The association of red wine with the blood of Jesus Christ originates from Christian theology and the accounts of the Last Supper in the New Testament of the Bible. During the Last Supper, which is considered the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion, Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them, and gave them to his disciples, saying:
- **Bread**: "This is my body, which is given for you."
- **Wine**: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20).
This act is the foundation of the Christian sacrament of the Eucharist (also called Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper). In this sacrament, believers partake of bread and wine (or grape juice in some traditions) as symbols of Jesus' body and blood, commemorating his sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of humanity.
The red color of the wine is particularly evocative of blood, reinforcing the symbolic connection to Jesus' sacrificial death. This symbolism is central to Christian faith, representing the new covenant between God and humanity through Jesus' sacrifice.
It is important to note that interpretations of this symbolism vary among Christian denominations. For example:
- In Roman Catholicism, the doctrine of **transubstantiation** teaches that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ during the Eucharist, while their appearance remains unchanged.
- In Protestant traditions, the bread and wine are often seen as symbolic reminders of Jesus' sacrifice rather than literal transformations.
Thus, red wine's association with the blood of Jesus Christ is deeply rooted in biblical narrative, theological tradition, and the ritual practices of Christianity.