“And He taking bread, giving thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying, ‘This is My Body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’ And in the same way He took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new testament in my blood which is poured out for you.’” (St. Luke 22:1-23, 42)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Today’s Gospel gives us the mandate and institution of the Lord’s Supper. It also gives us another opportunity to learn about “Salvation ’s Achievement” and “Salvation’s Delivery.”
In Holy Week, our eyes are fixed on Jesus’ suffering and death. Each day is spent in quiet reflection, remembering what our Savior went through winning our salvation. Jesus was faithful, even unto death, even death on a Cross. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. In Catechism class, we learn this as “Salvation’s Achievement.”
Don’t you wish you were there when He suffered and died? Don’t you wish you were there when He instituted the Lord’s Supper? But we weren’t there. Nor can we go back there. No amount of meditation can bring us back there.
Salvation’s achievement does us no good unless what was won by Jesus on the Cross is delivered to us. Dr. Luther has the answer for us! Luther says,
“If now I seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there...But I will find in the sacrament or Gospel the word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the Cross,” (AE 40:214).
In the Sacrament, Jesus delivers to us the forgiveness He won for us on the Cross. We cannot go back to Holy Week, so the Lord brings Holy Week to us in the Word and Sacraments. The Word and the Sacraments are “Salvation’s Delivery.”
Spend today remembering Jesus’ death on the cross, but don’t stop there. Prepare yourself to receive the Lord’s Supper, where that salvation is delivered to you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds are continually afflicted, may mercifully be relieved by the Passion of Thine only-begotten Son, Who liveth, and reigneth, with you and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.” (the Collect for Holy Wednesday)
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.