Tuesday, April 2, 2013

“On the Night When He Was Betrayed” 1 Cor. 11.23–32, March ’13 Maundy Thurs.



1.            Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word on this Maundy Thursday is taken from 1 Cor. 11:23-32 and is entitled, “On the Nigh When He Was Betrayed,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 
2.            At age 96, Claire’s eyes were bright, her smile contagious, and her faith strong. For many years, God had granted her Lutheran Pastor the privilege of visiting her and bringing the Lord’s Supper.   Every time her pastor came, he would be sure to bring his hymnal, because Claire loved to sing her faith. And each visit would end with Holy Communion. Each time, Claire would receive Christ’s very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Her pastor looked forward to his visits with Claire in the same joy she had in receiving her pastor.  Eventually, Claire asked her pastor to help plan her funeral. She could sense that her body was growing weaker and that she would soon end her pilgrimage on earth. Finally, the day came when Claire’s pastor came to visit her to find her lying in bed facing the wall. She was too weak to turn toward her pastor. He asked her how she was feeling, and she responded, “Not too well.” In more than twenty years of visiting with Claire, her pastor had never before heard a response like that.  Both Claire and her pastor sensed that this was going to be their last visit.  They celebrated the Sacrament of the Altar and said their good-byes. Just two weeks later her pastor had the privilege of preaching for her Christian burial. 
3.            It doesn’t take too many years in the Holy Ministry before a pastor experiences such a moment in sharing the Holy Supper of our Lord with the fellow redeemed. In the text recorded by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians, we recall the most touching celebration of the Lord’s Supper ever shared, and already that night Jesus saw what was coming for us.
4.            It was the night on which Jesus was betrayed. Unlike Claire, the disciples were ignorant of an impending death. But Jesus was deeply aware. He would use this occasion to leave behind his last will and testament. Like Claire, he was preparing for his departure.  What Jesus would leave behind on that Holy Thursday was the New Testament in his body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. It was the Good News for his disciples to receive and share for the rest of time. On this night so many years later, we have the privilege of receiving the gift won by Christ on the cross, the precious treasure of the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. It’s the pure Gospel, the love of God for lost and condemned sinners.
5.            How unfortunate it is then that some feel no hunger and thirst for this great treasure of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus asks us to do this often in remembrance of him, but even on that first night, Jesus foresaw many who wouldn’t. Some are lazy. Some make excuses. Some claim freedom. Still, Martin Luther reminds us in the Large Catechism “that no one should by any means be forced or compelled to go to the Sacrament.” In fact, he says, “Indeed, those who are true Christians and value the Sacrament precious and holy will drive and move themselves to go to it” (LC V 42–43).
6.            The real danger comes if a person withdraws from the Sacrament. He may become more callous and cold and will at last disregard the Sacrament completely. To avoid this, let us spend a moment to examine our hearts and consciences so that they won’t be cold, but instead desire our Savior’s last will and testament of his body and blood.  You may feel you shouldn’t come to the Sacrament because you’re not prepared. When we view the Sacrament as something we do, it’s natural to feel unworthy and unprepared. We sin daily. If we were to wait until we were pure, we would never come to the Sacrament.  There are also those who should stay away from the Sacrament because they lack repentance. They are unprepared to receive forgiveness of sin because they have no desire to be godly. St. Paul tells us in 1 Cor 6:9–10, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
7.            Thanks be to God that these words no longer apply to us. In v 11, Paul goes on to say, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
8.            Luther reminds us: “This Sacrament does not depend upon our worthiness. We are not baptized because we are worthy and holy. Nor do we go to Confession because we are pure and without sin. On the contrary, we go because we are poor, miserable people. We go exactly because we are unworthy” (LC V 61). Each of us can join Luther and say, “I, indeed, would like to be worthy. But I come, not upon any worthiness, but upon Your Word, because You have commanded it. I come as one who would gladly be Your disciple, no matter what becomes of my worthiness” (LC V 62).
9.              Jesus saw all this on that first holy night of the Sacrament. So we come because of his promise, for he declares, “This is My body, which is given for you. . . . This is My blood . . . shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” (LC V 64). Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are all for you!  Luther says, “Here in the Sacrament you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin. It contains and brings with it God’s grace and the Spirit with all His gifts, protection, shelter, and power against death and the devil and all misfortune” (LC V 70).  “If, therefore, you are heavy laden and feel your weakness, then go joyfully to this Sacrament and receive refreshment, comfort, and strength. . . . If you wait until you are rid of such burdens, so that you might come to the Sacrament pure and worthy, you must stay away forever” (LC V 72–73).
10.        Still this may not be enough for some. Luther says that some may ask, “What, then, shall I do if I cannot feel such distress or experience hunger and thirst for the Sacrament?” (LC V 75). He gives 3 down-to-earth answers to this question. Luther’s first answer is this:  For those who are of such a mind that they don’t realize their condition I know no better counsel than that they put their hand into their shirt to check whether they have flesh and blood. And if you find that you do, then go, for your good, to St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. Hear what sort of a fruit your flesh is:  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these (Galatians 5:19–21). (LC V 75)
11.        For those who still need more encouragement to go to the Sacrament, Luther suggests, “In the second place, look around you. See whether you are also in the world” (LC V 79). Contemporary Christians have ample evidence for sinfulness and misery in the world. You may have a satellite dish, cable TV, and the Internet. You may watch TV or listen to the radio. Wherever you turn, you will discover a world filled with violence, anger, sin, vice, and despair. Any one of these things will move your heart to the Savior in the Sacrament.
12.        Finally, if these aren’t enough to drive you to the Sacrament, remember that you also have the devil to contend with. He’s a liar and murderer. He will do anything to lead your heart away from God’s Word. Luther observes, “If you could see how many knives, darts, and arrows are every moment aimed at you . . . you would be glad to come to the Sacrament as often as possible” (LC V 82).  On the Night When He Was Betrayed, Jesus Looked Forward to This Night and Gave You a Great Treasure and Gift.
13.        It was his very body and blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. He gave it for Claire, for you and for me. He gave it for all who are weary and heavy-laden with sin—right now, this night, in our real lives and our real world. Come here tonight and find rest for your souls.  Amen.


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