2023/06/19

96. Accompaniment of the Fourth "Blessedness"

The Gospel of Luke wrote that at the last supper, Jesus said, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer" (Luke 22:15). It then tells us that Jesus made two announcements about the Kingdom of God. These are: "I tell you I shall not eat it [the passover] until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16) and "I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18). 

Meanwhile, turning to the scene of the crucifixion in the Gospel of John, by the side of Jesus on the cross were his mother, Mary the wife of Clopas, Mary Magdalene and the "beloved disciple." Jesus then tied his mother and the "beloved disciple" in a parent-child bond (cf. John 19:25-27). Following this scene, John's Gospel says: "After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.'" (John 19:28). Immediately preceding these two scenes is the passage, "This was to fulfil the scripture, 'They parted my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots'" (John 19:24), where Psalm 22:19 is quoted. So here, too, one might look for a passage in the same Psalm which indicates the Scripture is fulfilled concerning the words "I thirst." Then he would find Psalm 22:16. But it is not the case. Jesus said, "I thirst," so that, at that moment when he knew that all things had been finished, he would receive the vinegar, namely "the fruit of the vine," and thereby announce that the kingdom of God had come (cf. John 19:29-30). 

Jesus fulfilled the "new covenant in my blood" (Luke 22:20) through his blood shed in his Passion. He said: "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you" (Luke 17:20-21). As these words show, the kingdom of God has already come to those who participate in the new covenant in the blood of Jesus. This fact shows that now we, the Church, are to fulfil the Passover in the kingdom of God so that Jesus may eat it again. So, the fourth "blessedness" of the Book of Revelation accompanies the trainees of Revelation, who share the prophecy about "those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9).

Maria K. M.