evil forces in the world, this particular "cup of spilled blood" shall be drunk by both evil doers and God's faithful participating in the battle. Drinking from the fermented cup (yahyin) of wine has the ability to cause fury (Jer.25:15), madness (Jer. 51:7), astonishment (Ps. 60:3), and violence (Pr. 4:17). Grape juice has no such ability. Most important to realize is that all of these things were poured out upon Jesus at His crucifixion. Although innocent, He did "drink of this cup" of horrible suffering (Mat.26:39). Christ then said that His followers would likewise "drink of His cup" (Mat.20:23) meaning that the world will persecute His faithful in many different ways. When we drink of the wine at "Communion Service" we are attesting to the above mentioned "fury, madness, astonishment, and violence" which Christ endured at the crucifixion. Grape juice could never symbolize this suffering as does wine. Unintentionally, grape juice partakers at the Communion Bread and Wine Ceremony are denying Christ's cup of suffering according to how the Bible defines the attributes of fermented wine. The partaking of alcohol wine also means that a Christian knows he has entered into a life of suffering for the testimony of the Cross. The potentially dangerous "wine" of tribulation, persecution, and martyrdom follows the true Church [Ecclesia] (see Acts 12:2; Rev.1:19; 17:6). So also does a life of self sacrifice (Rom.12:1; I Pet.2:21). "All that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (II Tim. 3:12) "We must through much tribulation enter the Kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22) The Bread and Wine Service takes place only once each year at the Passover which is a Christian Holy Day (not modern "jewish"). Without Christ there is no Passover since the slain lambs of the Exodus represented Christ that would come. From a Scriptural maxim then, the "jews" therefore can't celebrate and never have celebrated Passover. Christ is our Passover (I Cor.5:7,8) and the only Biblical Passover. This memorial day of gathering (part of the national law) has not been done away with by the Cross, rather in the Cross we now know that the true Lamb has come as our salvation. The meal itself is a memorial to His fulfillment that the animal sin offering sacrifices (ordinances) have stopped at Calvary. In fact, even before Christ's arrival, Passover was always a testimony to the truth that the animal sacrifices for sins would stop at the Cross. We must remember also that the Passover was not instituted as part of the Aaronic priestly duties under the temporary laws of animal sacrifices. The families themselves administered the Passsover, not the priests of Israel. Indeed it was the priestly offerings that were put to an end at the Cross, yet the spiritual life within the Passover (exemption for the believer from perpetual death) continues and is even intensified after the Cross of Jesus the Lamb. On the Passover Day our Savior directed us to partake of the "bread and wine" as He did. "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." (Jn.6:53; I Cor.11:26). There is no commandment, either in the Old nor New Testaments, to partake of this solemn commemoration on a weekly basis as such would be adding a doctrine of speculation to a Biblical event. "And this day (Passover) shall be unto you for a memorial (Heb. Zik-rone = 'reminder'); and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by a statute (Heb. Khook-kaw = law) for ever. (Ex. 12:14) Note: The KJV mistakenly has "ordinance" in place of "statute" in the above verse but it is clearly "statute" (Strong's # 2708) Same word as in Leviticus 20:22 "Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes (Khook-kaw), and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out." ( Also Lev.25:18; 26:3,15.43; Deut.4:1,5; etc.) Note that Exodus 12:14 above says that Passover is to be for "a reminder, not a sacrifice, for ever throughout our generations". The Passover (the Cross) was Yahweh's sacrifice for us, not visa versa. Sadly, the Christian Israelite Passover has been replaced with the pagan holiday of "Easter" (celebration to Ishtar) by the churches. The bread and alcohol wine in remembrance of the Lamb of God is a yearly Passover memorial to be observed by the Elect in Christ. BACK
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