And then of all things, the elephant in the virtual room tonight which we must address – a separation from Holy Communion. Especially on this night, in which the Sacrament of the Altar takes center stage – for it is the commemoration of the very night when Jesus was betrayed and instituted the Supper. It is a cross to bear to not be able to gather. It is an involuntary fast which we all wish had never happened, and that we want to end as soon as possible.
We know that some churches have gone ahead and found ways to offer the Lord’s Supper even under these circumstances. We are not faulting them, or standing in judgment. But our church leaders have chosen a path of even more caution at this time. These are difficult choices to make, and we are not even all of one mind in making them. I know that some of you feel the absence of the Sacrament more keenly, and are perhaps even angry that we do not offer it at this time. I humbly ask you to bear with your pastor and Elders as we seek to balance the concerns for people’s health and safety with our very real need for the gifts Christ gives us. We are doing the best we can with the wisdom God has given us. And we believe that this will be a short time of separation, and look forward to returning to the altar soon.
But still there are blessings in this time. There are lessons to learn and re-learn. It is often in times of crisis, suffering, challenge and hardship that faith stretches and grows. As St. Paul puts it:
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
And furthermore, as we keep mentioning, God bestows his grace in various means. It’s not only the Lord’s Supper, but also in Holy Baptism and in the Absolution, the Word preached and taught, and even in the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren. So we are not in a total desert, entirely cut off. Thanks be to God! May we treasure these gifts all the more, even as we wait and pray for the pestilence to pass.
Tonight, let us consider God’s word in that vein. Looking at the appointed readings for Maundy Thursday we have two main emphases. First and foremost, of course, is the institution of the New Testament in Christ’s Body and Blood. Secondarily, Jesus teaches his church about servanthood, by demonstrating service himself and washing their feet. He says, “A new commandment I give you… love one another”.
In both of these cases, Jesus brings something new. In both cases the word “New” modifies what he establishes. A New Testament in his blood. And a new commandment. But in neither case is it really entirely new. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus begins with the Passover meal. And in the “New Commandment”, well, the law has already taught us to love each other in many ways – and even Jesus himself had previously summarized the commandments as such – Love God. Love your neighbor.
So what’s so new about each of these? I would submit to you that the new-ness here is similar to that of the Good News itself, the Gospel. Here’s a message that isn’t new to you – you’ve heard it many times, perhaps all your life. Jesus lived for you. Jesus died for you. Jesus loves me this I know. For God so loved the world he sent his only Son. Your sins are forgiven in Jesus.
And yet each time we hear it anew – we are renewed. Each time we return to our baptism in repentance and faith – the Old Adam dies and the New Man arises. Each time I confess my sins and am absolved, God creates in me a clean heart, and renews a right spirit within me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ renews and restores the spirit, it refreshes us and recreates us – a living word that brings life even from death. And he does it again and again and again, and it never gets old.
Likewise the grace given in the Lord’s Supper – is both old and new. God’s plan for salvation in the body and blood of Jesus is very old. He is the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. He is the seed of the woman promised before the flesh of the forbidden fruit had even browned, the foot to crush the serpent’s head and absorb the venom in his bruised heel. He is the one of whom all the scriptures testify, for whom all of God’s people had waited, and in whom all of God’s promises of old are fulfilled.
The Passover was but one picture of him. But what a picture it was! The Lamb slain, a perfect and without blemish lamb, sacrificed as darkness fell. That lamb’s blood was painted on the doorposts – the blood on the wood – painted up and down and painted across – even making a sort of sign of the cross. The destroyer came, saw that blood, and passed over. Judgment and death passed over. God saw that the sacrifice had been made. The blood had already been shed. Justice had been satisfied. And God’s people were therefore saved.
That Passover event was a new beginning for Israel. It made them who they were, as a people. It even became the beginning of their calendar year, by God’s command. And it was then established as a continual remembrance of God’s deliverance. In many ways, it defined the people of Israel as God’s people, both in its establishment and its continuance.
Ah, but Jesus takes what is old and makes it new. He takes the bread and wine of Passover and establishes a new meal, a New Testament. This is no longer just a picture and shadow of my body and blood. Now, it is. This is no longer a looking forward to his sacrifice – now, it delivers that very sacrificed body and shed blood to you. This bread that we eat, this cup that we drink, is in not a participation in the very body and blood of Christ? It is the Passover in its fulfillment, in Christ. It’s the real deal. And yet, it is also a foretaste of an even greater feast to come, when we eat together at the marriage feast of the Lamb that has no end. So like those ancient people, we look back, and we look forward. In the Sacrament we remember what Christ has done, we rejoice in what he continues to do, and we hold fast to the promise of what is yet to come.
And then, yes, the New Commandment to love one another. It’s no accident that this was given also on the night of his betrayal. Jesus provides a powerful example of service to his disciples, whom he was about to provide the ultimate service at the cross. He washes their feet. And Peter balk and objects, Jesus says “unless I wash you, you have no part with me”. That is to say, “Unless I serve you, you have no part in me. If you seek to serve yourself, save yourself, justify yourself – it’s of no avail. But rather submit to my serving. Receive the humble gifts I give, even of my own suffering and death. And you will be clean.”
Dear Christians, You are clean, because you have it all by faith. You have the washing of your baptism. You have the pronouncement of sins forgiven. And so the new commandment is a joy to you. “Love one another as I have loved you.” A command we can only fulfill in faith, with his power by his spirit. A command that takes the love he bestows and goes to do likewise. A command that really isn’t new in some ways – for his Law has always taught us to love. But it is new in that it flows from faith, from his love and service and sacrifice. “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. . . .”
Another blessing of such love for one another is that it testifies of our faith. Far better, in many ways, than preaching to hardened hearts is the silent witness of love that Christians show. Just as Christ took up his appointed task of suffering and death silently, without objection or defense, so may we fulfill our vocations of love without complaint. For no servant is above his master. What’s good for Jesus, by his example, is good for us.
Christ is about to be glorified in his cross. Where he is going, the disciples cannot come, but he goes there for them and for all. The master lays down his life for the servants. The Lamb is sacrificed for the people. The Lord gives his body and blood into death, and so also under bread and wine for us to eat and drink. Tomorrow the darkness. Then Sunday the joy renewed with resurrection. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
As we pray for our release from the pestilence and isolation, give thanks once more for the renewal of mind and spirit offered us by the means of grace. Know that you are clean in Christ, and follow his example of love. As we are apart from him now, for a little while, yet he is ever with us. As the truths and gifts are given of old, so are they ever new in Christ our Lord.
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