While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this
is my body.” 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it
to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28
This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness
of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from
now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
- Matthew 26:26-30, The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Publishing House) 1984.
Dear Friends in Christ,
A good meal can make quite a difference.
Let me give you an illustration. Since it was made into a movie in the early 80’s, some of you may be familiar with the story, "Babette’s Feast."
The setting is Norway (although in the movie it’s Denmark), where a strict Lutheran minister leads a small group of dedicated worshipers. The emphasis is on heaven, and so all earthly pleasures are denounced. They all wear black. Their diet consists of boiled cod and gruel made from boiling bread. Anything remotely connected with worldliness is viewed with suspicion. Every Sabbath they gather to sing hymns and to provide food for the poor of their city.
The minister is a widower with two daughters. When he dies, the daughters pass up all personal opportunities in an attempt to carry on his legacy. The group splinters, but remains loosely intact. Without the leadership of the strict pastor the already small number declines and infighting begins. Yet they still gather each week to sing hymns.
One night a knock comes at the door. It’s Babette. She lost her husband and son in a French civil war and now her own life was in danger. She needed a place to stay, and was directed to the house of the sisters by a mutual acquaintance. She can earn her keep. She can cook. In fact, unbeknownst to them, she was a celebrated chef of the best restaurant in Paris.
For the next twelve years she faithfully prepared the cod and gruel diet which the group ate and extended to the needy. Then came her big opportunity. The daughters were making plans to commemorate the 100th year of their father’s birth. Babette came forward. For twelve years, she said, she asked for nothing. Now she asked that they grant her one request: allow her to prepare the meal for the anniversary service.
The result was a meal the likes of which the group had never seen before. Babette had come into some money and special ordered from her native France all kinds of extravagant food and drink – things the people had never heard of before, or if they had, they equated with the banquets of kings. But here it was laid out in front of them.
Although the meal started out in misgiving and silence, in short order the banquet worked a magical effect on the churlish villagers. Before long people were smiling. Even laughing. Those who hadn’t spoken with each other for years were talking. Apologies between feuding parishioners were offered. And after they left that night, the old timers joined hands around the city fountain and lustily sang the old songs of faith. A transformation had taken place. A transformation directly connected to Babette’s feast.
Yes, a good meal can make quite a difference.
By this time I’m sure you’ve already made the analogy. This evening we are celebrating an event of far greater magnitude and scope than that in the story. On this Maundy Thursday we have gathered to remember what our Lord gave to us in His Supper. It’s Babette’s feast, but to an exponentially higher degree. It is glorious. It is beautiful. And it has a transforming effect upon our lives. Continuing with our Lenten theme, let us spend the next few minutes pondering
WHAT WONDROUS LOVE – WHEN HE GAVE US HIS SUPPER
1. What it is
2. What it does
Our text takes us to an upper room in Jerusalem. Jesus and the disciples were eating the Passover meal. You may recall that the Lord had instituted the first Passover some 1500 years earlier. It memorialized the time His Old Testament people were enslaved in Egypt. The last of ten plagues that God visited upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians for not letting His people go was the death of their firstborn.
Before this final plague took place, God gave His people some special instructions. They were to paint the doorframes of their houses with the blood of a perfect lamb so the Angel of Death would "pass over" them. And then they were to eat their last meal in Egypt, consisting of roast lamb, symbolic of the sacrifice that had been made; unleavened bread, symbolic of the haste of their flight; and bitter herbs, which recalled the suffering of slavery.
Every year since that time, God asked His people to observe the Passover and talk about what it meant. As they enjoyed their food and the retelling of God’s plan of salvation at this festive meal, they would intersperse their supper with cups of wine that would lead into prayers and expressions of thanksgiving for all that God had done for them…
These things were happening at this meal that Jesus was eating with His disciples – the meal which we know to be Jesus’ "Last Supper." Soon the Passover and all it symbolized would find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. It’s no wonder that Jesus chose to institute the sacrament of Holy Communion against this background. It’s no wonder that the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians (5:7) refers to Jesus as "our Passover Lamb" sacrificed for us. Thinking of those painted doorposts and what they prevented, it’s not difficult to understand all those Scripture passages that talk about Jesus’ blood delivering us from death…
What is the Lord’s Supper? The first thing to note from our text is that it is a sacred act rooted in history. As such, it serves once again to point out the central theme of all Scripture: Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
But it is more than just a memorial meal. Listen again to the words of our text: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins…"
The key to properly understanding Lord’s Supper is found in the little word, "is." What is the Lord’s Supper? It is the very body and blood of Christ which, in the words of the Reformation fathers, is "in, with and under" the bread and wine. In other words, Jesus Christ, in a supernatural yet very real way, is present in the Lord’s Supper.
