“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:26–28)
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”” (1 Corinthians 11:23–25)
The Sacrament of the Altar (Part 1)
What’s the most meaningful meal you’ve ever had?
Imagine sitting at the table with Jesus on the night before His crucifixion.
The disciples don’t yet understand everything that is about to happen. Within hours, Jesus will be arrested. By the next afternoon, He will be dead.
But before He goes to the cross, He gives His disciples a meal.
He takes bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and gives it to them.
“This is My body.”
Then He takes the cup.
“This is My blood.”
Those words are at the heart of what Christians call the Lord’s Supper…or it’s also called Holy Communion, the Eucharist, or, as Luther calls it in the catechism, the Sacrament of the Altar.
As Christians we take Jesus’ words seriously.
He explains that the Sacrament is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for Christians to eat and drink.
The bread is there. The wine is there. And because Jesus says so, His body and blood are truly there.
We don’t have to figure out how that can be. After all, God created the whole universe by speaking. Jesus doesn’t explain the mechanics of it. He gives a promise.
“This is My body.”
“This is My blood.”
Faith receives Christ at His word.
Again and again throughout the Scriptures, we see that our relationship with God is not built on our efforts to reach God. Throughout God’s Word, the direction has been the opposite.
God comes to us.
The Son of God took on human flesh and came into our world. He went to the cross and gave His body and shed His blood for our salvation. And now He continues to come to His people with the fruits of that cross.
In this meal, Jesus gives us more than an idea to remember or merely a symbol to contemplate.
He gives Himself.
That is why the Lord’s Supper is such a precious gift for Christians. Jesus knows how easily our faith can become focused on what is happening inside us.
The Lord’s Supper directs our attention outside ourselves. Once again, our attention is put on Christ. When we start to wonder whether we’re really forgiven, whether we’re really saved. Jesus says, here is My body, given for you. Here is My blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.
The same Savior who hung on the cross comes to His people at His table.
Next time, we’ll look more closely at what He gives us there and how we receive this Sacrament worthily. But today, simply hear Jesus’ words.
He comes to you and He gives Himself for you.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank You for giving Your body and shedding Your blood for my salvation. Thank You for instituting the Sacrament of the Altar and continuing to come to Your people with Your gifts. Give me faith to take You at Your Word and to receive with gratitude what You have promised.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
