Wednesday of Lent 5
Wednesday of Lent 5 Trinity Lutheran Church
14 March 2008 Murdock, NE
Part Five: Beneficial Eating and Drinking!
“I’m coming to communion today Reverend.” Wonderful. Now tell me. What do expect to receive with your mouth at the Sacrament? “What do you mean Reverend?” What is it that I will put in your mouth to eat and drink? “Oh, I get it. Bread and wine.” Is that all? “Of course. It’s just bread and wine. And I really have reservations about using wine. Do you have some sparkling grape juice?” But don’t you believe that you also receive Christ’s Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins? “Are you kidding me. No way! It’s only bread and wine. There’s no body. And certainly no blood! I’m no cannibal Reverend! And I don’t go for forgiveness! It’s just a memorial meal where I show I’m obedient to the Lord.”
Let someone like that go to the Sacrament and this most holy gift would be like glass in his belly. The Lord’s Body and Blood would not be beneficial for him. Instead, it would harm him. The Corinthian congregation had members just like that. They didn’t recognize the Sacrament for what it is: the Lord’s Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins. They’d partake of the Sacrament but believed it was only bread and wine. This is an unworthy eating and drinking. They were profaning the Lord’s most holy Body and Blood. Paul says they were guilty of the Lord’s Body and Blood and that is why some of them were weak, sick, and dying (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).
What kind of care does our man mentioned at the beginning and the Corinthians need? High pastoral care. And that begins with the Lord’s words. We put people before the Lord by giving them His words. We only repeat what He says. We let the Lord have His say. What does He say? Jesus Himself says: “This is my body which is for you. This cup is the new testament in my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
The person who believes the Lord’s words is truly worthy and well prepared to receive the Sacrament. When Jesus says that His Body and Blood are “for you,” He wants you to believe what He says. His words are certain and sure. As certain and sure as He is Himself. Jesus doesn’t lie to you. His promise gives exactly what it says FOR YOU.
The Sacrament is for you and for your benefit. “For in this sacrament he offers us all the treasures he brought from heaven for us,” (Large Catechism). His Body and Blood are “the soothing medicine that aids you and give life in both soul and body,” (Large Catechism). It is “the medicine of immortality, the antidote that we should not die, but live forever in Jesus Christ.”
“I believe the Lord’s words Reverend. I’d really like to come to communion but I feel totally unworthy. I’m such a loser. I try to get better but I get nowhere. Two steps forward. Three steps back. Maybe I should just stay away.”
Nonsense! The Lord’s Supper is for sinners! He provides you with His Body and Blood given and shed FOR YOU for the forgiveness of your sins. Stop concentrating on yourself and keep all your attention on Christ’s words that come from Christ’s mouth. You are included in the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Jesus also says that as we eat and drink we do this in “remembrance” of Him. As we are given His Body and Blood with the bread and wine we are taught to believe all the more that no one could make satisfaction for our sins except Jesus, true God and true man. He’s the Savior. And what a Savior He is. That He would offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world and yours.
In addition, as we go to receive the Lord’s Body and Blood we learn to be horrified by our sins and to regard them as very serious. “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins.” He gives you the very Body and Blood sacrificed on the Cross. The very Body and Blood that absorbed all your sin and your sin’s damnation. Salvation is not cheap. It was very costly. It cost God’s Son His life.
Finally, as we eat and drink “in remembrance” of Him we find joy and comfort in Christ alone and through faith in Him be saved. Out of great love Jesus died for you. Achieving and winning your salvation. Out of great love He gives you His Body and Blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of your sins. He says so. And it’s His promise.
In the Name of Jesus.
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