This is a mystery of faith. Nevertheless, this is the clear statement of Jesus. We can only echo the words of one of our old communion hymns: "An awe-full mystery is here to challenge faith and waken fear; the Savior comes as food divine, concealed in earthly bread and wine."
Furthermore, did you notice that after distributing the wine Jesus referred to it as "my blood of the covenant…?" In the Gospel of Luke and First Corinthians a modifier is added and it is referred to as the "new" covenant. What does this mean? To understand, let’s define some terms…
As used in the Bible, a covenant is a solemn agreement, especially one in which God promises to bless and save. In the eyes of a just and holy God, sin is serious business. It calls for atonement. The wages of sin is death, says God in the Scriptures. And the agreement, or covenant, that God had made with the world was that forgiveness of sins would come through the shedding the blood.
In the Old Testament, when the Savior from sin had been promised but was not yet present, God operated under the "old covenant" with His people. The blood of animal sacrifices looked forward to and pointed to the ultimate sacrifice that was yet to come…
Now, at the time of our text, the Savior was here. He was about to carry out that ultimate sacrifice. The altar would be a cross. And the blood He shed formed the new covenant – the covenant not of promise but of fulfillment. John the Baptist had it right when he looked at Jesus and said: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
What is the Lord’s Supper? It is the testimony of the new covenant between God and us… A covenant of mercy and grace; a covenant of free and full forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ…
And that is what makes it so special – such a spiritual feast – for the believer. In the Lord’s Supper Jesus comes to us in a very personal way, as if calling us by name, personally assuring us that our sins are forgiven. Personally telling us that we are His children. Personally and tangibly pointing out to us the depth of His affection for us. Every time we take Lord’s Supper Jesus comes to us as individuals and, in essence, says "I loved you enough to die for you… and here is the proof. Touch and taste and feel."
And that has a transforming effect on us. Like Babette’s feast, it changes us. In a number of ways. Let’s talk about some of them…
First, it strengthens our faith. How can we not leave the Lord’s table spiritually stronger as we hear what He has done for us? How can we not be positively, spiritually affected by the words, "Given and shed for you" – read, me – "for the forgiveness of sins?"
It cements our relationship with Jesus. How can we not love Him more and more who poured out His lifeblood for our sins? "Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains, poured for me the lifeblood from His sacred veins."
It empowers us who have been so fully and freely forgiven by Christ to be forgiving toward others. How can we hold grudges and animosities toward others when we consider the width and length and depth of the forgiveness that has been bestowed upon us? How can we, whose sins were like scarlet but now stand white as snow in the eyes of God possibly consider consciously choosing to not forgive others who have slighted us far lesser than we have slighted Christ?
And it motivates us to live for Him. Are you familiar with the word "Eucharist?" We don’t use it to refer to Lord’s Supper so much in our circles, but some churches do. It comes from the Greek word meaning to "give thanks." It’s the word used in our text when we are told that before Jesus took the wine He "gave thanks."
Whether we are familiar with the term or not, this much we know. The Lord’s Supper moves us to be Eucharistic Christians. Thankful believers. Believers who leave the Lord’s table with uplifted spirits and the resolve to live for our Lord.
Indeed, a good meal can make quite a difference.
In a matter of minutes it will be the privilege for many of us to assemble around the Lord’s Table and receive His supper. And as we think of what it is and what it does, I’d like to give you permission this evening, if you wish, to smile as you leave the altar.
Because this is a feast in scope and magnitude and meaning unlike any other.
What wondrous love – when our Lord gave us His Supper. Amen.