Hearing the Word of the Lord

Pray: Psalm 116

Read: Exodus 12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

Sing: O Lord, We Praise You (Lutheran Worship #238)

The Sacrament of the Altar

O Lord Jesus, since you have left us a memorial of your Passion in a wonderful sacrament, grant, we pray, that we may so use this sacrament of your body and blood that the fruits of your redeeming work may continually be manifest in us; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for Holy Thursday, Lutheran Worship, 44)

What is the Lord's Supper?

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write:

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:14-23; and liturgical conflation)

1.      It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

"This is my body ... This is my blood" 1 Cor. 11:24.25

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:16

2.      Given under bread and wine

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 1 Cor. 11:27

3.      Instituted by Christ Himself

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread.... 1 Cor. 11:23

4.      For us Christians

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples... Matt. 26:26

5.      to eat and drink.

"Take and eat ... Drink from it all of you" Matthew 26:26.27

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

...for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt. 26:28

...but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1John 1:7

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. Heb. 9:22

         Where forgiveness of sins, there life and salvation  (John 6:54-56; Romans 8:10)

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. John 6:47

...he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:54-56

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. John 6:63

With this Word you can strengthen your conscience and declare: "Let a hundred thousand devils, with all the fanatics, rush forward and say, 'How can bread and wine be Christ's body and blood?' Still I know that all the spirits and scholars put together have less wisdom than the divine Majesty has in his little finger. 13 Here we have Christ's word, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' 'Drink of it, all of you, this is the new covenant in my blood,' etc. Here we shall take our stand and see who dares to instruct Christ and alter what he has spoken. It is true, indeed, that if you take the Word away from the elements or view them apart from the Word, you have nothing but ordinary bread and wine. But if the words remain, as is right and necessary, then in virtue of them they are truly the body and blood of Christ. For as we have it from the lips of Christ, so it is; he cannot lie or deceive." (Large Catechism, Tappert, p. 448)

Who receives this sacrament worthily?

Fasting and outward preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." But anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words "for you" require all hearts to believe.

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Cor. 10:17

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1Cor. 11:27-32

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1Cor. 4:1

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb. 13:17

The custom has been retained among us of not administering the sacrament to those who have not previously been examined and absolved. (Augsburg Confession 25.1)

Every Lord's Day many in our circles use the Lord's Supper, but only after they have been instructed, examined, and absolved. (Apology 15.40)

So everyone who wishes to be a Christian and go to the sacrament should be familiar with them. For we do not intend to admit to the sacrament and administer it to those who do not know what they seek or why they come. (Large Catechism V.2)

We believe, teach, and confess that there is only one kind of unworthy guest, namely, those who do not believe. Of such it is written, "He who does not believe is condemned already" (John 3:18). The unworthy use of the holy sacrament increases, magnifies, and aggravates this condemnation (1 Cor. 11:27, 29).

We believe, teach, and confess that no genuine believer, no matter how weak he may be, as long as he retains a living faith, will receive the Holy Supper to his condemnation, for Christ instituted this Supper particularly for Christians who are weak in faith but repentant, to comfort them and to strengthen their weak faith.

We believe, teach, and confess that the entire worthiness of the guests at this heavenly feast is and consists solely and alone in the most holy obedience and complete merit of Christ, which we make our own through genuine faith and of which we are assured through the sacrament. Worthiness consists not at all in our own virtues or in our internal and external preparations. (Epitome VII.18-20)

Overview of the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper

(Lutheran Worship, pp. 144-154)

