Sermon March 28, 2024 – Maundy Thursday

Title: The fruit of forgiveness for you!
Text: Mark 14:12-26 Ex 24:3-11; 1 Cor. 10:16-17

Facebook live: The fruit of forgiveness for you!

There is something mysterious and wonderful about celebrating the Lord’s Supper on the night when it was first given. What a joy and privilege to re-live that first Maundy Thursday and to share the very same gift Jesus gave his disciples centuries ago.

Last week we finished our midweek services on the Story Worth Repeating, and our time of repentance in our lead up to Holy Week. As we get closer to Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection on Easter Sunday, the importance of his true body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, becomes clear.
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:22-24

Doing Real Love

The gift of Christ’s love for us is made known to us in his sinless life, death in our place, and glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday, and as we’ve walked during Lent with Jesus on his journey to the cross the time of fulfillment is coming near, and Jesus now gives us all - one more blessing – the Lord’s Supper.

This gift from Christ himself connects you and me to his death and the forgiveness he won and also … the life that we share together as fellow redeemed.

The Tree of Life in the garden of Eden brought life to those who ate of it’s fruit and following the fall into sin God, in his mercy banished them from the garden and the Tree of Life so that they might not eat of it’s fruit and live forever in their fallen state.

God sustained his children in the wilderness for 40 years through the means of the bread from heaven, gathered and consumed by the people for their sustenance and life. This bread of life Christ calls himself.

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

In St. Paul’s writings he looks to connect the blessings of Christ to you, and you and me to each other through this gift.

What had been celebrated then is celebrated today as we receive the very body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith.

As Lutherans we take Jesus simply at his words for what they are - not reading more into them than what He said or believing less than what he meant.

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

In a real sense the Real Presence and our understanding of Jesus and the sacrament are truly profound but also very simple or maybe it is just as Lutherans we like to - let Scripture interpret Scripture.

As St Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:16-17

16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

In this blessed gift we hear the words of institution as the elements are consecrated, and we receive the bread and the wine by our mouth, but in a mysterious way that we can’t fully comprehend in the sacramental union, we also receive the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in and with the bread and the wine, not because we fully understand it but because Jesus and his word says so.

In the Passover meal the spotless lamb was sacrificed and the blood placed upon the lintel and door posts but the lamb was also consumed by God children.

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.

The bread of life that is Jesus is given to us in this memorial meal.

Not just a remembrance but a participation.
What a blessing for you and me!

For we are one body and partake of the one loaf - 1 Cor. 10:17
Participation in the sacrament puts us on the side of Christ uniting us with him, and he with you and me, and we with each other.

We gather together at the table of the Lord and are identified as members of the body of believers – this one loaf - and we are also connected to what is believed, taught, confessed and received here at this altar and in this church.

We believe Christ is truly present in the Lord’s Supper and that we receive this blessed gift for the forgiveness of our sins in a real and tangible way.

The unity we receive from our Lord in the supper connects us to him.

But, sin and death in this life remains.

Over the last number of years, the word vaccine has become a part of life. Some vaccines are very effective we are told and others no so much.

The Lord’s Supper - is that vaccine for sin, given to you individually as we gather together and receive the body and blood of the Lord and it is 100% effective.

Into your mouth you receive the vaccine for sin, which is Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins and strengthening of your faith.

This is as real now as when it was instituted on that first Maundy Thursday and is really present for you and me here.

There was no bread and wine at the cross but there was the real body and blood of Jesus shed for you.
In the same way, Jesus’ very body and blood are united with the bread and wine so that the vaccine for sin and the forgiveness he won at the cross comes to you, united with the bread and wine in the sacramental union.

His love for you is real and so is his gift given and shed at the cross and given into your mouths for the forgiveness of all our sins.

We can’t explain how this IS … but simply trust God’s work and the words of Christ.

“Take; this IS my body.” 23 And he took a cup … 24 And he said to them, “This IS my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

This is a gift for we who have been brought to faith by God’s Holy Spirit to believe.

This is not for the world’s forgiveness; this does not comfort unbelievers; and unfortunately, the real presence of Christ in the sacrament can cause division.

This eating and drinking of Christ brings forgiveness, and by faith we are united with Jesus and with each other connected to this meal.

It is the word of God made flesh and his sinless life, suffering, death and glorious resurrection that makes peace with God. The Lord’s Supper brings to our lips this reality connecting us to the very death of Christ for our benefit. It is a meal of forgiveness - God’s favor on account of Christ for you and me … now and always.

Believe and receive this gift!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!

Amen