REFLECTIONS ON THE LORD'S SUPPER

WHAT IS THE LORD'S SUPPER ?

When you do something it is important that you understand what you are doing. When someone buys something that has to be assembled, it is important that you read the instructions so that you understand what you are supposed to do. When we celebrate the sacrament of holy communion, it is good that we understand what is happening here. The three evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke and the Apostle Paul record for us just what the Lord's Supper is.

Jesus was in an upper room with his disciples celebrating the Passover. The Passover is a holiday that the Jews still celebrate to this very day. It is a time for feasting and remembering how God saved the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses. Moses led the people of Israel through the Red Sea, down the Sinai peninsula to Mt. Sinai and eventually after 40 years he brought them to the borders of the Promised Land of Canaan. So that the Jewish people would never forget this miraculous rescue and deliverance from their enemies, God had them celebrate the Passover as a remembrance of his great love and power in saving his people. It was this meal that Jesus was eating with his disciples, when he took some of the unleavened bread, he broke it, offered thanks to God for it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and eat this is my body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of me." After supper he took one of the cups of wine, offered thanks and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take and drink, this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Continue to do this in remembrance of me."

Jesus instituted a new meal that we as Christians are to continue to celebrate. What is this meal? It is the body and blood of Jesus in union with the bread and wine. As Paul wrote, "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16) What is the Lord's Supper then? Simply put it is the body and blood of Jesus Christ together with the bread and wine for us Christians to eat and drink.

What makes Jesus' body and blood present in the Lord's Supper? This is a question that we should consider because within the Christian church there have been a number of different explanations of the Lord's Supper. There are those who would have us believe that the bread and wine merely symbolize Jesus' body and blood. There are those who say that it is no longer bread and wine but body and blood. But the Bible says it is bread and the body of Christ and it is wine and the blood of Christ. Four elements are present - bread and body; wine and blood. How can Jesus' body and blood be present with the bread and wine? Isn't his body in heaven? Didn't he ascend with his body and blood? He certainly did. But his body and blood are also really present in union with the bread and wine. How can that be? Because Jesus says so. If Jesus says this is his body and this is his blood, it is. Our reason cannot understand this. But we believe it, because our Lord says it is. So what makes Jesus' body and blood present with the bread and wine? It is the word of God. For our God is all powerful and all things are possible with him.

Let's now read Dr. Luther's explanation of holy communion as we have learned it from his small catechism.

We now sing hymn 312 verses 1-5 which also states this truth that the Lord's Supper is the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE THE LORD'S SUPPER ?

Why do we celebrate the Lord's Supper? Well, Jesus told us to continue to do this in remembrance of him. The early Christians celebrated the Lord's Supper everyday. Luke tells us that daily they gathered in the temple courts to study God's Word, to pray and for the breaking of bread. This appears to be a reference of the celebration of communion.

Why do we have communion at every one of our services in this church? Because Jesus told us to continue to do this in remembrance of him and for the forgiveness of sins.

Paul wrote, "Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26) Why is it so important to remember Jesus' death? Because by his death Jesus paid off our debt of sin. It is because of Jesus' innocent death on the cross that the punishment for our sins was paid in full. So people regularly go out to the cemetery to their loved one's graves to remember them. Most young people today probably don't visit the cemetery of the graves of their loved ones. After a while you forget all about those who have passed away. And those people who are not your relatives probably never remember your deceased loved one. People could very easily forget all about Jesus' death too. They could also totally forget what that death means for them and for all people. That is why Jesus commanded us to continue to do this in remembrance of him. Every time we celebrate the Lord's Supper we are being reminded, "Jesus died for me." By celebrating holy communion every worship service we are keeping before our eyes the important truth on which the Christian church stands - Jesus Christ died for the sins of all people.

