“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?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11:27–29)
The Sacrament of the Altar (Part 2)
Two little words make all the difference in the Lord’s Supper:
“For you.”
Jesus doesn’t simply say that His body is given and His blood is shed. He says they are given and shed for you.
Luther draws our attention directly to those words when explaining the benefit of the Sacrament. Christ promises that in the Lord’s Supper we receive forgiveness of sins, and where there is forgiveness, there is also life and salvation. This isn’t just a general promise, it’s for you.
That takes us back to the cross.
Jesus’ body was given into death because of our sin. His blood was shed as the price of our redemption. When Jesus gives us His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper, He isn’t offering us a new sacrifice or repeating what happened at Calvary. He is giving us the benefits of the sacrifice He completed there once and for all.
The forgiveness won at the cross is delivered personally to you.
Sometimes that personal promise is exactly what we need.
You may believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world and still struggle with the particular sins that trouble your conscience. You know what you’ve done. You remember the words you wish you could take back or the choices you would change if you could. So, you may wonder whether God could really forgive that.
At His table, Jesus doesn’t leave you with a general statement about God’s mercy. He gives you His body and blood and attaches His promise to them: given and shed for you, for the forgiveness of sins.
Believe those words.
That’s also at the heart of what the Bible means when it talks about receiving the Sacrament worthily.
At first, “worthy” can sound intimidating. We may imagine that we need to make ourselves worthy enough to approach the altar. Maybe we need to have behaved especially well that week, reached a certain level of spiritual maturity, or demonstrated sufficiently strong faith.
But if the Lord’s Supper were only for people who had made themselves worthy, no one could come.
We come precisely because we are sinners who need what Christ gives. After all, in the meal we receive the forgiveness of our sins!
Luther explains that fasting and other outward preparations can be good practices, but the person who is truly worthy and well prepared is the one who has faith in Christ’s words:
“given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”
This doesn’t mean we approach the Sacrament carelessly. Paul warns the Corinthians against receiving Christ’s body and blood without recognizing what they were receiving. We examine ourselves and repent of our sins. We also recognize Christ’s body and blood according to His Word.
But our confidence isn’t in how well we prepared ourselves. Our confidence is in His promise.
I’ve had multiple people tell me they weren’t sure if they should receive the Lord’s Supper. I ask them why. They usually mention some sin or that they haven’t been to church in a long time or something like that. To which I respond, “It sounds like you need the supper!”
Feeling like you aren’t worthy because of your sins is probably a better indicator that you are worthy. I’d be more concerned with someone who does feel worthy. Now, if you don’t feel worthy because you don’t believe or you aren’t repentant of your sin and refuse to turn from it, then you shouldn’t receive supper…well…the better response is to repent of your sin, believe in Jesus, and come to the table.
The Lord’s Supper is for sinners who know they need Jesus and trust what He says He gives them.
So when you come to His table carrying guilt, weakness, or a troubled conscience, listen again to His words.
Christ’s body and blood were given for sinners.
They were given for you.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank You for giving Your body and shedding Your blood for me. When my sins trouble my conscience, turn me away from trusting in my own worthiness and toward Your gracious promise. Give me repentance for my sins and faith to receive Your body and blood trusting Your words, “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Strengthen me through this gift in faith toward You and in love toward my neighbor.
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
