708. WINE MEANS MUCH THE SAME AS BLOOD, AS IS PERFECTLY CLEAR FROM THE LORD'S WORDS:
Jesus taking the cup, saying, This is my blood. Matt. chapter 26; Mark chapter 14; Luke chapter 22.
Also from these passages:
He washes his clothing in wine, and his covering in the blood of grapes. Gen. 49:11.
This is said of the Lord.
Jehovah Zebaoth will make for all peoples a banquet of fatness, a banquet of lees (that is, of sweet wine)*. Isa. 25:6.
This is about the institution of the sacrament of the Holy Supper by the Lord. Again:
Everyone who is thirsty, go to the waters, and he who has no money, go, buy and eat; and buy wine without money. Isa. 55:1.
The offspring of the vine which they were to drink new in the heavenly kingdom (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18) means nothing but the truth of the new church and of heaven. This is why in many passages in the Word the church is called a vineyard (for instance, Isa. 5:1, 24; Matt. 20:1-13), and the Lord calls Himself the true vine, and the people who are grafted on to it are called branches (John 15:1, 6, and many other passages).
* These last five words are not part of the quotation, but are added by the author to explain that well-matured wine is meant.