1.        Preface (Apostolic Tradition (c.a. AD 215; Lamentations 3:41)

2.        Proper Preface

3.        The Sanctus (Isaiah 6:3; John 12:13)

4.        Blessing and the Our Father

5.        Words of Institution (conflated text)

6.        The Peace (John 20:21)

7.        Agnus Dei (John 1:29)

8.        Post-Communion Canticle (Luke 2:29-32 or 1 Chronicles 16:8-10)

9.        Post-Communion Collect (Luther's German Mass (1526), Sarum Missal)

"In the Lord's Supper He offers to every one of us the treasure He brought from heaven, a treasure to which He invites us most winsomely also in other passages, as when He says in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." How truly and tenderly He summons and encourages us for our own highest and greatest good. Therefore it is surely a sin and a shame that we take such a reluctant attitude toward the Sacrament, neglecting it for such long periods that we become quite cold and hard and lose our delight in it and our love for it. Never regard the Sacrament as something harmful from which to flee, but rather as purely wholesome and soothing therapy that is helpful and life-giving both for the soul and for the body. For if the soul is healed, the body is helped as well." (Large Catechism, 118-119).

CHRISTIAN QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS

Prepared by Dr. Martin Luther for Those Who Intend to Go to the Sacrament

The "Christian Questions with Their Answers" designating Luther as the author, first appeared in an edition of the Small Catechism in 1551.

After Confession and instruction in the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the pastor may ask, or Christians may ask themselves these questions:

1.        Do you believe that you are a sinner? Yes, I believe it. I am a sinner.

2.        How do you know this? From the Ten Commandments, which I have not kept.

3.        Are you sorry your sins? Yes, I am sorry that I have sinned against God.

4.        What have you deserved from God because of your sins? His wrath and displeasure, temporal death, and eternal damnation. See Rom. 6:21, 23.

5.        Do you hope to be saved? Yes, that is my hope.

6.        In whom then do you trust ? In my dear Lord Jesus Christ.

7.        Who is Christ ? The Son of God, true God and man.

8.        How many Gods are there? Only one, but there are three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

9.        What has Christ done for you that you trust in Him? He died for me and shed His blood for me on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

10.     Did the Father also die for you? He did not. The Father is God only, as is the Holy Spirit; but the Son is both true God and true man. He died for me and shed His blood for me.

11.     How do you know this? From the holy Gospel, from the words instituting the Sacrament, and by His body and blood given me as a pledge in the Sacrament.

12.     What are the words of institution? Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me." In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

13.     Do you believe, then, that the true body and blood of Christ are in the Sacrament? Yes, I believe it.

14.     What convinces you to believe this? The word of Christ: Take, eat, this is My body; drink of it, all of you, this is My blood.

15.     What should we do when we eat His body and drink His blood, and in this way receive His pledge? We should remember and proclaim His death and the shedding of His blood, as He taught us: This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.

16.     Why should you remember and proclaim His death? First, so we may learn to believe that no creature could make satisfaction for our sins. Only Christ, true God and man, could do that. Second, so we may learn to be horrified by our sins, and to regard them as very serious. Third, so we may find joy and comfort in Christ alone, and through faith in Him be saved.

17.     What motivated Christ to die and make full payment for your sins? His great love for His Father and for me and other sinners, as it is written in John 14; Romans 5; Galatians 2 and Ephesians 5.

18.     Finally, why do you wish to go to the Sacrament? That I may learn to believe that Christ, out of great love, died for my sin, and also learn from Him to love God and my neighbor.

19.     What should admonish and encourage a Christian to receive the Sacrament frequently? First, both the command and the promise of Christ the Lord. Second, his own pressing need, because of which the command, encouragement, and promise are given.

20.     But what should you do if you are not aware of this need and have no hunger and thirst for the Sacrament? To such a person no better advice can be given than this: first, he should touch his body to see if he still has flesh and blood. Then he should believe what the Scriptures say of it in Galatians 5 and Romans 7. Second, he should look around to see whether he is still in the world, and remember that there will be no lack of sin and trouble, as the Scriptures say in John 15-16 and in John 2 and 5. Third, he will certainly have the devil also around him, who with his lying and murdering day and night will let him have no peace, within or without, as the Scriptures picture him in John 8 and 16; 1 Peter 5; Ephesians 6; and 2 Timothy 2.