Maundy Thursday, 4/12/01

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat: this is my body." And He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them: and they all drank of it. And He said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many. --KJV

In the name of the One Who gave us His body and blood, amen.

In the celebration of the Passover, the Children of Israel ate the body of the sacrifice, and painted its blood over the door their house. Every year they would choose a lamb and sacrifice it, and eat its body.

Christ is our Passover Lamb, and He gave us His body to eat, and His blood to cover our hearts. But since His sacrifice was the Once for All sacrifice, we do not sacrifice a new Christ every year. Instead we continue to partake of the body and blood that was sacrificed once for us.

The Lord's Supper is our very real, very intimate connection to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. By it we take into ourselves His true body and precious blood. There cannot be any more intimate communion with the holy God than for us to eat His body and drink His blood. May God bless you tonight as you commune with Your Savior. May you receive Him, not as a traitor like Judas, but as a dear friend when you press your lips to Him in a holy kiss at His table. Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself to be my Passover Lamb. Cleans me of my sins as You washed the feet of the disciples. Purify my heart so that I never press my lips to You in a kiss of betrayal, but in a holy kiss of love and gratitude. Strengthen my faith by Your body and blood so that the angel of eternal death passes by me. Keep me one with You so that I may praise Your glorious name through all of eternity, amen.

copyright 2001 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org