Another reason we celebrate the Lord's Supper is to receive the forgiveness of sins. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." When we receive Jesus' body and blood with the bread and wine, we are receiving it for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus is telling us, "You are forgiven. Here is my body and my blood which I sacrificed on Calvary's cross for your pardon and the assurance of eternal life. But aren't we forgiven already? We certainly are. Whether we take the Lord's Supper or not we have the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. Then why take communion? To be reassured of our pardon.

If you are a parent, how do you communicate to your child that you love him? Do you just say once in a while, "I love you."? Or do you do things for your child? You remember their birthday with a special gift. You may cook a special food that they like. You may take them to a restaurant that they love to go to. Why do you do that? Haven't you told your child that you love him? Of course you have. But there is more than one way of assuring your child that you care about them and love them. Well, our Savior communicates to us in more than one way that he loves us and forgives us. He tells us over and over in his Word. He al;so gives us that forgiveness in something that we can see, feel, touch and taste - his body and blood in communion with the bread and wine. How many times don't we like to be told that we are loved? How many times don't we like to be assured that someone cares, someone forgives and forgets the evils that we do? We all need that over and over and it needs to be communicated in different ways. God does that through his written and spoken word and in the visible word of communion.

But now often should I commune? Jesus says often. Remember when you and I commune we are not doing something for God. We aren't doing anything in the Lord's Supper. Jesus is doing something for us. He is coming to us and giving us his body and blood to assure us of our pardon. How often aren't we overwhelmed with our sins and our sinfulness? How often aren't we plagued with a guilty conscience over something we have done or said or thought? What can heal our guilty conscience? What can remove the guilt of our sins? Isn't it God forgiveness? Isn't it the words of Jesus, "Here is my body given for you. Here is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."? Going to the Lord's Supper is not something I have to do. It's not a work that God demands of me, it is a privilege and joy. For here God is taking me in his arms. Here God is saying to me, "You are special and precious in my sight. Here is my Son's body and blood which he gave for you on the cross. Take it. Eat it. Drink it. I love you. I forgive and forget your sins. I give you eternal life." When a store offers something free, people stand in line for hours in order to get their free gift. Well God gives us the free gift of pardon in holy communion. That forgiveness is more special and precious than any earthly gift any store may give away. For that reason we come to the Lord's table frequently and often.

Let's now read Dr. Luther's explanation of the blessings that we receive in holy communion.

We now sing a hymn written by John Hus which expresses the blessings we receive in the sacrament of the altar and why we celebrate this sacrament.

HOW DO WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER

The Bible speaks of being properly prepared to receive the Lord's Supper. How is one prepared to take holy communion? Why don't we commune someone who is in a coma? Why don't we commune infants? Because they are not able to examine themselves. Paul says that we ought to examine ourselves before we eat of the bread and drink of the cup. What does that examination involve? First we need to understand why we need the Lord's Supper. For what purpose am I coming here to the Lord's table? I am not coming because I am such a good person. I am not coming to earn favor with God. I am not coming because this is something I am doing to keep the elders of the church off my back. I am coming here to receive forgiveness and strength for my faith life. I am coming because I know that I am a sinful and unclean person before God. I am coming to be reassured that God is not keeping a record of my sins but has washed them all away with the blood of Jesus. I am coming then to receive the help and strength I need to daily battle the devils temptations and my own personal sinful desires and lusts. I am coming to receive God's help to live a Christian life in a pagan world that hates and ridicules Christians and their values and lifestyle.

So part of my preparation involves seeing my sin and trusting God's pardon.

The second part of my personal preparation involves reviewing what is taking place here. This is not just bread and wine that I am receiving. This is the true body and blood of Jesus. Jesus is miraculously coming to me in, with and under this bread and wine. He is personally sealing to me the truth that I am forgiven. He is doing that by giving me his body and blood that he sacrificed for me on Calvary's cross.

This is the preparation that we follow as we come to the Lord's table.

Let's join in reciting Dr. Luther's answer to the question on being properly prepared to receive holy communion.

We now sing verses 7,8 and 9 of hymn 135 which stress the truth that we are prepared when we believe Jesus' words given and poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins.