Old Testament Background/Preparation; the Eucharist

I would like to extend a quick thank you to Professor Michael Barber of John Paul the Great Catholic University, from who I have received much instruction and so many great resources. Anyone who would like to read his (and Brant Pitre's) blog can find it at http://www.singinginthereign.blogspot.com/

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I would like to point out some of the numerous Old Testament "preparations" and "types" of the Eucharist, later to be fulfilled and perfected by Jesus at the Last Supper, seeing as so many people have no idea that they exist...

Genesis 14 contains an account of Abram's encounter with a priest called Melchizedek, and of him it is said, "Mel-chiz'edek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High." Here is the first bread and wine sacrifice in the Bible, offered by the priest of the Most High God.

Exodus 12, the Passover is instituted. So much Eucharistic connection can be found here... "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old...They shall eat the flesh..." (Exodus 12: 5,8). So a young, unblemished (pure) male lamb, will be killed, and his blood will be shed to save his people from death (death in sin, in Jesus' case). Additionally, as part of the Passover, the lamb's bones were not to be broken, just as Jesus' bones are not broken at the crucifixion. All of the lamb was to be eaten, his entire body.

In Exodus 25, the Lord is instructing the Israelites on how the Sanctuary is to be to built, and what is to be contained therein. Starting in Exodus 25: 23 (and continuing through verse 30), the instructions for a table are given. The interesting part of this passage, the beautiful part, is that it says, "And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour out libations; of pure gold you shall make them. And you shall set the bread of the Presence [the bread of the Face, the shewbread] on the table before me always" (Exodus 25: 29-30). The golden flagon, or chalice, has libations (or wine) inside it, and the golden plates and/or bowls have bread, but specifically the bread of the Presence of God (also translated as the bread of the Face of God or shewbread).

"The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek'" (Psalms 110:4). Such was the Lord's promise to David, who's sons were priests as well according to 2 Samuel 8:18. After David brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jeru-Salem after having conquered it, he offered sacrifices. One of these sacrifices was called the Todah, or thank offering (sidenote; Eucharist means "thanksgiving"). You can find references to the Todah in Leviticus 7 first, but David brought it to prominence. In Chronicles 16: 4-6, it is said of David that, "he appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel… [and the priests were to worship] continually, before the ark of the covenant of God." Just as today, when the Eucharist is celebrated continually all over the world every day, David instituted the Todah to be continually celebrated. On only one day of the year was the Todah not to be celebrated (see Pesiqta, I, p. 159, ancient rabbinic tradition), just as Catholics do not consecrate the Eucharist on only one day of the year.

As one can see, the Lord was preparing us for the fulfillment of these sacrifices since early in time. Is it not beautiful?