Maundy Thursday (A)
April 2, 2026
Text:
Matt. 26:17-30
What does Jesus give us in His
Words, instituting this Supper? Chiefly
this: “this is my body” (Matt. 26:26; ESV); “this is my blood of the
covenant” (v. 28); and why does He give it?... “for the
forgiveness of sins.”
This is a profound saying. Our Lutheran ears and dull hearts are
probably desensitized to this, because we’ve heard it so often. We know it, already. We know it. Well... I’m not so sure. Saturated, as we are, in the ethos of
American Evangelicalism... which sees in the Supper, at best, an exercise by
which we stretch our faith up to heaven (where the humanity of Jesus is
confined), to commune on His body spiritually, there; or, at worst, a
mere symbol of His body and blood (which is, again, confined to heaven),
an ordinance, an obligation, to be obeyed by us... We’re immersed in
that. It has to have an influence
on us. Do you see, by the way, how that
teaching gets the direction of the Sacrament precisely backwards? Us to God, that’s what it makes it. It becomes something we have to do for God,
not something God does for us.
It’s as bad as the Roman idea of the Sacrifice of the Mass, where
we offer to God the Sacrifice of Jesus.
No, when Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Altar, the point is, He
comes down. He comes to His
disciples. He comes to us. And He doesn’t sacrifice Himself in the
Supper (much less do we sacrifice Him). That happens, once for all, on the
cross. Rather, in the Supper, He gives
all the benefits of His sin-atoning, life-saving Sacrifice, to us. That is the direction. Not us to God. Jesus to us!
Also telling, a 2019 Pew survey
found that 69% of self-identifying Roman Catholics denied the Real Presence of
Jesus in the Sacrament, believing rather that the bread and wine are just symbols
of His body and blood.[1] If that is true of Catholics, one
wonders what a similar survey would find among Lutherans. Granted, the survey is not confined to those
who regularly attend Church. One hopes,
and expects, those who attend Church to be better catechized.
Still, the point is... don’t take it
for granted that we know this, the bodily presence of Jesus in the
Sacrament, for the forgiveness of our sins.
Or that we believe it, even if we do know it. It ain’t necessarily so, to quote the
George and Ira Gershwin anti-religion hymn.
And anyway, never underestimate the devil’s power to lead fragile
consciences into doubt about this.
Especially because this is a reality unavailable to our senses. Right?
We can’t see it. Looks like bread
and wine. Tastes like bread and
wine. As a matter of fact, it is
bread and wine. And that’s all you’ll
find if you subject it to scientific testing.
You won’t find little bits of first century middle eastern male DNA
interspersed in the wafer or the drop.
But faith recognizes that it isn’t only bread and
wine. Faith believes the Word Jesus
speaks of the bread and wine. This
is My body. This is my blood. There is a reality hidden underneath the
earthly elements. A supernatural
reality, to be sure, but nonetheless real. That bread is Christ’s body. That wine is Christ’s blood. Why?
How? Because He says so.
The only solution to ignorance
about this, on the one hand (be it willful, or unwilful)... and spiritual
doubt, on the other... is preaching and catechesis. You need this preaching. So do I.
You may think you are strong on this doctrine, but that is just
the kind of self-security the devil loves.
Because then he can spring his trap out of nowhere, so that the very
next moment you’re attacked by doubt, or even unbelief. So Jesus has to breathe this Word into you,
again and again. This is My
body. This is My blood. Given and shed for you, for the forgiveness
of sins. Because this does not make
sense to fallen flesh. It can only be divinely
revealed. Foolishness to natural
man. The power of God to those born
anew of the Spirit.
That is what I’m looking for, by the
way, from our guests when they present themselves for the Supper. And frankly, from you, too... Well, first that they are baptized in
the Name of our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That is number one. Are you a baptized Christian? Under no circumstances should an unbaptized
person commune. You have to be born
before you can eat.
But then, what do you expect to
receive in the Sacrament? I’m
looking for a clear confession that the person expects to receive the true
body and blood of Jesus, in their mouth (no faith stretching up to heaven
business), under the bread and wine.
(Of course, I help them come to this confession as we talk. It’s not an academic test). And then, why do you want to receive His
body and blood? For the
forgiveness of sins. Because that
is what Jesus distributes in the Sacrament.
And then, yes, it is also true that
I want to know our guests are in fellowship with us before they commune. That is, that they have been catechized
in the Lutheran Church and are members in good standing of a
Missouri-Synod congregation. But even
then, the question remains (and we can’t take it for granted, anymore, that
Missouri Synod Lutherans know and believe this): What is the Sacrament? Why do you want it? It is the true body and blood of Jesus, given
me to eat and drink, for the forgiveness of my sins.
And not only should we know and
believe this as a matter of doctrine.
This teaching... these Words of our Lord... should be the
precious treasure we carry in our hearts and minds as we come forward to
receive this Gift. In fact, there three
moments I find profoundly moving every time we celebrate the Supper. (I want you to find them moving, too,
because that means you really believe this.)
First, when Jesus says to us
of the bread, this is My body.
Because now it is. His
Word does what it says.
And so, with the wine, this is My blood. Now it is. The very body nailed to the cross for my
sins... It’s right here, in
this little bit of bread. And the
very blood shed as the price for my redemption... It’s right here,
in this tiny sip. I know it, because
that’s what He says.
Second, the elevation of the
body, and then the blood of Christ, after the consecration of each
element. What is that we are seeing? Our fallen eyes don’t recognize it, and
sometimes our fallen hearts rebel against the very idea of it... But faith
sees it... knows it, believes it... That is Jesus! Jesus for me!
Jesus for us! With us! In the flesh! There are times I almost weep for the beauty
and joy of this reality. How do we not
fall on our faces with wonder?
And, third... and above all... when
the body... the blood... of Jesus Christ, the Son of God... hits my tongue. It is the death and resurrection of Christ,
cleansing me from the inside out, and giving me life. It is the touch of the One who heals me,
body and soul. Strengthening me. Uniting with me, so that we are one. Pumping in my heart, and coursing through my
veins. Taking possession of me, body and
soul. Communion with the Lord
Jesus. And so with the Father, and the
Holy Spirit. And, with the body
of Christ that is the Church. Making of
me, already, here and now, a New Creation, a possessor of eternal
life.
All by grace. I don’t deserve it. I don’t do anything to make it happen
(the direction is not me to God). Jesus
comes down to me... to us (this is you, too, isn’t it? This is what He does for you!)... He
comes down to us in this Gift. To
forgive our sins and be one with us.
Really, though, dear Lutheran... Tired of hearing it? I already know that? That’s a sure sign you need to hear it
again, and take it to heart. And
know, once again, the wonder of it.
O Lord Jesus, grant us Your Spirit,
so that we do, indeed, take this to heart, and believe what You
here give us, receiving it often, with joy, and wonder, and thanksgiving. Give us a hunger and thirst for this Gift... for
You, O Christ! Grant it, dear
Jesus. Our mouths are open, and our
hearts are ready. Fill us with Your true
body and blood. And so, live in us. That our sins be forgiven, and we live in
You. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son X,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[1] “Pew Survey Shows Majority
of Catholics Don’t Believe in ‘Real Presence,” https://www.ncronline.org/spirituality/pew-survey-shows-majority-catholics-dont-believe-real-presence,
accessed March 30, 2026.
